The best questions to ask at the end of an interview are open, show you did your research and cover the role, the team, growth and next steps.
Prepare four or five, and ask the two or three that fit the conversation.
AdvertisementBelow are 20 questions in five groups, each with a short reason it works, plus a free builder that makes a printable list, a four-step formula and tips from career experts.
Read each question out loud, and make it sound like you.
Quick jump: RoleTeam and managerGrowthCompany and cultureNext stepsFree interview questions list builder
Questions About the Role
These questions show you are picturing yourself doing the work and want to succeed in it.
1. Typical day
Why it works: It helps you picture the work and shows you are thinking about doing it well.
2. First few months
Why it works: The answer tells you what success looks like and shows you plan to make an impact quickly.
3. Success measure
Why it works: It shows you care about results, and it tells you how you will be judged.
4. Tools and learning curve
Why it works: It shows you plan to learn fast, and it tells you what support to expect.
Questions About the Team and Manager
Use these to learn how people work together and how you would be managed.
5. Working together
Why it works: It shows you care about teamwork and helps you judge fit.
6. Check-ins
Why it works: It tells you what daily management looks like.
7. Feedback
Why it works: It shows you welcome feedback and want to improve.
8. Wins and setbacks
Why it works: It reveals the team’s culture in a friendly, open way.
Questions About Growth and Training
These show you are thinking about a long-term fit.
9. Training
Why it works: It shows you want a strong start and tells you how new hires are supported.
10. Growth path
Why it works: It shows ambition and tells you whether the job can grow with you.
11. Development
Why it works: It shows you want to keep learning and tells you what is offered.
12. Team priorities
Why it works: It shows you think about the bigger picture.
Questions About the Company and Culture
Use these to learn where the company is going and what daily life is like.
13. Company direction
Why it works: It shows you are interested in the company, not only the job.
14. Culture
Why it works: It helps you decide whether the workplace fits how you like to work.
15. Favorite part
Why it works: It invites a real answer and builds a friendly connection.
16. Biggest challenges
Why it works: It shows you are ready to help solve real problems.
Questions About Next Steps
Always close with a question about what happens next.
17. Hiring steps
Why it works: It shows interest and tells you whether more interviews are coming.
18. Decision timeline
Why it works: It lets you plan your follow-up and your other interviews.
19. Clarifying your background
Why it works: It gives you a chance to fix a concern before you leave.
20. Extra materials
Why it works: It shows you are ready to help the team decide.
Free Interview Questions List Builder
Step 1. Which interview is this?
Step 2. What do you want to learn most?
Step 3. Tap the questions to add. Prepare four or five, and ask the two or three that fit the conversation.
Step 4. Click any text in the list below and type or modify to make it yours.
Reword each question so it fits the job, and drop any the interviewer already answered. Do not ask about pay in early rounds. Practice saying your questions out loud, and do not read them word for word.
Questions to ask at the end of the interview
Thank you for the conversation today. I enjoyed learning about the role, and I have a few questions if you have time.
Thank you for meeting with me again. I enjoyed meeting more of the team, and I have a few more questions.
Thank you for the time you have given me throughout this process. I am excited about the role, and I have a couple of final questions.
To start with the role, what would success look like in the first few months?
To understand the team better, how would you describe the way the team works together?
Looking ahead, what does the growth path look like for someone who does this job well?
What does a typical day look like in this role?
How is success measured, and how often is feedback given?
Who would I work with most closely on this team?
How do you like to communicate and check in with your team?
What training and support are available in the first few months?
What does the growth path look like for someone who does well here?
What are the biggest challenges the team is facing right now?
Where do you see the company headed over the next few years?
How would you describe the culture here?
What do you enjoy most about working here?
What are the next steps in the hiring process, and when can I expect to hear back?
Thank you again. I am excited about this opportunity and would be glad to share anything else that helps.
To save your list: press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) and choose Save as PDF. Only the list prints. To copy it, select the text inside the list and press Ctrl+C or Cmd+C.
The Four-Step Formula
Coursera advises researching first, leading with curiosity and phrasing questions with “I noticed.” Virginia Tech adds that you should ask about next steps. Here is how to put that into four steps.
| Step | What to do | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Research first | Read the job posting and company page, and note what stood out | I noticed the team recently grew. |
| 2. Ask open questions | Start with what or how, not yes or no | How does that change the way the team works? |
| 3. Tie it to the role | Connect the question to the work you would do | What would success look like in the first few months? |
| 4. Close with next steps | Ask about the timeline and thank the interviewer | What are the next steps, and when can I expect to hear back? |
Which Questions Fit Each Interview Stage?
