Questions to Ask the Interviewer (and Questions to Avoid)

“Do you have any questions for us?” is not a formality. It is your chance to find out whether the job suits you, and the way you ask shows how you think. Prepare at least four to five questions, since some will be answered during the conversation.

Questions about the role

• What would a typical week look like in this position?
• What would you expect me to achieve in the first three to six months?
• How do you measure success in this role?
• What are the biggest challenges the person in this role will face?

Questions about the team and manager

• Who would I work with most closely, and how does the team communicate?
• How would you describe your management style?
• How does the team handle disagreements or tight deadlines?

Questions about growth

• What opportunities for learning and development do people in this team have?
• How are performance and progress reviewed?
• What have people who started in this role gone on to do?

Questions about the company

• What are the company’s main priorities over the next year?
• How has the team changed recently?
• Why is this position open?

The last question is useful. Whether it is a new role or a replacement can tell you something about the team.

Questions for remote or international roles

• Which time zones does the team work across, and what overlap in hours is expected?
• How does the team handle communication and meetings?
• Is the position open to candidates in my country, and how is payroll managed?

These are especially important for cross-border applications; see our guide to finding legitimate remote jobs.

The closing question

“Is there anything about my background you would like me to clarify?” gives you a chance to address concerns. “What are the next steps and timeline?” helps you plan.

Questions to avoid early on

• Anything you could find on the company website, which shows you did not research it
• Questions focused only on leave, perks or leaving early, in a first interview
• Questions about salary before the employer raises it, unless the listing is unclear and the process is advanced; see our guide on comparing offers for how to discuss compensation later
• “What does your company do?”

These are not forbidden topics. They are simply better raised at the right stage, often after an offer is near.

How to ask

1. Listen first. Cross out questions that were answered.
2. Build on what the interviewer said: “You mentioned the team is growing; how is that affecting priorities?”
3. Write questions in your notebook and take brief notes on the answers.

Key takeaways

• Prepare more questions than you need.
• Ask about the work, the team, growth and expectations.
• Save pay and perks for the right moment.