Questions to ask the interviewer
“Do you have any questions for us?” is still part of the interview. Pick two or three of these, one from the work and one from the team, and you leave a better last impression than most candidates.
About the work
What would a normal week in this role look like?
The posting lists everything; this tells you what fills the hours.
What would you want someone in this role to have done in their first three months?
Shows you are thinking about results, and tells you what they will judge you on.
What is the hardest part of this job?
Interviewers answer honestly more often than you expect, and it shows you are not only looking for the easy parts.
Which tools or systems would I work with most?
Tells you what to brush up on before day one.
About the team
Who would I work with most closely, and how big is the team?
A team of three and a team of forty are different jobs.
How does the team decide what to work on each week?
Tells you how much say you would have, and how organised the team is.
What do people who do well here have in common?
An honest answer describes the culture better than any careers page.
About learning and growth
How do new joiners learn the work: training, a buddy, on the job?
For a fresher, this matters more than almost anything else in the offer.
What have people in this role moved on to inside the company?
Shows where the role can lead, without asking about promotion on day one.
How is performance reviewed, and how often?
Tells you when and how you would get feedback, and when pay is reviewed.
About what happens next
What are the next steps, and when should I expect to hear back?
Lets you plan, and gives you a date to follow up after.
Is there anything about my background you would like me to explain further?
Gives you a last chance to answer a doubt before they decide.
What not to ask first
- What does your company do? (It shows you did not read about them.)
- How much leave do I get? How soon can I work from home? (Fine later, after an offer; not as your first question.)
- Did I get the job? (Ask about next steps instead.)
- Anything about salary in the first round, unless they raise it.
Questions people ask
How many questions should I ask?
Two or three. Have four or five ready, because some get answered during the interview; ask the ones that are left.
Is it bad to say “No, I don’t have any questions”?
It reads as low interest. One real question about the work or the team is enough to show you thought about the job.
Can I ask about salary?
In the HR round or once they make an offer, yes. In a first technical or manager round, leave it unless they raise it.
Prepare the rest of the interview too
The answers they will ask for, with practice tools, and a résumé that holds up to their questions.