The Questions You Should Be Asking Them

“Do you have any questions for us?”

This is not a formality. This is arguably the most important part of the interview. It's the moment where you go from being evaluated to doing the evaluating — and the hiring manager is watching how you handle that shift.

Saying “no, I think you covered everything” is one of the fastest ways to end an otherwise good interview on a flat note.

Questions that show you've done your research

These tell the interviewer you didn't just show up — you prepared. Tailor them to the company and role.

• “I saw the company recently [specific thing — launched a product, expanded to a market, made a hire]. How has that changed the team's priorities?” — Shows you follow the company, not just the job listing.
• “What does the first 90 days look like for someone in this role?” — Shows you're already thinking about how to contribute, not just how to get the offer.
• “What's the biggest challenge the team is facing right now?” — Shows you're interested in the real work, not the polished version.

Questions that reveal red flags

An interview is a two-way evaluation. These questions help you figure out if you actually want to work there.

• “Why is this role open?” — Growth is a good answer. The third person to leave in a year is not.
• “How does the team handle disagreements about direction?” — Tells you about the culture more than any values page.
• “What's something you'd change about working here if you could?” — Watch how they react. Honesty is a good sign. Deflection is not.
• “How is success measured for this role in the first year?” — If they can't answer this clearly, the role may not be well-defined.

Questions to avoid in a first interview

• Salary and benefits — Save this for when they're making an offer. Asking early signals you're more interested in the package than the work.
• “What does the company do?” — You should already know this. Asking it tells them you didn't prepare.
• Anything you could find on the website — Same principle. Do your homework first.
• “How soon can I get promoted?” — Ambition is good. This framing isn't.

Practice asking, not just answering

Here's something most people don't think about: the way you ask your questions matters as much as the questions themselves. Confidence, pace, and clarity apply here too. A great question delivered with hesitation loses its impact.

Try recording yourself asking your prepared questions. Listen back. Do you sound curious and engaged, or nervous and rushed? This is worth a few minutes of practice — it's the last impression you leave.