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Best Questions to Ask in a Job Interview

Illustration of an interview on the right corner, with big headline in white, saying "Best Questions to Ask During Interview

Don't just ask random questions at the end of the interview. It won't make you stand out, and it can destroy your impression. Asking questions is just as important as answering the interviewer's questions. 

Make sure you ask the best questions that can add positive value to your interview process. Here are some of the best questions to ask at the end of the interview.

Questions About the Role and Responsibilities

A job description provides a general overview, but it often lacks details about the day-to-day work, key expectations, and challenges. Asking the right questions helps you gain a clearer picture of what the role entails and whether it aligns with your skills and career goals.

1. What does a typical day in this role look like?

This question helps you understand:

  • Daily tasks and responsibilities

  • Work structure and pace

  • Tools and processes used in the role

It also gives insight into whether the job matches your working style and expectations.

2. What are the key priorities for this position in the first 3–6 months?

Asking about initial expectations shows that you are proactive and eager to contribute. The response will help you understand:

  • The most important tasks or projects to focus on early in the role

  • Whether the company provides structured onboarding or training

  • Short-term goals and how success is measured

3. What challenges do people in this role often face?

Every job comes with challenges, and knowing them in advance allows you to prepare. This question helps you understand:

  • Common difficulties such as workload management or cross-team collaboration

  • Potential technical or operational roadblocks

  • How the company supports employees in overcoming these challenges

By asking these questions, you not only gather valuable information but also demonstrate curiosity, enthusiasm, and a strategic mindset—qualities that employers value in a strong candidate.

Read more: How to Research a Company to Determine If It's a Good Fit for You

Questions About the Team and Work Environment

When you're interviewing for a job, understanding the team dynamic and work environment is just as important as evaluating the role itself. Here are three key questions to ask, along with why they matter and what to look for in the answers.  

1. Can you tell me more about the team I’d be working with? 

This question helps you gauge the structure, size, and roles within the team. It gives insight into:  

  • Team composition that you will be working with, ex: specialists, generalists, or a mix

  • Work relationship: either you will collaborate with a close-knit group or a larger department

  • Which team you will interact with oftenly, is it marketing, product, or engineering 

A good answer should clarify who your direct teammates are, how responsibilities are divided, and what the overall team culture is like.  

2. How does the team typically collaborate and communicate?

Effective communication is key to productivity and job satisfaction. This question helps you understand:  

  • Collaboration tools that the team use more often (Slack, Microsoft Teams, Notion, or other platforms)

  • The meeting culture, for example they do daily stand-ups or weekly or mostly asynchronous communication 

  • The way the team does to stay aligned if it’s hybrid or remote

Look for an answer that aligns with your preferred work style. If you thrive in structured meetings, but the team operates informally, that’s something to consider.  

3. What’s the management style of the team leader?

Your relationship with your manager plays a huge role in job satisfaction. This question helps you determine:  

  • Leadership approach from the manager whether they are hands-on or more of a mentor

  • Whether you have the freedom to make decisions, or it’s close oversight

  • How often does the manager provide feedback and support professional development

Ideally, you want to hear that the leader encourages open communication, supports career growth, and creates a positive team culture.  By asking these questions, you’ll gain a clearer picture of whether the work environment suits you and if the team is a place where you can thrive. 

Things that are the sign of company’s red flag: Red Flags to Watch for When Researching a Company

Questions About Company Culture and Values

Understanding a company’s culture is crucial to determining if it’s the right fit for you. These questions will help you assess the work environment, values, and how the company prioritizes employee well-being.  

1. How would you describe the company culture?  

This open-ended question gives insight into what it’s actually like to work at the company beyond what’s written in job descriptions. Key areas to pay attention to include:  

  • The work pace from the company tends to be fast-paced and high-pressure, or more relaxed and collaborative

  • The dynamic of the team, they normally work independently or there is a strong team-oriented mindset

  • Find out the company's innovation and stability, whether they like to take a risk and new ideas or more traditional and process-driven

A good answer will provide real examples rather than vague buzzwords like “we’re like a family” or “we work hard, play hard.” Look for specifics on team interactions, leadership styles, and the company’s approach to challenges.  

