35 of the Best Questions To Ask at the End of an Interview

At the end of nearly every job interview, you'll likely be asked if you have any questions. At this stage, it's a good idea to ask a few questions to learn more about the company and help you decide if the role would be a good fit. By asking genuine questions, you'll also show the employer that you're interested and you care about the role.

In this article, we offer 35 of the best questions to ask as well as some tips on how to come up with your own questions.

Related: 21 Job Interview Tips: How To Make a Great Impression

Image description

Two women sit at a table for an interview. There is text on top of the image; the headline says "End of interview questions," there are three questions under the headline.
1. How would I collaborate with my supervisor?
2. What do you think is the most challenging aspect of the job?
3. What does the ideal candidate for this role look like?

Questions to ask at the end of a job interview

Nearly every interviewer provides you with the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the interview. It's important that you've prepared at least two or three questions that express your interest, as well as show them that you've done your homework by researching the company in advance. Here are the top questions to ask at the end of your interview:

Company-specific questions

The following questions relate directly to the company itself and are helpful to ask in virtually any interview.

1. How would you describe the company's culture?

Asking this question shows the interviewer that you care about finding the right cultural fit in your next position. You can also gain a broad overview of the company's philosophy on how it prioritizes employee satisfaction.

2. What is your favorite thing about working for this company?

Asking about your interviewer's personal experience will provide you with additional insight into the company's culture as well as allows you to create a sense of rapport with the interviewer. Additionally, this question could provide you with an inside view of the best aspects of working for the company.

3. How do you see this company evolving over the next five years?

Asking this question tells the interviewer that you're interested in the future of the company and how your professional growth will align with the company's projected growth.

4. How do you think the company defines and demonstrates its values?

This demonstrates to the interviewer that you've researched the company and want to know how it will align with your own values. It also shows that you are proactively trying to gain a certain level of understanding about the internal workings of the company before joining it.

5. What qualities and attributes make for a successful employee in this company?

This question shows the interviewer that you're determined to succeed and that you want to be sure you'll be a good fit for the company.

6. Who do you consider your top competitor, and why?

You'll have an idea of the company's major competitors from doing your research, but asking the interviewer for their thoughts can be useful for getting more insight that can't be found anywhere else.

7. What are the biggest challenges the company is facing right now?

Asking about challenges can tell you about the current trends and concerns in the industry, possibly identifying areas where your skills could be put to good use.

8. How is the company addressing these challenges?

The interviewer's answer can provide additional insights into the company's ambitions and could organically lead to other questions.

9. What do you think encourages employees to stay at this company?

This question can help you get a broader sense of the company's culture, its values, how employees see the company and how you'll fit in.

Role-specific questions

The following questions are particular to the role you're interviewing for, so do your research beforehand and be careful when asking them that you're not asking questions that could be answered by a quick Google search.

10. Can you elaborate on the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?

This question can clarify the different aspects of the role, especially if it's a cross-functional position or is part of a team. You'll hopefully gain a better understanding of the job responsibilities to help you decide if it is the right job for you. You'll also get a better idea of the specific skills and strengths that are required.

11. Who would I be reporting to?

You may have one boss or many. Either way, you should know what you're going into and what to expect.

12. Will I have an opportunity to meet the person I'd report to during the interview process?

Having the chance to meet with your potential managers is crucial to a professional interviewing process. If they don't offer that chance, try to find out why.

13. How would I collaborate with my supervisor?

Knowing how managers interact with their employees is important in helping you decide whether they're the type of supervisor who will allow you to use your strengths to contribute to the company's success.

14. What do you think is the most challenging aspect of the job?

This shows that you're fully aware that the role won't be without its challenges and gives you an idea of what to expect.

15. What does the ideal candidate for this role look like?

The answer to this question can give you an idea of whether your skills and background align with what the company is looking for.

16. What do you think are the most important qualities for the person in this role to possess?

The answer to this question can provide valuable information that's not listed in the job description, such as company culture and how you'd fit in.

17. Beyond the technical skills required to succeed in this role, what soft skills do you think will serve the company and position best?

The skills held important to the company can give you more insight into the culture and its management values, giving you a better opportunity to decide whether you would fit in.

