Good questions to ask at the end of an interview

Why this part matters

Near the end, most interviewers ask, “Do you have any questions for us?” Saying “No, I think you covered everything” is a missed chance. Good questions show you have thought about the job, and they help you decide if this role is right for you.

Have two or three questions ready. You may not get to ask them all, and some may be answered during the interview, so it helps to prepare a few more than you need.

The best questions are ones you genuinely want answered. If the answer would change how you feel about the job, it is a good question to ask. Write yours down and keep them next to your camera or on a notepad; glancing at notes at this point is completely normal.

Questions about the role

Questions about the first 90 days and how success is measured are useful because the answers tell you what the team expects early on. They also give you a natural opening to mention a relevant story of your own, briefly, if it fits.

• What would you want someone in this role to have done in the first 90 days?
• How do you measure success in this role after the first year?
• What does a typical week look like?
• What is the biggest challenge for this role right now?

Questions about the team and the company

A question that mentions something specific about the company, such as a product launch or a new market, shows you did your homework. Keep it curious rather than critical.

• What is the team’s biggest challenge at the moment?
• How does the team share work and make decisions?
• Who would I work with most closely, outside the team?
• What do you enjoy most about working here?
• I read about [recent news]. How does that affect this team?

Match the question to the interviewer

A recruiter knows the process, the timeline and the company at large. Ask them about next steps, the team’s setup and what the hiring manager values. A hiring manager knows the work. Ask them about priorities, challenges and how they like to work with their team.

Listen during the interview for a thread to pick up. A follow-up such as “You mentioned the team is moving to a new system. What has been hardest about that?” shows you were paying attention, and often leads to the most useful conversation of the day.

What to avoid

• Questions you could answer from the company’s website.
• Leading with pay, time off or perks in a first interview. Those belong in the recruiter conversation or the offer stage.
• Yes or no questions that end the conversation.
• Asking how you did. It puts the interviewer in an awkward spot. Ask about next steps instead.

Closing the interview

After your questions, close with one sentence on why you want this role. Then ask what the next steps are, and thank them for their time. Afterward, send a short thank-you note within 24 hours, and write down the questions you were asked while you still remember them.