2. What are the company’s core values, and how are they reflected in day-to-day work?

Company values can often be found on a website, but the real test is whether they are actively practiced. This question helps you understand:  

  • Employees and leaders embody these values in their daily work

  • Business decisions are aligned with these values or are just words on a wall 

  • Whether the company hold itself to these standards even when it’s challenging 

For example, if a company values “transparency,” you might want to hear about open communication between leadership and employees. If they value “innovation,” they should provide examples of how they encourage new ideas from employees at all levels.  

3. How does the company support work-life balance? 

Work-life balance is a key factor in job satisfaction and long-term success. This question helps you determine:  

  • The working hours of the company, whether it has flexible schedule or remote work options 

  • The company rules about vacation days, sick leave, and personal time off

  • Companies often make employees feel pressured to work late or respect their personal time

Look for concrete policies or cultural norms that support balance. A company that truly values work-life balance will offer benefits like mental health days, wellness programs, or a culture where employees are encouraged to disconnect after work hours.  

If you prefer to work with flexible time or remotely, you can look at another blogpost from Jobier about Best Job Boards for Remote and Flexible Work

Questions About Growth and Career Development

A job isn’t just about what you’ll be doing today—it’s also about where it can take you in the future. These questions will help you understand the company’s commitment to employee growth and whether the role aligns with your long-term career goals.  

1. What opportunities for growth and advancement are available in this role? 

This question helps you determine if the company promotes from within and what career progression looks like. Key areas to explore include:  

  • Find out the typical growth trajectory look like for someone in this role and clear next steps for advancement

  • Company has structures process for promotions or it’s more based on opportunity and timing

  • Whether the company encourages employees to explore other roles within the company, or the career progression is limited to a single track 

A strong response should include examples of employees who have grown within the company and an explanation of how the promotion process works.  

2. Does the company offer training, mentorship, or professional development programs?

Continued learning is key to staying competitive in any field. This question helps you assess:  

  • About formal training programs in the company, such as  workshops, courses, or certifications to help employees improve their skills

  • The structured mentorship programs where employees can learn from senior team members

  • Whether the company provides funding for attending industry events or online learning platforms

Companies that value employee growth will often have dedicated resources for upskilling and mentorship. If they don’t, consider whether they encourage self-driven learning or offer other ways to support development.  

3. How does the company support employees in achieving their long-term career goals?  

This question goes beyond immediate promotions and looks at the company’s commitment to long-term career success. Important aspects to consider include:  

  • How the company response about employees personal career goals and do they want to provide support to achieve them

  • Supportive programs to help employees transition into leadership roles

  • Provide opportunities for employees to take on new challenges and responsibilities that align with their aspirations

Look for answers that indicate the company sees employees as long-term investments rather than just filling a role. A great employer will actively support your career ambitions and help you grow over time.  

Feel struggle to put your past experiences with the job applications? Read Jobier another blog about tips to align your past skills with the job descriptions.

Questions About Performance and Expectations

Understanding how success is measured in a role is crucial. It helps you set clear goals, align with company expectations, and determine whether the role is a good fit for your skills and work style. These questions will give you insight into performance metrics, feedback processes, and overall expectations.  

1. How is success measured in this role?  

This question helps you understand what the company values and how they define high performance. Key aspects to look for include:  

  • The measurement of success, ex: sales targets, project deadlines, collaboration, leadership, innovation

  • The evaluation of success, whether it’s based on immediate results or the company look at long-term contributions

  • Whether company emphasize individual achievements or it’s more about team outcomes

A strong answer should give you a clear idea of what it takes to excel in the role and how you’ll know if you’re on the right track.  

2. What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this position? 

KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are specific metrics used to measure job performance. Asking this question helps you understand:  

  • The tasks or objectives that are considered most important in this role  

  • Targets or goals you should aim to achieve within the first 3, 6, or 12 months 

  • How the company tracks and measures progress. Do they use software, reports, or performance dashboards? 

For example, if you’re in sales, your KPI might be the number of closed deals per quarter. If you’re in marketing, it could be lead generation or engagement metrics. Knowing these expectations upfront helps you prepare and set realistic goals.  

