When the interviewer asks “Do you have any questions for us?”, the answer should always be yes. Smart questions to ask in an interview show genuine interest and help you decide whether the job is right for you.
Questions about the role
- What does a typical day or week look like? The best questions to ask in an interview about the role focus on success and challenges.
- What would success look like in the first 90 days? First year?
- What are the biggest challenges facing this role?
- Why is this position open?
- Which skills are most important to succeed here?
- How will my performance be measured?
Questions about the team
- Who would I work with most closely? Team-focused questions to ask in an interview reveal how you'll work day to day.
- How is the team structured?
- How does the team collaborate and communicate?
- What do you enjoy most about working with this team?
- How does the team handle disagreements?
Questions about the manager
- How would you describe your management style? Questions to ask in an interview about your manager help you judge fit.
- How often do you meet one-on-one with team members?
- How do you give feedback?
Questions about culture
- How would you describe the company culture? Culture-focused questions to ask in an interview uncover how the company really works.
- What do people who succeed here have in common?
- How does the company support work-life balance?
- How has the company changed in the last year?
- What is the company’s approach to remote or hybrid work?
Questions about growth
- What learning and development opportunities are available? Growth-focused questions to ask in an interview show ambition.
- What career paths have others in this role taken?
- How are promotions decided?
- Does the company support certifications or training?
Questions about the company
- What are the company’s biggest goals this year? Company-level questions to ask in an interview show strategic thinking.
- What excites you most about the company’s future?
- Who are your main competitors, and what sets you apart?
- How does this team contribute to company goals?
Questions to close strong
- Is there anything about my background that makes you hesitate? Closing questions to ask in an interview help you finish strong.
- What are the next steps in the hiring process?
- When can I expect to hear back?
- Is there anything else I can provide?
For senior or technical roles
- What does the technology stack look like and where is it heading? Senior candidates should tailor questions to ask in an interview to strategy and scope.
- What’s the biggest technical debt the team is facing?
- How are decisions about priorities made?
- What budget and resources does this role control?
Questions to avoid early on
Avoid leading with salary, time off or “What does your company do?” — research the basics beforehand. Salary is best discussed when the employer raises it or at the offer stage (how to negotiate salary).
Best questions by interview stage
| Stage | Good questions |
|---|---|
| Recruiter screen | What’s the interview process? What’s the salary range? Why is the role open? |
| Hiring manager | What does success look like in 90 days? What challenges is the team facing? |
| Team / peers | What do you enjoy most here? How does the team collaborate? |
| Final / executive | What are the company’s biggest priorities this year? |
Turn questions into conversations
When the interviewer answers, follow up with a related example from your experience: “That’s interesting — at my last company we faced a similar challenge with onboarding, and I…” It shows engagement and reinforces your fit.
Smart questions for specific roles
Sales roles
– What does the sales cycle look like, and what’s the average deal size?
– What percentage of the team hit quota last year?
– How are territories and leads assigned?
Engineering and IT roles
– How does the team handle on-call and incidents?
– What does your deployment process look like?
– How do you balance new features with reliability and technical debt?
Marketing roles
– Which channels drive the most growth today?
– How is marketing’s success measured — pipeline, revenue, brand?
– What’s the budget and how is it allocated?
Healthcare roles
– What are typical patient ratios and shift patterns?
– How does the team support new staff during orientation?
Management roles
– What are the biggest strengths and gaps on the team today?
– How much autonomy will I have in hiring and structuring the team?
– How is the team’s performance measured?
Questions that reveal red flags
Some questions help you spot problems before you accept:
- “How long have people typically stayed in this role?” — High turnover may signal deeper issues.
- “What happened to the last person in this position?” — Promotions are a good sign; repeated departures are not.
- “What’s something you’d change about working here?” — Honest answers are a good sign; evasive answers are a warning.
- “How did the team handle the busiest period last year?” — Reveals workload and support.
- “How are decisions made when priorities conflict?” — Reveals clarity and leadership.
How to ask questions naturally
You don’t have to wait until the end. Weaving questions into the conversation shows engagement: after describing a project, you might ask, “Is that similar to the challenges your team is facing now?” At the end, ask the two or three most important questions you haven’t covered.
Take brief notes on the answers. They’ll help you write a stronger thank-you email and make a better decision if you receive an offer.
Questions to ask in a second or final interview
- What would you need to see from me in the first six months to consider the hire a success?
- How does this role contribute to the company’s top priorities this year?
- What are the next steps, and is there anything else you need from me?
- Is there anything about my background we haven’t discussed that would be helpful?
Questions to avoid
- Anything easily answered by the company website
- “How soon can I take vacation?” early in the process
- “Did I get the job?”
- Questions about gossip, competitors’ weaknesses or personal topics
- Too many questions when time is clearly up — prioritize
Sample closing
Thank you — this conversation made me even more excited about the role. Based on what we discussed, I think my experience leading cross-functional launches would help with the expansion you mentioned. What are the next steps?
A strong close summarizes your fit, shows enthusiasm and confirms what happens next.
Questions to ask a recruiter vs. a hiring manager
Recruiter (early stage):
– What’s the salary range and benefits overview?
– What does the interview process look like, and how long does it usually take?
– Is the role remote, hybrid or on-site?
– What qualities have made past candidates successful here?
Hiring manager:
– What problem will this person solve first?
– What separates a good performer from a great one in this role?
– How do you like to communicate with your team?
Peers and team members:
– What does collaboration with other teams look like?
– What’s the best part of working here — and the hardest?
– How is feedback shared on the team?
Asking the right question to the right person shows you understand how organizations work — and gets you far more useful answers.
Questions career changers should ask
If you’re moving into a new field, these questions help you show self-awareness and understand how you’ll ramp up:
- How does the company onboard people who are new to the industry?
- What skills would you expect me to strengthen in the first six months?
- Is there a mentor or buddy program?
- Which parts of my background do you think will be most valuable here?
- What training or certification support is available?
These questions demonstrate that you’re thinking realistically about your transition and are committed to growing quickly.
Turning answers into your decision
After the interview, review your notes and ask: Did the answers match what I’m looking for in growth, culture, workload and leadership? Were there any red flags? If you receive an offer, these notes will help you evaluate the job offer objectively instead of relying on a gut feeling alone.
How many questions should you prepare?
Prepare eight to ten so you still have good options after the interviewer answers some during the conversation. Ask two to four, prioritizing questions about success in the role, the team and next steps.
Questions to ask in an interview: key takeaways
Here is a quick recap of questions to ask in an interview to save or share:
- Always prepare questions to ask in an interview.
- Ask about success metrics, team, growth and next steps.
- Use questions to spot red flags.
- Prepare 8–10 and ask 2–4.
For official labor-market data and more career research, see the CareerOneStop interview and job search resources and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ready to put this into practice? Make sure your resume matches every job you apply for with the HiReXL ATS Resume Optimizer.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions should I ask in an interview?
Prepare five to eight and ask two to four, depending on time.
What is the best question to ask at the end of an interview?
"What would success look like in this role in the first 90 days?" and "Is there anything about my background that makes you hesitate?" are both strong.
Is it okay to ask about salary in an interview?
It's usually better to wait until the employer raises it or until later stages, unless the posting omits pay and you're far into the process.
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