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It’s finally time for your job interview. While you must make a good impression to land the job you want, remember that you’re interviewing the company as much as they’re interviewing you. To be sure this is the right role for you, we’ve outlined how to prepare a list of insightful questions to ask an interviewer. Study them to ensure your next role is the right opportunity for you.

How to Prepare Smart Questions for a Job Interview

The key to an outstanding interview is being as prepared as possible. Here are steps to take before you arrive at the interview.

  • Do a web search of the company. Scan its social media posts and other professional platforms, like LinkedIn, to learn as much as you can.
  • Make a note of anything that piques your interest.
  • Compile a list of questions based on all the information you’ve learned. To get you started, we’ve created a list of examples below — more than 70 questions to ask an interviewer in different topics.
  • Make a list of 10-15 questions. It should be enough for a single interview.While you likely won’t get to ask every question, writing more than you’ll need is always a good idea. As you prepare your list, remember to avoid questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no. The idea of preparing unique questions to ask an employer during an interview is to show your curiosity and keep the conversation flowing.

During the interview:

  • Remember to listen closely to the interviewer. As they speak, they could be answering questions on your list. When it’s your turn to ask a question, start with what matters most: the job and the company. Then move on to your specific needs as an employee.
  • Use this list as a guide, not a script. Make the questions your own. Use different phrasing, change the order or use the list as an inspiration to create your own list of questions to ask an interviewer.

Questions to Ask During a Job Interview

Good questions to ask about the job

Good questions to ask about the job

Learn about the work responsibilities, duties, expectations and goals that the position entails but were not included in the job description with the help of these good questions to ask in an interview.

  • What are the primary skills and experiences needed to excel in this role?
  • Who would I be directly reporting to?
  • Can you tell me about the onboarding process?
  • Will I undergo any training for this job before formally joining?
  • How many people will I be working with?
  • Is this a new role in the company? What prompted you to create this role?
  • What is a typical day like for someone in this role?
  • What are some immediate projects I would be working on?
  • What are the top priorities you would want me to focus on if I got this job?
  • Can you show me examples of similar projects I would be executing?
  • What are some of the biggest challenges someone in this position would face?
  • What is the company currently trying to achieve by filling this role?
  • Is there an exact budget I would be managing in this role?
  • Do you expect my responsibilities to change in the next six months to a year?
  • Can you tell me more about the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities?
  • How could I impress during my first month, three months, six months?
  • What are the expectations of this role?
  • What would be your ideal candidate to fulfill this role?
Smart Questions to Learn More About Company

Smart Questions to Learn More About Company

A workplace that matches your personality and working style will make doing your job much easier. Get to know the company and its leadership by asking some of the following questions:

  • What are the company’s main goals for the next few years?
  • How does the company think this role will fulfill its objectives?
  • What do you think are the biggest challenges this company currently faces?
  • What areas of opportunity should the company/this department be tackling right now?
  • How many new products does the company launch each year?
  • What have been the top achievements for the company this past year?
  • How would employees describe the company and its leadership?
  • What management style does this company encourage?
  • How much exposure do employees have to the executive leadership?
  • How is the relationship between leadership and employees?
  • What advice would you give me to thrive in this company?
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Good interview questions to learn about the team

Good interview questions to learn about the team

To learn more about the team you’d be working with, consider asking a couple of questions from this list. If you meet an existing team member, don’t miss the chance to ask one — or more — of these questions.

  • Can you tell me about the team I will be joining?
  • Who will I be working most closely with?
  • How many people are in this team/department?
  • Does the company expect to hire more people in this department in the near future?
  • With what other departments will I be collaborating?
  • What are the biggest challenges this team faces when working with other departments within the company?
  • What is the process for launching and executing projects within this team?
  • Would you say this team works independently or collaboratively?
  • What’s a project that the team successfully collaborated on?
  • What are the team expectations for this role?
  • What is the biggest challenge the team faces?
  • How does the team handle challenges?
Interview questions to ask about work culture

Interview questions to ask about work culture

A job interview is your chance to learn more about the day-to-day environment of this workplace and find out if it is the right fit for you. Use these good questions to ask in an interview to learn more.

  • How would you describe the work environment?
  • What kind of team-building activities does the company do, and how often?
  • Do you ever do events with other departments or companies?
  • Do team members go out for lunch together or socialize after work?
  • How is working here different from your previous jobs?
  • How has the company changed since you joined?
  • Does the company encourage any type of volunteering or community service?
  • Do you have any office traditions?
  • How competitive are the employees?
  • What do you think is the consensus about work-life balance?
  • What is the management style?
  • How does management handle conflict?
Smart Questions About Growth and Development

Smart Questions About Growth and Development

Professional growth and development help your career and is a company investment in your commitment. Ask these questions during your interview to learn more about what opportunities are offered.