The numbers below match the question numbers above.
| Interview stage | Best focus | Sample questions |
|---|---|---|
| Phone screen | Next steps and the role | Questions 1, 3 and 17 |
| First interview | Role and team | Questions 2, 5 and 6 |
| Second interview | Growth and manager style | Questions 10, 12 and 7 |
| Panel interview | Team and culture | Questions 8, 14 and 16 |
| Final interview | Priorities and next steps | Questions 13, 16 and 18 |
| Hiring manager chat | Success and feedback | Questions 3, 7 and 19 |
How Many Questions to Ask
| Step | How many | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Prepare | 4 or 5 questions | Virginia Tech |
| Prepare (range) | 3 to 5 questions | Coursera |
| Ask during the interview | No more than 3 | Coursera |
Questions to Avoid and What to Ask Instead
Virginia Tech says to avoid yes-or-no questions and to save pay for a formal offer. Coursera says to avoid questions answered online and questions that start with “why.”
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| What does your company do? | I read about your recent projects. How does this team support them? |
| How much does this job pay? | What are the next steps in the hiring process? |
| Why is this job open? | How did this position come open, and what would you like the next person to do differently? |
| Can I work from home? | How does the team split time between the office and remote work? |
| Do you have any questions about me? | Is there anything about my background you would like me to clarify? |
Do and Do Not
| Do | Do not |
|---|---|
| Prepare four or five questions | Ask more than three in one interview |
| Ask open questions that start with what or how | Ask yes-or-no questions |
| Mention what you learned in your research | Ask what a quick website search answers |
| Ask about next steps | Ask about pay in early rounds |
| Take notes and say thank you | Say you have no questions |
How to Prepare Your Questions
- Read the job posting. Note the duties, tools and goals.
- Research the company. Look at its mission, news and values.
- Write four or five questions. Mix role, team, growth and next steps.
- Practice out loud. Make each one sound natural.
- Bring notes. Take a pen and cross off any question the interviewer answers.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Saying you have no questions. It can look like you are not interested.
- Asking about pay too early. Wait for a formal offer.
- Asking what a website answers. It wastes limited time.
- Asking too many questions. Stay to two or three.
- Forgetting next steps. End with the timeline and a thank you.
- Typos in your notes or thank-you email. Proofread twice.
Interview Questions Checklist
Tick each item as you finish. You are ready when the counter reaches 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I ask questions at the end of an interview?
Virginia Tech career advisor Becca Scott says questions make you look interested, enthusiastic and engaged, and they extend your time with the interviewer. Coursera adds that the interview is a chance for both sides to judge fit.
How many questions should I prepare?
Virginia Tech suggests four or five so you have backups if the conversation answers one or two. Coursera suggests three to five.
How many questions should I actually ask?
Coursera says to ask no more than three during the interview and to use follow-up questions as topics come up. Pick the ones that fit the conversation.
What are good questions to ask?
Ask about the role, the team and manager, growth, the company culture and next steps. Virginia Tech’s examples include what a typical day looks like and how you could make a strong impression in your first few months.
What should I avoid asking?
Avoid yes-or-no questions, questions answered on the company website or job posting, and questions starting with “why,” which can sound combative. Virginia Tech and Coursera also say to avoid topics outside the interviewer’s role, such as salary.
Should I ask about salary or benefits?
Not in early interviews. Virginia Tech advises saving salary, benefits, vacation and perks for a formal job offer.
What if the interviewer answers my questions during the interview?
That is why you prepare backups. You can also ask a follow-up, such as how that works in practice, which shows you were listening.
Should I ask about next steps?
Yes. Virginia Tech suggests asking about the hiring timeline and whether more interviews are expected. The UCF career guide also lists when the hiring decision will be made.
How do I show I did my research?
Coursera suggests phrasing questions with “I noticed” and then tying them to the role, such as “I noticed the team recently grew. How does that change the work?”
How can I ask about flexibility without sounding unable to do the job?
Ask how the team works instead of what you need. Coursera suggests asking whether the team works in the office, remotely or both, and advises avoiding anything that suggests you cannot meet job responsibilities.
Conclusion
Good questions at the end of an interview show interest, help you judge fit and leave a strong last impression. Prepare four or five, ask two or three, and finish with next steps and a thank you. Then use the builder above to make your list today.
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Sources: Virginia Tech News, Questions to ask at the end of the interview to make you shine; Coursera, Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview; UCF College of Business, End of Interview Questions.