50+ Good Questions to Ask in a Job Interview (Interview Hack)

questions for the interviewer
Created by CakeResume

Congratulations! You're on your way to land that job after sending your resumes and cover letters to uncountable companies.

One last step (or hurdle, you might say) before officially starting your new life is the dreadful interview.

You might think, "Ugh! I don't like being interrogated".

Being put under the spotlight, especially when there's something big at stake, can indeed be frightening. You are probably worried you might suddenly stutter or, worse, become silent. You might also feel anxious because you don't know what they would ask.

But guess what, a job interview is NOT an interrogation. It's actually a chance for the hiring manager to get to know you personally. On the other hand, if you have good questions to ask during an interview, they can also provide you with insights into the role you will be filling in. There's no harm in having questions to ask at the end of an interview or during.

Why Should You Ask the Interviewer Questions?

During a job interview—not having any questions to ask your potential employer can actually sabotage you. By preparing interview questions to ask the hiring manager, you can:

💡 Dig deeper about the company or the role.

Although you've done your due diligence, the internet can only give so much. A few interview questions for the interviewer can provide more information about the work culture and job descriptions that are not public knowledge.

💡 Show that you’re well-prepared.

At the end of an interview, the hiring manager usually would say, "Do you have any questions for me?". They expect you to be prepared and have things to ask in the interview. So if you don't have good interview questions to ask, you will come across as unprepared.

💡 Show your enthusiasm for the role.

Similarly, not having any questions for the interviewer will suggest that you're not truly interested in the position. Worse, it will make it seem like you're only wasting their time.

💡 Leave an impression on the interviewer.

Having unique questions to ask the employer will leave a strong impression on the interviewer and it is a good way to make people remember you. 

💡 Assess if the company culture is right for you.

Before joining a company, you certainly want to know its management style and work culture. This information is usually not easy to find on the internet. You can learn about the business culture by asking the right questions.

Thus, asking polite and good questions to ask the interviewer is crucial for you to get the gist of what it is actually like working there.

Tips on How to Ask the Best Questions in an Interview

Before we get into the specific questions to ask at the end of an interview, let us walk you through some tips first.

💭 Avoid questions centered around you.

Be engaged and invested in getting to know the company instead of asking the interviewer questions about yourself. For instance, avoid asking these questions in a job interview:

  • Do I get the job?
  • Can I change my work schedule if I get the job?

💭 Avoid yes/no questions.

Polar questions are not good questions to ask during an interview. Try not to ask close-ended questions as much as possible so that you can actually have a conversation with whoever is interviewing you. Examples of yes/no questions for the interviewer are:

  • Is there any career path example that begins with this role?
  • Are employees allowed to work remotely?

💭 Avoid asking questions that cover multiple topics.

Be firm and structured. Don't overwhelm people with mixed topics when asking the hiring manager questions during the interview. Stay away from these kinds of interview questions when you ask a potential employer:

  • Why is this position available and is working overtime expected of all employees?
  • What is the most challenging part of the role and how supportive is the management to facilitate the employees?

💭 Avoid questions with obvious answers.

When you prepare questions to ask a potential employer, make sure to do your research first. You can do an internet search, and ask friends who are currently working there or previously worked there. Obvious questions to ask the interviewer during an interview will shed a negative light on you.

  • Does the company have branches in other cities/countries?
    Usually, this information is already on their website.
  • What does the company do?
    Anyone who's applying to anywhere should at least find out what the business is about.

💭 Ask one question at a time.

Be patient and present your questions one by one. Having too many things to ask in an interview will overwhelm the interviewer and may result in them misinterpreting or misunderstanding your questions.

💭 Ask sincere questions.

It is important to show your interest in the company or the hiring manager themselves as a person, good interview questions to ask the hiring manager are supposed to exude your genuine curiosity.

Don't just ask the interviewer questions for the sake of asking. It wouldn't do you any good. A couple of top questions to ask in an interview that show your sincere interest in the person who interviews you include:

  • How long have you been working in the company?
  • What is/are your favorite part(s) about working here?

Killer Interview Questions to Ask Employers

With many things that should be avoided, you might wonder if there are any good questions to ask during an interview.

The answer is yes. There are plenty of great questions to ask your potential employer in an interview.

So.. What are good questions to ask in an interview then?

We've compiled a list of best questions to ask a potential employer in different scenarios and categories. 

✏️ Tip: Be mindful when you draft the things to ask in the interview and always prepare more questions to ask the interviewer. You never know if your interviewer will touch on the topics you have prepared for even before you present your questions.

