The end of the interview
Questions to ask the interviewer
Have four or five ready for “Do you have any questions for me?” Ask what the person in this role should get done in the first six months, what a typical week looks like, what the hardest part is, and what the next steps are.
What your questions tell them
-
Your interest
CareerOneStop, from the U.S. Department of Labor, says most interviewers ask if you have questions, and to have some ready to show your interest in the role and company.
-
Whether you researched them
Indeed's guide tells employers to notice whether a candidate's questions show they researched the company, because the questions reveal motivations.
-
A red flag if you have none
Indeed lists a lack of questions among the red flags on a phone screen.
Questions worth asking
Pick the ones that fit the job. If an answer interests you, ask a follow-up instead of moving down your list.
-
“What would you want the person in this role to get done in the first six months?”
What you learn: What success looks like, and a chance to connect it to something you've done.
-
“What does a typical week look like in this job?”
What you learn: The real work, which can differ from the posting.
-
“What's the hardest part of this role?”
What you learn: Where people struggle, and whether that's a problem you'd want.
-
“Who would I work with most?”
What you learn: Your day-to-day, and the people you'd rely on.
-
“How do you measure how someone in this role is doing?”
What you learn: The goals you'd be held to.
-
“What do you like most about working here?”
What you learn: A personal answer, and a sense of the culture.
-
“Where have people in this role gone next?”
What you learn: Whether the job leads somewhere.
-
“What are the next steps, and when should I expect to hear back?”
What you learn: The timeline, so you know when to follow up.
What to skip, or save for the recruiter
-
Pay and benefits
SkipSalary or time off, in the interview with the hiring manager.
InsteadAsk the recruiter, on the first call.
-
Things you already know
SkipAnything the posting, the website or the interviewer already covered.
InsteadBuild on it: “You mentioned [thing]. How does that work day to day?”
-
The verdict
Skip“So, did I get it?”
Instead“What are the next steps?”
-
Nothing at all
Skip“No, I think you covered everything.”
InsteadAt least one question, even if most of your list got answered.
You've read the answer. Now say it.
The words come out differently when someone is waiting for them. An AI interviewer asks the questions a hiring manager would, follows up on what you skip, and ends with “What questions do you have for me?”, so you can practice yours out loud. Your answers are scored. The recruiter screen ends the same way.
Your free mocks show the score. The Interview-Ready plan shows you how to raise it.
- As many scored mocks as you want, in every round
- Why you lost points on each skill
- Your weakest answers rewritten, with why the new version scores higher
$29 a month if you join by October 31, and you keep it while you stay (regular $49). 14-day refund from your account. See the plan
More in interview questions
- What are your salary expectations? Ask for their range first. If pressed, give a researched range for this role.
- Tell me about yourself About a minute: what you do now, one highlight, and why this job is next.
- Why do you want to work here? One detail from the posting, one fact about the company, and your link to both.
- Why are you interested in this position? The parts of the job you want to do, and the proof you can do them.