What Should You Ask at the End of an Interview?
Ask two or three questions that build on what you learned about the company and the role, such as the team's current challenges or what success looks like in the first months, and skip anything the company's own site already answers.
Why do interviewers ask if you have questions?
The question at the end has two purposes. For you, it is the time to find out what you need to decide whether you want the job. For the interviewer, your questions show what you paid attention to and how seriously you have thought about the role.
That is why the strongest questions are specific. A question that refers to something you read about the company, or to something the interviewer said, shows preparation that a generic question cannot.
Which questions fit each interviewer?
Different people can answer different things. Ask each person what they are best placed to answer.
| Who you meet | What they can answer well | Example questions |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiter | The process, the timeline and the basics of the role | "What are the next steps, and when can I expect to hear back?" |
| Future manager | The work, the team and how success is judged | "What would you expect the person in this role to have achieved in the first three months?" |
| Future teammate | The day-to-day work and how the team works together | "How does the team decide what to work on each week?" |
| Senior leader | The direction of the business and how this role fits | "What is the most important goal for this part of the business over the next year?" |
What are good questions to ask?
These questions work in many interviews. Adapt the wording to the role and to what you already know.
- "What is the biggest challenge the team is working on right now?"
- "What does success in this role look like after six months?"
- "What do people who do well on this team have in common?"
- "How is the team's work reviewed or measured?"
- "What made the last person in this role successful, or what would you like done differently?"
- "Is there anything about my background that makes you unsure I am the right fit? I would be glad to address it."
How do I turn company research into a specific question?
Start from one fact you found and ask what it means for the role. The pairs below are fictional examples.
| Generic question | Specific question based on research (fictional example) |
|---|---|
| "What is the culture like?" | "Your careers page says teams set their own quarterly goals. How does that work on this team?" |
| "Where is the company going?" | "I read that you opened an office in Singapore this year. Will this role work with the team there?" |
| "What products do you have?" | "Your new self-service plan is aimed at smaller customers. How has that changed the work of the support team?" |
Check that your fact is current and from a reliable source, such as the company's own site or news coverage. Do not ask about something the interviewer could take as gossip or a criticism.
Which questions should I avoid?
- Questions the company's website, the job posting or the interviewer already answered.
- Questions only about benefits or time off in a first interview with a future manager. Ask the recruiter, or wait for the offer stage.
- Yes-or-no questions that end the conversation, such as "Do you like working here?"
- Several questions at once. Ask one, listen, then follow up.
How Hired helps
Company Research works without an account. Enter a company and it gathers an overview, the culture and values, and, depending on the research depth, the hiring process, recent news and role information, with the source links. It also gives "Smart Questions to Ask": at least three questions based on that research. If you use Interview Prep in Hired (Premium plan), you can add them to a prep as "Questions from company research". See pricing for what each plan includes.
FAQ
Is it bad to say I have no questions?
It is a missed chance rather than a mistake. Questions are your opportunity to find out whether you want the job, and they show the interviewer that you have thought about it. If your questions were already answered during the interview, say so and ask one follow-up on something that was discussed.
Can I ask about salary at the end of an interview?
You can, but the timing matters. In an early interview, it is often easier to ask the recruiter about the salary range and the process than to raise it with a future manager. Once there is an offer, you can discuss pay and the other terms in detail and ask for them in writing.
How many questions should I prepare?
Prepare five or six and expect to ask two or three. Some will be answered during the interview, and the time at the end is often short. Put the questions you care about most at the top of the list.
Should I write my questions down?
Yes, it is fine to bring a short written list and look at it. It shows you prepared. Take a note of the answers too, since they help you compare roles later.
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