Examples of opening and closing interview questions
Deciding on opening and closing interview questions in advance can help you steer the conversation so you get the information you need to make an informed hiring decision while making candidates feel confident and comfortable.
Here’s a list of 40 opening and closing interview questions you can use when conducting interviews.
20 questions for opening the interview
The following introductory interview questions can create a starting point for your conversation:
- Tell me about yourself.
- Where did you learn about this opportunity?
- Tell me something about yourself that isn’t on your resume.
- How do you see your career developing in the next few years?
- What are you most proud of in your professional life?
- How would your former colleagues or employers describe you?
- What unique strengths or qualities do you bring to a team?
- What’s your greatest accomplishment so far?
- What do you hope to get out of this role?
- What motivates you?
- What aspects of your current or previous job did you enjoy the most?
- What led you to apply for this position?
- What interests you the most about this position?
- What do you know about our organization?
- Why do you want to work for this company?
- What are your career goals?
- What makes you a good fit for this company?
- How do you measure success?
- What about our company’s mission resonates with you?
- What makes you the best candidate for this position?
20 questions for closing the interview
- Do you have any questions for me?
- Is there anything we haven’t talked about that we should?
- What else should I know about you?
- Would you like to revisit anything from this interview?
- How are you feeling about the position now?
- Does this role line up with your expectations?
- Do you feel qualified for this role? If not, what do you need to get there?
- Why should I hire you?
- What makes you stand out from your competition?
- What makes you a good fit for this role?
- What would be your immediate goals if you were offered this position?
- How would you contribute to this organization’s mission?
- Do your values align with those of the company?
- How does this position align with your career goals?
- If hired, what tools and support would you need to succeed in this position?
- What is the single most significant contribution you could make to this team?
- What is one thing you would like me to remember about you?
- Do you have any concerns or hesitations about moving forward in the hiring process?
- How soon would you be available to start if offered the job?
- Give me your final elevator pitch in one minute or less.
How to customize opening and closing interview questions
Tailoring interview questions to the position you’re filling can help you get the information you need to make an informed hiring decision. When creating customized interview questions, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Focus on the role: The questions you ask should relate to the position you’re filling. For example, if you’re hiring a coder, focus on technical skills, whereas if you’re hiring an artist, incorporate questions that let the candidate’s creativity shine through.
- Be clear and concise: A candidate should be able to understand your interview questions easily, so use simple language to minimize confusion.
- Use open-ended questions: Open-ended questions invite dialogue and often provide opportunities for rich, insightful conversations.
- Create follow-up questions: Follow-up questions let you dive deeper into a candidate’s answer, so be ready to respond. Questions such as “Why do you think that?” or “What happened next?” can encourage a candidate to provide additional insight into their thoughts or reactions in certain circumstances.
How to introduce yourself during an interview
A friendly introduction can create a welcoming environment for job applicants who may be nervous about interviewing. It may also create a rapport that promotes conversation, leading to a more insightful dialogue.
An interview opening statement should include several key introductory elements:
- A greeting that includes the candidate’s name, such as, “Hi, [Interviewee]. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
- Your name and title
- Your relationship to the job being filled (e.g., supervisor, department manager)
- Where you’re located
- How long you’ve been with the company
- A brief description of your job
- An explanation of your role in the interview process
The importance of opening and closing interview questions
By preparing strong first and last interview questions for each candidate, you can provide applicants with opportunities to create strong first and last impressions. Kicking things off with a good interview introduction question sets the tone for the rest of the conversation.
Open-ended questions encourage applicants to introduce themselves and mention things that are important to them, which can create talking points for the rest of the interview. Asking an open-ended question also enables you to see how the candidate naturally communicates, which can help you hire someone who’ll suit the team and company culture.
Finally, allowing the candidate to speak freely at the beginning of the conversation may help them work through any nerves.
Finishing the interview on a strong note is equally important. Asking the right closing interview questions can give each candidate a final chance to make a case for themselves or present relevant information that might otherwise have been missed.
The end of the interview is also a great time for you to invite questions from the candidate. These questions can often help you gauge a candidate’s interest in the company and find out what aspects of the job are most important to them. They may also help you identify areas that can be expanded or improved upon in subsequent interviews.
How to say goodbye at the end of an interview
Wrapping up an interview involves more than just saying goodbye. Having an exit strategy helps you close out the conversation on a positive note. Make the last few minutes of an interview count by:
- Addressing lingering questions or concerns: Before you finish up, provide an opportunity for the applicant to express concerns or ask final questions.
- Thanking the candidate: Thank the candidate for applying for the position and making time for the interview.
- Explaining the next steps: The application and interview process can vary widely from company to company, so let candidates know what your hiring timeline is and additional steps, such as follow-up interviews, reference verifications or a background check. Also, give them a general idea of when they’ll hear from you again.
Inviting further communication: Candidates may have questions after leaving the interview, so invite them to reach out to you if so.