67 Great Interview Questions to Ask a Potential Employer

When prepping for a job interview, you’ll also need some questions to ask the employer. When it comes to the end of the job interview, you’ll probably be asked “Do you have any questions?” and yes, you do! Of course, you don’t want to ask questions that were answered in the job description, but you also want to make sure that you’re applying to a place where you’d be a good fit.

Just in case your mind might go blank during that crucial job interview, we’ve made a list of great job interview questions to ask a potential employer. Pick and choose which questions to ask an employer, so that you’re ready when the day comes. You only need one or two, but here’s a full buffet so you can choose one that makes a difference to you:

Questions About The Job:

  1. What’s a typical day like here?
  2. What would my first week here look like?
  3. Can you tell me what the expectations are from a team player in this position?
  4. What projects would be the first ones you’d want me to take on?
  5. Can you give me an example of what I’d be working with?
  6. What would you say is the most important skill your ideal candidate would have?
  7. What factors determine if someone is successful here?
  8. Is this a new role that you’re hiring for?
  9. Do you expect anything in this position to change over the next six months?
  10. What’s the hardest part of this position?
  11. How does this position contribute to the overall success of the company?

Related: Ultimate Guide to Job Interview Questions

 

Questions for The Employer:

  1. How long have you worked here?
  2. What would you consider your greatest accomplishment here?
  3. What do you think is the team’s greatest accomplishment?
  4. Why are you in this industry?
  5. What goals do you have for your team?
  6. Has your role changed since you started with the company?
  7. What did you do before this?
  8. What is your favorite part about working here?
  9. Can you walk me through your typical day?
  10. What do you like best about working at this company?

Related: 6 Skills To Ace Your Job Interview

 

Questions About The Company:

  1. Where do you see the company going in the next few years?
  2. Can you tell me anything about the company’s plan for growth?
  3. What are the current goals that the company has set for the team?
  4. How does the company measure the goals that the team is striving towards?
  5. Who do you think is your top competitor and why?
  6. What are the biggest challenges the company is facing?

Related: “What Do You Know About Our Company?” Interview Answer

 

Questions To Ask About the Company Culture:

  1. What’s the culture here like?
  2. How would you describe the work environment here? Is it more independent or group-oriented?
  3. How does everyone keep their work-life balance?
  4. What’s your favorite office tradition?
  5. What does the team normally do for lunch?
  6. Does anyone in this department hang out outside of work?
  7. Are there ever any joint events with other departments/teams?
  8. What’s different about working than other places you’ve worked at?
  9. How has the company changed since you started here?
  10. What are the basics of your telecommuting policy? (Only ask if it’s mentioned in the job description)
  11. How are employees recognized for their hard work?
  12. What can you tell me about the team I’d be working with?
  13. How involved are the employees in setting their own goals?
  14. How do you develop teambuilding skills here?
  15. What does it take to be a top performer here?
  16. How often do employees give updates on their projects?
  17. Do the employees ever feel competitive against each other? How much and how often?

 

Questions About Job Training and Personal Development

  1. How will I be trained?
  2. What kind of mentor system do you have in place?
  3. What kind of opportunities are there for professional development?
  4. Will I be able to represent the company at industry conferences or events?
  5. What kind of training programs do you offer your current employees?
  6. Where have the successful employees progressed to?
  7. How often do you give employees feedback?
  8. What are the performance reviews like?
  9. Do the expectations here change over time?
  10. What kind of accomplishments do you expect a successful candidate to achieve in one month, two months, or six months’ time here?
  11. What goals would my work be judged against?
  12. How do the leaders here set up employees for success?
  13. What kind of advancement opportunities are offered to excellent employees?

Questions About Expectations After the Job Interview

  1. What’s the next step in the process and when will I hear back from you?
  2. Is there anything on my resume that you’d like more information about?
  3. Is there any other information that I can provide you with?
  4. Would you like to see more examples of my work?
  5. Do you need more references than I have provided?
  6. Is there anything that concerns you about my past experience that is not a good fit for this role?
  7. Do you have an ideal start date in mind?
  8. Is there anything else I can help you with that would be helpful?
  9. Can I answer any final questions for you?
  10. What are the next steps in the interview process?

Related: What to Write in a Thank You Note After a Job Interview

 

5 Questions You Should NEVER Ask in a Job Interview:

  1. Who is your target customer/what do you do here? (You should have researched this before the interview.)
  2. Do you do background checks or drug tests? (The hiring manager should have already told you by this point, plus asking this implies that you have something to hide.)
  3. What’s your benefits package? (This question is only acceptable after a job offer has been extended to you.)
  4. How soon can I get a raise? or: How soon can I get a promotion? (This implies that you’re already not satisfied with the pay and job that they’re hiring for. Instead, you can ask about training programs or professional development opportunities offered for the employees who have already been hired.)
  5. How many warnings do you get before you’re fired? (This tells the hiring manager that you’ve been fired before, even after being warned.)

Related: Words to Never Include On Your Resume

 

By now you should have found at least a few questions that you’d like answered. You’re now ready and have questions for an employer, so when they say “do you have any questions for us?”, you’ll have a go-to! It’s important that you choose a job that you feel is a good fit for you – and not just which one is willing to hire you. After all, work can become a huge part of your life, so make sure it’s at a place that fits you!

If this article has been helpful, then you might want to check out:

15 Most Powerful Video Job Interview Tips

Addressing Salary Expectations in a Job Interview

What to Write in a Thank You Note After a Job Interview

Top 12 Job Scams Warning Signs

And of course, if the interview doesn’t work out, apply to our current job openings here:

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