✅ Good interview questions to ask about the company

  • What are the company's plans for new services/products or plans for growth?
  • What type of individual thrives in this company?
  • What are the goals that the company's trying to achieve in the next 5 years?
  • How has the company changed/developed since you started working here?
  • What can you tell me about the company that isn't widely or publicly known?

✅ Good interview questions to ask about the role

  • What are the day-to-day responsibilities of someone in this position?
  • What skills or expertise are missing in the team that you are hoping to fill in with a new hire?
  • What is the biggest challenge for this role?
  • What accomplishments do you hope/expect to see from the new hire in their first three months, six months, and the first year?
  • How long has this position been open? (If applicable, a follow-up question to ask the interviewer can be, "Why has it been open for so long?")

✅ Questions to ask about the job training and career development

  • What kind of advancement opportunities are available for professional development?
  • What kind of career path examples begin with this position?
  • What type of performance review process the company does on the employees?
  • What type of educational advancement does the company encourage?
  • What types of on-the-job training are available?

✅ Questions to ask a potential employer about the business or company culture

  • What is the management style of this company?
  • How would you describe the company's values?
  • What types of backgrounds does the company look for in their employees?
  • How transparent is the company with employees regarding operations, future plans, and
  • revenues?
  • Other than the ones mentioned on the website, what other types of benefits does the company offer employees?

✅ Best questions to ask during an interview about the expected work performance

  • What types of achievements or traits are rewarded?
  • What is the reward and merit system like for achieving targets?
  • How many hours are expected of me to be able to perform at maximum capacity?
  • What is someone in this position expected to achieve in the first year?
  • Outside of the said working hours, how frequently do employees make themselves available?

✅ Appropriate interview questions to ask about the team

  • To whom will I be reporting?
  • Which departments work closely with this role?
  • What can you tell me about the team that I will potentially be working with?
  • How many people will I be working with?
  • What is the team dynamic like?

✅ Best interview questions for the interviewer themselves

  • What do you enjoy most about your job?
  • How long have you been working here?
  • What was the most challenging thing you've ever had to overcome so far?
  • How would you describe the work environment?
  • As a manager, how do you help your team members achieve work-life balance?

✅ Good questions to ask after an interview about the hiring process

  • How long does it usually take for you (or the company) to make a hiring decision?
  • What is the onboarding process like for new hires?
  • What are the next steps after this interview?
  • What is the timeline for the next stages of your company's hiring process?
  • What is the anticipated/expected date to start for this role?

✅ Questions to ask the interviewer during an informal interview

  • What are the challenges the company is facing right now?
  • What do you like most about the company?
  • What were the top accomplishments of the company over the past year?
  • What skill sets are you looking for to improve your team?
  • What are your expectations of someone who fills in the position?

✅ Questions to ask about a job for a teaching job interview

  • On average, how many students are there in one class?
  • How involved are the students' parents in the children's education?
  • What are the top three priorities that the school/institution focuses on?
  • What types of disciplinary actions does the school/institution take for at-risk students?
  • What resources does the school/institution provide for teachers (for example, teaching materials, textbooks, etc.)?

✅ Top things to ask in an interview for an internship position

  • How frequently do you expect an intern to come into the office?
  • What can you tell me about the possibility of working full-time after completing the internship?
  • What are the most important qualities to become a successful intern?
  • What kinds of resources does the company provide for interns to help them succeed?
  • How will this internship role contribute to your company's goal?

✅ Questions to ask about a job in a sales interview

  • What are the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) that the company measures?
  • How is the sales target set?
  • How do you motivate your sales personnel to achieve their targets?
  • Looking back to the people you've worked with, what differentiates the really great ones from the good ones?
  • How much traveling is required?

✅ Good questions to ask at the end of an interview

  • What can I answer/clarify for you, if you have any reservations about my qualifications or background?
  • Who will be contacting me in regards to any updates about this position?
  • How will the company notify me?
  • When will be a good time for me to follow up?
  • Can I answer any final questions for you?

🔑 Key Takeaways:

These example questions to ask during a job interview are guidelines. Aside from formulating the best questions to ask during an interview, you should also study and prepare your answers for the interview. After all, the company wants to know about you too.

Something to keep in mind for a successful interview: Be authentic when answering their questions and asking the interview questions for the interviewer.

--- Originally written by Teresa Edria ---

Resume Builder

Build your resume only in minutes!

More Articles you might be interested in

Latest relevant articles
Resume & CV
Mar 6th 2024

What to Write in an Email When Sending a Resume [+ Examples & Tips]

Looking for guidance on writing an effective email to send resume? Discover expert tips and email examples to maximize your chances of landing that dream job!