Questions to Ask Your Interviewer During Every Stage of Your Job Interview

Your job interview isn’t just about you. While it’s an opportunity for you to describe your work experience, career, and qualifications for the position at hand, it’s also about the interviewer, company, and potential team members. For this reason, having thoughtful questions to ask in an interview is essential.

But what exactly should you ask? While it's good to ask some questions that arise based on your conversation (this shows that you’re involved and paying attention), you should also come prepared with some stock questions. Here are 64 questions to ask in an interview that might come in handy for different scenarios.

How to prepare questions to ask an interviewer

Ensuring that your questions are carefully chosen is important for three reasons. First, it shows that you’ve spent time thinking about the position and company, which demonstrates that you’re invested in this job prospect. Second, it gives the hiring manager a chance to talk about themselves and the company. 

Third, and perhaps most importantly, asking questions gives you the opportunity to learn more about the position and company. Just as much your interviewer is performing an evaluation, you’re also evaluating. You should be gauging whether this position is a good fit for you and your goals, and asking the right questions in an interview is one of the best ways to figure that out.

Here are a few tips on how to approach this part of the interview.

• Study the employer. You’ve probably heard this before, but it’s worth repeating—research the company. Take some time to explore their website and social media to learn about their values, mission, and tone of voice. This will help you come up with thoughtful questions in addition to the general ones.

• Be as specific as possible. While general questions (say, “What does a typical day look like?”) are totally acceptable, make an effort to be more specific. Depending on who’s interviewing you, consider asking about the challenges of the role, the team and department structure, or even what you're expected to achieve in the first 90 days.

• Come up with questions that relate to the conversation. Pay attention to what your interviewer is saying and try to ask questions based on that. This will show that you're engaged and genuinely interested, rather than just asking random questions.

Read this next: How To Rock A Panel Interview And Land Your Perfect Job

64 good questions to ask in an interview

Here are 64 insightful questions to ask in an interview, organized by theme and interview stage, to help you stand out and make a lasting impression.

Questions about the employer and company

These questions will help you assess the company culture, their expectations for employees, and their direction for the future. Based on the interviewer's responses, you’ll get a sense of whether the workplace is toxic, if the company is facing challenges, and what you can expect in terms of the bigger picture.

1. What excites you about this company?

2. How do you see the company growing and changing in the foreseeable future?

3. Can you tell me more about that [initiative or project previously mentioned]?

4. Where can you see the company heading in the future?

5. What does your onboarding process look like?

6. What are some goals the company is currently focusing on?

7. How would my team work to help achieve these goals? 

8. How does the company's values x,y, and z manifest in the workplace daily?

9. How do you ensure these values are being upheld?

10. What's the typical management style here?

Questions to ask an interviewer about the role

You can't go wrong with questions about the role. After all, you and the interviewer are both meeting to determine if you're a good fit and capable of fulfilling the job's responsibilities. Just be sure you're not asking something that's already explicit in the job listing.

11. Is this a new position?

12. I’m really excited about this opportunity. Could you tell me more about the role?

13. If I started in the position tomorrow, what would I be working on for the first month?

14. Could you describe the potential for growth in this role?

15. What are the day-to-day responsibilities for this role?

16. What attributes should an employee have to be successful in this role?

17. Why did the last person leave the position?

18. Do you have any examples of projects I'd be working on?

19. What skills and attributes the team is missing that you're looking to fill with a new hire?

20. What's the biggest challenge I would face in this position?

21. What team would I be on and who would I report to?

Questions to ask the interviewer in a phone screening

Phone interviews are often short and straightforward. The recruiter wants an overview of your skills and experience, and confirms your availability for the next round of interviews—which could be in person or on a video call. Asking a couple of simple questions at the end is a way of winding down the interview without ending it abruptly. Take the opportunity to learn more about the hiring process timeline.

