Questions to ask at the end of an interview (and which ones to avoid)

Updated September 15, 2026

At the end of an interview, ask two or three open questions about the role, the team and what success looks like, then ask about next steps. Prepare about five so you still have good ones if some get answered during the interview, and never say you have no questions.

Why the questions at the end matter

When the interviewer asks "Do you have any questions for me?", they are still evaluating you. Good questions show that you understood the role, that you are thinking about doing the job well, and that you are also checking whether the job is right for you. "No, I think you covered everything" is the one answer to avoid.

Questions about the role

• "What would a typical week look like in this role?"
• "What would success look like after the first three months? After a year?"
• "What are the most important priorities for the person in this role right now?"
• "Is this a new position, or am I replacing someone?"

Questions about the team and the manager

• "Who would I work with most closely day to day?"
• "How does the team usually communicate and make decisions?"
• "How do you like to give feedback to people on your team?"
• "What do people who do well on this team have in common?"

Questions about challenges

• "What's the biggest challenge the team is facing this year?"
• "What's something that isn't working as well as you'd like, that this role could help with?"
• "What did the last person in this role do particularly well, or struggle with?"

These are often the most useful questions: the answers tell you what the job is really about, and they give you a chance to say how you would help.

Questions about growth and the company

• "How do people usually grow from this role?"
• "What training or support do new hires get in their first months?"
• "Where do you see the team or the product in the next year?"

Questions about next steps

• "What are the next steps in the process?"
• "When do you expect to make a decision?"
• "Is there anything in my background you'd like me to clarify?"

The last one is bold but useful: it gives you a chance to address a doubt before you leave the room.

Which questions to ask in each interview round

• Recruiter or phone screen. You're talking to a recruiter checking the basics. Ask about the process, the timeline, the team and what the hiring manager cares about most.
• Hiring manager. You're talking to your future manager. Ask about priorities, success after three months, challenges and how they manage.
• Final round or team. You're talking to future teammates or a senior leader. Ask about day-to-day collaboration, culture and where the company is going.

Questions to avoid

• Anything you could find on the company website in two minutes ("So what does your company do?").
• Salary, vacation or remote days in the very first interview, unless the recruiter brings it up. Save it for the recruiter or a later round.
• "Did I get the job?" It puts the interviewer on the spot. Ask about next steps instead.
• Yes/no questions that end the conversation. Open questions start a real exchange.
• Questions that were already answered. Listen during the interview and adapt your list.

How many questions should you ask?

Prepare five, ask two or three. Some will get answered during the interview, so you need spares. If time is short, ask your best one and the next-steps question.

Prepare the rest of the interview

The end of the interview goes better when the beginning did. Start with a solid answer to tell me about yourself, and check what comes up in the hiring manager interview.

Frequently asked questions

Read next

• Second interview questions: how to prepare for the hiring manager interview
• Tell me about yourself: a structure you can say out loud (with examples)