3. How often do employees receive performance reviews and feedback?

Regular feedback is essential for professional growth. This question helps you determine:  

  • The time of performance evaluations, either it’s quarterly, biannually, or annually

  • The format of feedback is given in structured performance reviews or it’s provided informally throughout the year

  • Guidance offerings and coaching to help employees improve

Ideally, you want to work in an environment where feedback is constructive, ongoing, and focused on growth rather than just criticism. 

A company with a strong feedback culture ensures that employees understand how they’re performing and what they can do to advance in their careers.  

Your resume always getting rejected? Surely it missed something. Read this blog to know how to make your resume stand out and pass the screening process. 

Questions About the Company’s Future and Goals

Understanding where a company is headed can help you determine whether it’s a place where you can grow and thrive. These questions give you insight into the company’s vision, strategic direction, and potential challenges.  

1. What are the company’s main goals for the next year?

This question helps you understand the company’s priorities and how it plans to grow. Key areas to pay attention to include:  

  • Company focus on business growth (expansion, new product launches, or market penetration)

  • Financial purpose for the company, such as profitability, securing funding, or increasing revenue  

  • Major initiatives such as adopting new technology, improving customer experience, or entering new industries

A strong answer should give you a sense of whether the company has a clear strategy and if its goals align with your career interests.  

2. How does this role contribute to the company’s larger mission?  

Every role should have a purpose beyond just day-to-day tasks. This question helps you see:  

  • How your work support the company’s long-term goals

  • The contributions of your work will make a noticeable difference in the company’s success  

  • Your role may involve collaborating with other teams to achieve key objectives 

For example, if the company’s mission is to revolutionize online education, a marketing role might contribute by creating content that attracts students, while a developer role might build tools to improve the learning experience.  

3. What are some of the biggest challenges the company is currently facing?

No company is without challenges, and understanding them can help you assess job stability and potential risks. This question helps you evaluate:  

  • Knowing the industry-specific that company faces currently (economic downturns, supply chain issues, regulatory hurdles)  

  • Company concerns about employee retention, restructuring, or leadership changes

  • Competitive landscape, for example facing pressure from new competitors, shifting customer preferences, or technological disruptions

A transparent answer indicates that the company is self-aware and working towards solutions. Be cautious if the interviewer avoids the question or gives overly vague responses.  

The first answer has a big role in your success. "Tell me about yourself" is a common question to be asked in the beginning of an interview. Read this blog to handle it easily. 

Questions About the Hiring Process and Next Steps

As your interview wraps up, it's important to clarify what comes next. These questions help you understand the timeline, expectations, and whether there's anything else you can do to improve your chances.  

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

This question provides insight into what to expect after the interview. Key details to listen for include:  

  • Understanding the additional interviews as a steps of the hiring process 

  • The length of decision timeline to make hiring decisions

  • The process of the onboarding and training, what should be prepared

A clear response helps you prepare for what’s ahead and shows that you’re proactive about moving forward.  

2. Is there anything else you need from me to make a decision?

Asking this question allows you to:  

  • Give the interviewer needs additional information, such as work samples or references

  • Reinforces your interest in the role and willingness to go the extra mile

  • Clarify if they have any doubts or concerns, this gives you a chance to address them directly

A good response should confirm that the hiring team has everything they need—or provide you with actionable next steps.  

3. When can I expect to hear back about the next steps?

This question helps you manage expectations and reduces post-interview uncertainty. Important aspects to consider:  

  • How long you will hear back from the interview 

  • Communication method they use to give the results (via email, phone, through a recruiter)

  • Is it appropriate to follow up If you don’t hear back within the given timeframe

A specific answer gives you clarity on when to expect a decision, so you’re not left guessing. If the timeline is vague, it’s a sign you may need to follow up later.  

Tailor your resume manually? It’s not what you do anymore. Let AI do the work, and you can use the time to do anything else. Here’s how to use AI to tailor your resume. 

Set Yourself Up for Success

The questions you ask in a job interview are just as important as the answers you give. They show your enthusiasm, help you gather essential insights, and leave a lasting impression on the interviewer. 

By preparing thoughtful questions, you demonstrate that you are serious about the opportunity and proactive about making the right career choice.

Looking for more ways to improve your job search? 

Jobier can help. With AI-powered tools for resume building, cover letter writing, and interview preparation, Jobier makes it easier to land your next job with confidence. Get started today and take the next step toward your career goals.

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2/26/2025
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