What are some good questions to ask a prospective company?

Q. When you find a company that you’re interested in working for, what questions should you ask?

A. You might start with these four, which will help you keep selling yourself even when the “interview” portion of the interview is done.

But also keep in mind that some of the best questions to ask are specific and relevant to the job, the company and the industry. The more focused your questions, the more informative the answers you will receive. Check out the company’s social media profiles and the press section of its website for the latest developments.

Are there rumors the firm will be acquired? Or maybe it recently took over another company? How will that impact its growth? You can position the question by demonstrating you did your research and also that you’re downright curious. For example: “I read about your company potentially merging with XYZ. Just curious, is that true, and how would that impact this department?”

A few other good ones: Ask the interviewer where he or she sees the department and company headed — in terms of projects, responsibilities and head count — within the next two to five years.

Also ask about the current position you’re interviewing for: Why is it available? Did someone resign, get promoted or is the department expanding?

And find out about what traits, skills and experiences they are looking for in an excellent candidate — and how will they further develop those skills?

Finally, here’s one you should ask in every interview: “Why do you like it here, besides the people?” Forced to avoid what’s typically the most common answer, the hiring manger should give you some interesting insights into the company.