The chance to ask questions at the end of an interview is an opportunity you shouldn't miss. It's not only a chance to keep showing why you're the right candidate, but also to find out whether the position suits you.

It's important to think in advance about two or three key points you want to get across to the employer. If you haven't managed to do that during the interview, now is the time to mention them. Then you can move on to your questions.

Personalize your questions. How you phrase them matters a great deal. It's important to ask questions that relate specifically to you. For example, instead of “What does a typical day look like?”, ask “What will my typical day look like in this role?”. This helps the employer picture you in the role.

It's important to take into account what happened during the interview. Ask questions that build on the earlier discussion. You can go deeper into topics already raised in the conversation, such as specific projects or responsibilities that were not mentioned in the job description. This will make this part of the interview a natural continuation of the conversation.

Questions about the specific role

  • What do you expect from me in this role?
  • What is the most important thing I should achieve in the first 90 days?
  • How does the performance review process work here? How often will my work be formally evaluated?
  • What metrics or goals will my work be measured against?
  • What immediate projects will I be leading?
  • How long will it be before I am... [meeting clients, responsible for my own accounts, working with other departments, etc.]?

Questions about the team

  • What skills is the team missing that you want to fill with a new hire?
  • What are the biggest challenges I might face in this role?
  • Do you expect my main responsibilities in this role to change over the next six months or year?
  • Can you tell me about the team I will be working with? Who will I work with most closely?
  • Which other departments or divisions will I work with?
  • Can you tell me about my direct reports? What are their strengths, and what are the team's main challenges?

Questions for your potential manager

If the interviewer is your future manager, you can ask questions along these lines:

  • How long have you been with the company?
  • How long have you been a manager?
  • What do you like most about working here?

Questions about the company

Don't ask questions whose answers you could easily find with a quick Google search.

  • What are the company's current goals, and how does this team help achieve them?
  • What excites you most about the company's future?
  • How would you describe the company's values?
  • How has the company changed over the last few years?
  • What are the company's plans for growth and development?

Questions about company culture

Be skeptical of HR's answers to questions about company culture. It's unlikely the interviewer will openly tell you that the culture is unwelcoming or even toxic. That's why we've included questions that can help you uncover unexpected aspects of your potential new workplace.

  • What does the employee onboarding process usually look like?
  • If the role involves remote work, ask specifically how remote employees are integrated into the company culture.
  • What usually surprises new employees after they start?
  • Is there anything I should read before starting to better understand my colleagues?
  • What is your favorite office tradition? What do you and the team usually do for lunch?
  • Do you hold joint events with other departments or teams?
  • How is working here different from the other places you've worked?
  • How has the company changed since you joined?

Questions about professional development, career path and future opportunities

It is critically important to understand what growth and career development will look like in this job.

  • What learning and development opportunities will I have in this role?
  • How does the team I'll be working in keep growing professionally?
  • Are there examples of career paths that started from this position?
  • What are the typical career paths in this department?
  • How do promotions usually happen?
  • Where do successful employees usually go next?

Closing questions

  • What haven't I asked you that I should have?
  • Is there anything else I can provide that would be helpful?
  • Is there anything I can clarify for you about my qualifications?
  • What are the next steps in the hiring process?

Questions to avoid

You should avoid asking about salary and benefits in the early stages of selection. You can state your salary expectations if you are asked, or find them out from third-party sources, but you are not yet in a position to bargain.

  • What is the starting salary?
  • Can you tell me about your health insurance?
  • What is your paid time off policy?