"Do you have any questions?" - at some point during your interview, usually at the close of an interview, you may be asked this question. Usually by the time you reach the end of the interview, you'd pretty much feel that everything has been covered. However, this is not usually the case. You are called for an interview to have your competency assessed by a prospective employer but how often have you thought about the fact that an interview is also a session when you can assess the employability of the company you are being interviewed for? By asking critical job and company related questions you can weigh the pros and cons and also take a definite decision whether the vacancy is worth pursuing or not.

Here are some basic rules that can help you gauge the opportunity

• Ask intelligent questions. Paying attention to details and formulating your questions based on the facts that you receive during the interview will highlight not just your grasping and listening skills but also ensure that there will be no room for doubts later.
• There are always some jobs that are outsourced or taken-off after a certain point, so it is always better to ask your prospective employer about their plans for the future and also if there will be any changes that might take place.
• Make a list of questions that you would like to ask. Doing this will help you steer the conversation to objectives and potential problems faced by the company and can sometimes serve as an opening for you to bring to the fore details of your expertise in handling similar situations.
• Unless it's a new position they are including, most employers' hire to replace an old post that has gone vacant, so find out about the past performance to get a clear idea about preset targets and the improvements that they'd like to see happen. This way you will know what your job entails and also share your past experience in the field.
• Most employers are concerned about the way you will fit into the company's culture. As a jobseeker you will also need more information about the environment and spirit of the team you will be working with, so ask your interviewer about it to avoid being surprised later.
• The first three months is critical as that is the time it will take to settle down in a new job, so find out about the challenges you will face. For instance if you are joining a startup company, there will be a lot of tasks that might be assigned to you, so it's better to get to know beforehand and in detail what is expected of you.
• If you get easily stressed out then the interview is the right time for you to know about the stress levels of the company. Certain times people cite the stress levels of their previous work environment to have induced the need for change, so if the conditions are the same in the new place, it is better to know it in the beginning than later. Try to be intuitive during the interview, problems are always alluded to in an interview, so it is up to you to listen and pick out the pieces and put them together.
• By staying alert to clues you can gauge the interviewer's satisfaction with the company and try to figure out their style of management. After all if you are expected to work under that person, it will make a great difference to know the way he/she handles the team and see if it matches your values and ideas.
• Find out what qualifications and experiences are expected. This is a great way to sell your skills with instances from past jobs and strengthen your chance of getting the job by telling them directly why you are the best person for the job.
• Showing interest in the position assures the interviewer that you will be willing to pursue the opportunity. So ask about the hiring procedures and find out if you'll be expected to meet someone else in the company. This will give you an idea about the urgency of the requirement and speed up things accordingly.

As a jobseeker you are expected to ask questions. It is also crucial for you to gauge the opportunity but it is the way that you ask that can make or break an interview. Gently prod the interviewer do not grill them. There is a big difference between showing interest and cross-examining, so ask questions based on the conversation and the type of questions that you were asked. An interviewers body language can help you determine how long you want to prolong. If the pace seems hurried then keep the questioning as short as possible. Questioning a prospective employer not just gives you information but also helps them assess your personality. To avoid giving the wrong impression make sure your questions are crisp, concise and to the point. Thereby demonstrating your knowledge, interest and expertise.