23 Questions To Ask at the End of an Interview

After receiving résumés for a new position, recruiters usually conduct job interviews with their best applicants as part of the hiring process. To find the ideal candidate, your potential employer asks interview questions to understand the type of person you are and to keep an eye out for any red flags that might indicate a bad fit for the work environment.

Usually, you’ll undergo an initial job interview (often by telephone) with someone from human resources. If that goes well, you’ll move on to the following interview with additional individuals from the company, such as your direct supervisor and other team members. During the interview, they’ll ask about your job history, career path, and work style. You may also receive information about the new job, such as the day-to-day activities they expect you to complete.

At the end of an interview, they will ask if you have any follow-up questions about the job opportunity. This is the time for you to ask good questions about what you can expect if they choose to hire you. If all goes well and you seem like a good fit for the company, you’ll land a job offer and begin onboarding.

Asking the right questions before accepting your next job will help you find the best fit for this stage in your professional development. Make sure you ask questions about the organization, questions about the team, questions about the role, questions about the manager, and questions about career growth. Asking questions will also signal to the interview that you feel engaged in the discussion and enthusiastic about the company and role.

You’ll want to know as much about the company as possible. Here’s what to ask:

1. 1. Can you describe the company culture and work environment?
2. 2. What does the company hope to achieve over time?
3. 3. What are the company’s core values?
4. 4. Has the company changed over its history?

You’ll want to know about the team of employees with whom you’ll work and how much you’ll interact with them. Ask:

1. 1. What are the biggest challenges the team currently faces?
2. 2. What skills can I add as a new hire to the current team?
3. 3. Will my responsibilities within the team change over time?
4. 4. Can you describe my team? Will I be working with more than one team?
5. 5. How would you describe my direct supervisor?

You’ll want to know about your role within the company beyond the job description. You can ask:

1. 1. What does a typical day look like for someone in this position? What will be my day-to-day responsibilities?
2. 2. What are the most important things you’d like me to achieve in the first few months?
3. 3. What metrics will you use to evaluate my performance? Will I be expected to complete official performance reviews, or will I receive regular feedback?
4. 4. What kinds of projects and initiatives will I be working on?
5. 5. Is this job already in the company, or is it a new position?

Your interviewer’s answers to questions about their personal experience within the company will give you a good idea about the work environment. Ask them:

1. 1. How long have you been working here?
2. 2. How long have you been a supervisor?
3. 3. What’s your favorite part of working here?
4. 4. What are the biggest challenges of working here?
5. 5. Do you find you have a good work-life balance?

The end of the interview provides an excellent opportunity to ask how your role might develop over time to meet your long-term career goals. Ask:

1. 1. Are there professional development opportunities for me in this role?
2. 2. Will I have the chance to learn new skills in this position?
3. 3. Are there career paths with growth potential from this position?
4. 4. Can you describe the career paths of successful employees from this team or position?

Though you may be curious about more specific information, avoid asking any of the following questions at the end of your interview:

1. 1. Easily obtained information: Avoid asking questions you could have researched or found on the company’s website before arriving, such as what the company does. You should know as much about the company as possible before you arrive for your interview.
2. 2. Negative questions: Try not to ask about anything that might be sensitive to the company, such as information about recent layoffs or the company’s financial status.
3. 3. Raises or promotions: Avoid asking questions about when you can expect a raise or promotion in a way that sounds demanding. Though you can ask about career opportunities within the company, making demands before they offer you the job may paint you in an unflattering light. Save these types of questions for when you negotiate your salary.
4. 4. Online monitoring: Asking whether your online activity will be monitored implies you’ll spend your time browsing social media or unrelated websites. Most potential employers will not want you spending time on personal pursuits. Instead, focus on questions about company culture, values, and management styles.
5. 5. Personal questions: Avoid asking too many invasive questions of your interviewer. Focus on friendly, positive questions about the prospective job only.

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