22. When are you looking to bring candidates in for in-person interviews?

23. When can I expect to hear from you again?

24. Who will I be meeting in the next round of interviews?

Interview questions to ask about the interviewer

People often like to talk about themselves. When you ask questions, particularly ones that allow them to discuss an experience or responsibilities, you can get an idea of what your interviewer thinks of the company, helping you understand what you’d be stepping into.

25. How long have you been working here?

26. What do you like best about working here?

27. Has your role changed since you started working here?

28. What excites you the most about hiring a person for this position?

29. What challenges do you often face in your job?

Best questions to ask in an interview with your future boss

An interview with your future boss is your opportunity to ask about the technical aspects of the role that a hiring manager or recruiter might not be able to answer. If you get hired, you'll be working with this person daily, so you can also use the opportunity to learn more about their work style.

30. What teams would I be working with?

31. What's your management style?

32. How does your management structure work?

33. How do you evaluate success? 

34. Can you tell me more about the team?

35. Can you tell me about my direct reports?

36. How and how often do you give feedback?

37. How long have you been a manager?

38. What goals will my performance be evaluated against?

39. Do you expect to hire more people for this department in the near future?

40. What do you like most about leading a team?

Questions about career development and training

When considering any job opportunity, you should reflect on how it will fit into your career trajectory. If the company provides opportunities for professional development, that’s a step in the right direction. Furthermore, a company that invests in its employees and wants them to learn and grow is a company that will value you beyond the work you contribute.

41. What kinds of initiatives or programs does the company sponsor?

42. What kinds of opportunities does the company provide for professional development?

43. Are there any opportunities for career advancement within the company?

Questions to ask an interviewer about company culture

Finding out what employees do in after-office hours can help you gauge if it's a company that works and plays together, or if it's more of a place where people go their separate ways once 6 p.m. hits. There’s nothing wrong with either, but since office culture can impact your job satisfaction and relationships with coworkers, it’s worth asking. Maybe there’s a group who frequents a bar for trivia. There might even be an office band that practices after work.

44. What do employees do outside of work?

45. How would you describe the work environment here?

46. What's your favorite office tradition?

47. What was the last company wide event?

Questions to ask if you're applying for a remote position

Remote work has its own set of challenges on top of the regular ones employers and employees often face. This is why there are some essential questions to ask in an interview if you're applying for a remote position.

48. Is the whole team remote?

49. What tools does the team use to communicate and collaborate?

50. Are there any professional or social events the team attends in person?

51. How does the company ensure that remote and hybrid employees are given the same opportunities?

52. Would I be working in regular office hours?

53. Are there any team members in different time zones? How would this affect our interactions?

Unique interview questions to ask employer

If the usual questions have already been answered during the interview and you want to ask something creative—while keeping it professional and polite—try these unique questions:

54. What are your biggest goals and initiatives for the company (or/and the position)?

55. How did you get involved with the company?

56. What keeps you here?

57. What makes this office/company special?

58. What surprised you most once you started here?

Good questions to ask at the end of an interview

Before you leave, make sure you know what to expect moving forward. It’s also a good idea to double-check if the interviewer needs any additional information from you.

59. Would it be possible to meet the team members who work with the person in this position?

60. What does your timeline for filling the position look like?

61. What are the next steps in the hiring process?

62. What’s the best way to contact you if I have further questions?

63. When can I expect to hear from you again?

64. Do you need anything else from me?

What not to ask in an interview

Some questions should never be asked, while others are best saved for when you receive an offer or start working. Steer clear of:

• “When do I start?” This can come across as presumptuous if you haven’t been offered the job yet.

• “When does PTO kick in?” Asking about time off too soon may seem unprofessional.

• “What does your benefits package look like?” It’s best to discuss compensation when an offer is on the table or if the interviewer brings it up first.

A final note

Interviews require a great deal of preparation. Coming up with questions to ask is just one part of the process—though an important one, so make sure to take it seriously. Asking thoughtful questions shows you're genuinely interested in the role and eager to learn more. It also gives you insight into the company's structure, culture, and potential challenges, helping you decide whether to accept an offer when the time comes.

Amanda Cardoso contributed to the latest version of this article.