It always comes at the end of a job interview: (open in new tab) "So, do you have any questions?" Watch out for the fatal mistake of missing this opportunity. The interviewer (opens in new tab) wants to hear that you are thoughtful and interested in the company's growth and what role you will play in it. In addition to being flexible with your company research, and more importantly, using questions to gain valuable insight into the role you're applying for, we asked LinkedIn career expert Blair Heitmann what the most effective interview questions are and why.

"Understanding the company's goals and strategy is critical to understanding the impact your role will have. I expect the hiring manager to be focused on moving the needle in the business and it is important to understand how the role fits into that strategy and what is expected of them. It also gives you a good indication of how strategic the team is and whether you are interested in their goals and mission. Remember, you are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you."

"Before the interview, research the company to see what they are "there" for, so you can make sure your values are aligned with their mindset. visit their LinkedIn company page for recent news and stories about the company. Check it out. If philanthropy is important to you, find out about the company's philanthropy and see where and how they contribute.

"These are challenging times for most workplaces and companies. This question can tell you several things: 1, how the company will handle pivots and contingencies; 2, the level of support the company offers its employees; and 3, what the landscape or scenario is like that you will be stepping into."

"These questions provide insight into the daily life of the job and the team. It also provides an indication of whether or not people are retained. Companies with high employee retention rates generally do better because their employees feel invested in and rewarded by their work."

"In any new position, it is important to have a clear understanding of what is expected of you on a daily basis in order to be successful in meeting (or exceeding) expectations from day one. Many remote workers feel tied to to-do's beyond their 9:00-5:00 schedule, so make sure you have a clear understanding of the job description and expectations for employee availability, and that your employees are comfortable with what is required of them.

"Hard skills like coding and building spreadsheets are certainly critical to success and are often more obvious when thinking about job duties. But soft skills like creativity are equally important and can really set a candidate apart during the interview and the first few months in a new role. If a potential manager can clearly define the skills needed for the role, both hard and soft, it is evidence that he or she has a good idea of what the team needs. Additionally, if they feel they need to brush up a bit on any of the required skills, they can take the initiative and request additional training from the company or request training themselves through LinkedIn Learning."

"Understanding how your team's strategy fits into the overall company picture is important to understanding how you, as a potential employee, can contribute to the success of the team. While you can always ask a hiring manager how they measure an employee's success in the role as a whole, I would focus the conversation with a potential manager on the bigger picture."

"This question allows me to get a clear picture of how the company is investing in its employees and where this role fits into the overall organizational picture. In addition, a clear understanding of your path forward will help you stay motivated and track your progress at each milestone. "

"The prospective manager may have already shared key learnings that will help the candidate succeed in this role, based on the trials and tribulations of his or her predecessor. This insight will give them a better understanding of the challenges that lie ahead and whether or not they are prepared to take on these challenges."

"Asking how you as an organization are approaching this effort will give you an idea of the level of long-term commitment and focus on these important areas and whether this approach is in line with your core values."