Career advice

21 questions to ask in the job interview



Most of the job interview is you answering job interview questions about yourself, your skills and your qualifications. But at some point, the interviewer will ask, “Do you have any questions for me?”

And the appropriate response to this is never “Nope. I’m good.”

Not asking questions sends the message that you have no curiosity about the role, the company, or the people with whom you’d be working, which conveys a lack of enthusiasm and initiative. When we’re genuinely interested in something, we want to know more about it.

The interviewer wants to know that you’re enthusiastic about the job because enthusiastic people work hard and do their best. So, show this by asking questions and being interested. But note that the type of job interview questions you ask also matters.

What type of questions to ask in the job interview

Don’t ask questions that make you look lazy and uninformed. This means you should not ask, “So, what does this company do anyway?” You should already know the answer to that from the research you did before the interview (because, of course, you know you have to research the company before the interview).

Similarly, you may have seen lists of questions to ask in the interview suggesting you ask something like “What skills and qualifications are you looking for in this role?” Our experts don’t recommend asking this one. You should know this by the time you get to the job interview, probably just from reading the job description.

And don’t ask questions that make it look like you’re more interested in what you will get out of the job than what you’ll put into it. Of course you’re interested in pay, benefits, and vacation time -- but you’re supposed to act like you’re not. So, ask about what you can contribute and show an interest in the company and culture.

Also, keep in mind that, while you may need a job very badly, you should also be using the interview to determine whether you want the job, whether you can actually do the job, and if you want to work for this company. Ask questions to help you determine whether you’re a good fit for the role, whether the expectations are reasonable, and if you think you’ll enjoy working there.

Here are 21 examples of questions you can ask in the job interview to help you decide if you’re a good fit and to make a good impression.


21 questions to ask in the job interview

“What does success mean in this role?” – How will you know you’re doing a good job? What sort of metrics and numbers are we talking about? This can help you gauge if you’re a good fit and if the expectations are reasonable.

“What projects will need immediate attention?” – This shows you’re thinking ahead to what needs to be done and can give you an idea of how to hit the ground running. Again, you’re looking for reasonable expectations and attainable goals.

“What do you expect the person in this job to have accomplished after the first year?” – Taking the previous question further. This question demonstrates that you’re looking ahead and envisioning yourself in the role at least for one year.

“What challenges does the person in this role face?” – It’s good to know what hurdles you might have to overcome and get them talking about problems you might face. This may give you a good opportunity to talk about some of your problem solving skills as well. “Oh, it may help that I have experience with…” (for example).

“Is this a newly created position? If so, why was it created?” – Is it a new role created by the company to fill a need? If it is, what need was it created to fill and can you make sure you meet the company’s needs?

(If not a new position) “Where did the last person in the role go?”— Did they move up in the company? Are they the person interviewing you? This can tell you whether there are opportunities for advancement at the company.

“How is performance evaluated and how often?” – Do they do twice-yearly check-ins, or will you have an ongoing conversation with your manager about progress and performance? The right kind of guidance and feedback is imperative to achieving objectives.

“What can you tell me about the company culture?” – Is it party central, quiet and reserved, populated mostly with people in their 20s or people in their 50s? Will you fit in?

“What are the company’s long and short-term goals?” – Do they want to reach larger audiences, grow revenue by 500%, get into the news, create new verticals, launch new products? Try to envision what part will your role play in this.

“Does the company have any big plans or changes coming?” – Are there already new products launching or plans to expand into Asia? Are they redesigning the website, pivoting direction, or ceasing production on something that isn’t doing well? Again, try to envision what part your role will play in this.

“How closely does our team work with other teams and which teams are those?” – It’s good if you’ll be working in a silo or if you’ll be working with others across the company to achieve common goals. Working in a silo is much more difficult.

“What sort of training and onboarding is offered?”
– Are there two weeks of intensive onboarding, is it a learn-on-the-job situation, or are you given some training and left to figure other things out on your own?

“Are there opportunities here for growth and advancement?” – They probably won’t say no to this, even if there are none, since most employers know how important this is to job seekers. But if there really are opportunities, you will learn more about them.

“Does the company have any corporate social responsibility programs?” – Are they involved with fundraising and charity? If so, this may be a good opportunity to mention your own charitable interests.

“How long have you been with the company?” – It’s nice to show an interest in your interviewer and a good idea to ask them a bit about themselves. How long they’ve been with the company can also give you an idea of whether it’s a good place to work.

“What do you enjoy about working here?” – Do they seem excited to answer this question or do they struggle to find something nice to say? This can be telling.

“How did you come to be in this role?” – This question can help you establish common ground with the interviewer and tell you a bit about them. Also, did they move up in the company or come from elsewhere?

(If they are to be your direct manager) “What’s your management style?” – Are they pretty hands-off or do they like regular and consistent updates? They might not be able to answer this in any meaningful way – as that takes considerable self-awareness – but you can still learn something.

“Can you tell me about the team I’d be working with?” – Is it a big or small team? Have they been around for a while or are some or all of them new hires? Is there a lot of staff turnover?

“Is there anything else you’d like to know that we haven’t covered?” – Make sure you’ve covered all your bases and give them an opportunity to ask any questions they forgot or clarify any final points.

“What are the next steps?” – They’ll probably say they have a few more interviews and that they’ll contact you either way. If you don’t hear from them in 3-5 business days, it’s acceptable to follow up to see what’s happening with your application.

Obviously, we’re not suggesting you ask 21 questions. Choose three to five that you like and that are suited for the situation. Showing curiosity and enthusiasm will help you make a good impression.

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