18. Is this a new position? If not, why did the person before me leave this role?

It might feel forward, but it's a smart question to ask. It's natural to want to know why someone may have been unhappy in this role. If they left the role due to a promotion, that's useful information, and if the last person quit, there's some other driver at play that you need to help you decide whether to continue the pursuit of this role.

19. How have people previously succeeded in this role?

This question serves to give you an idea of how the company measures success.

20. How has this position evolved?

This question is a thinly-veiled inquiry into whether this job has the potential for advancement or is a dead end.

21. What are your expectations for this role during the first 30 to 60 days?

It's important to find out what will be expected of you if you were to be hired into this position. The more you know about the expectations and metrics for success, the easier it will be to tailor your qualifications to demonstrate your fit for the role.

22. How do you evaluate success?

Knowing how the company measures success will help you understand what it would take to advance in your career.

23. Is there a 'typical' career path for someone in this role?

The answer can tell you if the company promotes from within. Asking this question shows your interest in growing with the organization.

24. How do I compare with other candidates you've interviewed for this role?

This can be awkward unless things are going well and you've developed a strong rapport with the interviewer, but the answer to this question can help you see if there are any concerns or issues that you could address to assuage their hesitations about putting you into the role.

25. Do you have any hesitations about my qualifications?

This question puts you in a vulnerable position, but it also shows that you have the confidence to address your weaknesses. Their answer could also provide you with feedback on where you stand, as well as give you the opportunity to address any doubts the interviewer may have while you have their full attention.

26. Have I answered all your questions?

Find out if there's anything the interviewer would like you to revisit. They'll appreciate the offer, and how they answer may be a way for you to estimate how well you're doing.

Related: 125 Common Interview Questions and Answers (With Tips)

Wrap-up questions

These are great to ask as the interview is coming to a close:

27. What is your timeline and what are the next steps?

Make sure to ask this question so you'll know what to expect in the next steps of the interview process. You can also take this opportunity to address any time-sensitive items they should know about, such as if you're considering other offers or if you need to figure out arrangements for relocation, transportation or just adjusting to a new schedule.

28. Do you need me to clarify or elaborate on anything regarding my suitability for the position?

Offering to provide greater detail on any of your answers or anything listed on your resume will certainly be appreciated by the interviewer.

29. Is there anything else I can provide to help you with your decision?

This is a nice way to make sure there is no uncertainty about anything that might affect your candidacy. This will also give the assurance that you've done everything you can to prove your suitability for the job.

30. Has this company changed your original career path?

Since most people love to talk about themselves, give the interviewer the chance to engage in a conversation about their own experiences.

31. What's one of the most interesting projects you've worked on here?

By asking for a specific example, you may be able to get a better idea of what the job will entail and how each role's function contributes to the overarching objectives.

32. What's been your best moment at this company?

This is a great wrap-up question because it prompts the interviewer to reflect on one of their favorite experiences with the company and how it brought value to their overall experience.

33. Where do you see yourself in five years?

This is a good question to ask because as a prospective employee, you'll want to see where the interviewer is headed in their career.

34. Is there anyone else I should meet with?

If they want you to meet the team, it'll show you that the company values team building and a cohesive workplace. Plus, if the interviewer tells you there are three more interviews in the process, then you'll have a better sense of the expected timeline.

35. Are there any other important aspects of the job that we haven't covered?

This is a good wrap-up question that gives you the opportunity to get answers to questions you didn't even know to ask but are actually important.

Related: How to Prepare for Company Culture Interview Questions

Tips for asking questions at the end of an interview

Having questions prepared shows the interviewer that you cared enough to research the company and the position. Try following these tips to make sure you're asking the right questions:

• Ask questions that require more than a simple "yes" or "no," but also take care to avoid asking questions that are too broad to answer concisely. Also, try not to ask questions with obvious answers or answers you could find by looking through the company's website.
  

• Try not to ask more than three questions, but it's a good idea to have up to 10 prepared so you can choose the most appropriate ones according to how the conversation is going.
  

• If all of your questions are answered during the course of the interview, talk about what you had planned to ask and that you have already been given the answers. This can be useful to clarify any misunderstandings or anything that may have been unclear.
  

• Wait to ask about salary or benefits until you're in the negotiation portion of the process with an HR representative.