  • How can I grow in this role?
  • What are the metrics to success within the company?
  • Are there professional advancement opportunities in this company?
  • What is a common career path for people who’ve been in this position?
  • Do you have a mentor system or program in place?
  • Do you see this role expanding in the future?
  • Will I be able to participate in industry conferences representing the company?
  • What does someone need to be successful in this position?
  • How do you measure an employee’s performance?
  • What are the metrics to success in this position?
  • How could I impress you in the first three months?
  • Do you offer continuing education or professional training for your employees? Remember to confirm that this information is not on the company website. If it is, rephrase the question to include the program name. For example, “I saw that you offer XYZ training program; could you tell me more about it?”
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Unique Interview Questions to Ask an Employer

Unique Interview Questions to Ask an Employer

Don’t miss a chance to interview your interviewer. Asking the person interviewing you about their career, experience in the company and what they have accomplished through their position is a great way to get a fuller picture of what it’s like to work for the company.

  • How’s your experience with the company?
  • What were you doing before?
  • What made you decide to accept an offer from this company?
  • What excites you about working here?
  • What have you learned in your time here?
  • What’s something that you’re looking forward to in the company’s near future?
  • What skills have helped you excel in this position?
  • How has your career advanced in the company?
  • What skills have you gained since being hired?
Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview

Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview

Before leaving the office or virtual meeting, make sure both parties have the information to move forward.

  • What are the next steps in the interview process?
  • Is there anything else you’d like to discuss that we have yet to cover?
  • Do you have any concerns about my qualifications? If so, what are they?
  • Are there any concerns about my background that I could clear up right now?
  • Is there anything else I can provide to help with your decision?

14 Interview Questions Do's and Don'ts

Don’t ask:
Do ask:
Don’t ask:
“How much does the position pay?” Avoid asking about wages in your first interview. Usually, employers will inform you of salary and benefits when they’re ready to make a job offer. You can save this question to ask an interviewer for a later stage.
Do ask:
“Can you give me an idea of what the company has budgeted for this role’s compensation?”
Don’t ask:
“Can I come in late or leave early if I get my work done?” A good work-life balance is necessary to be a productive employee. However, you don’t want to sound like you’re already dreading the job.
Do ask:
“How does the company encourage a healthy work-life balance for its employees?”
Don’t ask:
“When will I be considered for a promotion?” Ambition is an attractive professional trait, but avoid asking this before you’ve had a chance to understand your responsibilities and actually perform.
Do ask:
“Can you tell me about the performance review process and how I can maximize its benefits?”
Don’t ask:
“Do you conduct background checks?” Asking if the company will investigate you makes you look suspicious. We advise you to stay away from this topic altogether, but if you feel the need to address it, try something like:
Do ask:
“Please let me know if I can help clarify anything about my professional or personal background.”
Don’t ask:
Anything you can Google.This is not a smart question to ask an interviewer if those answers are easily searchable. You’ll seem like you couldn’t be bothered to conduct a basic Google search.
Do ask:
Questions that show you have researched the company. You can learn a lot about a company by browsing its webpage, social media accounts and LinkedIn profile. If something catches your attention, ask about it during the interview. It will leave a good impression.
Don’t ask:
“How long will the interview take?”
Do ask:
“How much time should I block off my calendar for the interview?” This will allow you to adjust your schedule accordingly. If something comes up last minute, mention your scheduling conflict as soon as you can before the set interview time.
Don’t ask:
“Well, how did I do?” Avoid requesting interview feedback at the end of the interview. Give the interviewer time to process how you performed during the interview.
Do ask:
“When can I expect to hear about next steps?” or “When do you hope to make a final decision?” This indicates to the interviewer that you are interested in the role and hope to move forward in the interview process.

Land More Interviews With a Customized Resume

While you’re interviewing, it’s wise to keep your options open and apply to multiple job ads. Take advantage of our professionally made resumes to land your next job interview.

Our Resume Builder offers the easiest way to write a resume. Simply fill in your professional information, follow our pro tips and our builder will craft a perfectly written resume.

FAQ

What should I say at the beginning of a job interview?

Don’t overthink it. A simple, courteous greeting, like “Good afternoon, nice to meet you,” will suffice. Remember that even a laid-back company is a professional setting and should be treated with respect. You’ll get a chance to impress with your unique interview questions to ask an employer.

How do you close a job interview?

Thank the employer for their time and for considering you for the opportunity. Double-check that they have your correct contact information and ask if there is anything else that the employer might need from you. Use this list of questions to ask at the end of an interview to bring up any points you want to address before leaving the interview.

Is it OK to bring notes to the interview?

Yes, it is perfectly fine to bring notes to the interview. You can bring a small pad and a pen to jot down notes or to keep your list of questions to ask an interviewer. Make sure that the notes do not distract you or become a nuisance during the interview.

What questions will the employer ask?

The employer will ask about your background, career, plans and why you’re interested in the company and position. Employers often ask what you know about the company, so be prepared to answer those questions. The interview will be a conversation, so you will also get a chance to ask an interviewer.

How do I recover from a bad answer?

Take it as an opportunity to show how you handle issues in the workplace. If you recognize it while answering, simply rephrase your answer. If you realize it later on in the interview, let the interviewer know that you’d like to revisit the question as you’re not satisfied with your answer. You can also try the same approach after the interview. In your follow-up email, let the employer know that you have been thinking about an answer and expand on it within the same email.

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