40 Questions to Ask at the End of a Job Interview (and What to Avoid)

"Do you have any questions for us?" is not the end of the interview. It's your final chance to make an impression. Many candidates simply say "No, you've covered everything," and miss an opportunity to show genuine interest, highlight their preparation, and find out whether the job is right for them.

This guide gives you 40 thoughtful questions to ask at the end of a job interview, grouped by topic, plus advice on how many to ask, which questions to avoid, and how to tailor your choice to a government, private-sector, NGO or graduate interview.

Why Asking Questions Matters

The University of Warwick's careers service notes that not asking any questions can suggest a lack of interest, and that this part of the interview is also your chance to decide whether the job suits you. Good questions do three things:

1. Show interest and preparation: they prove you've thought seriously about the role.
2. Help you decide: you learn about expectations, culture and support before accepting an offer.
3. Give you a final chance to sell yourself: the answers often let you link your experience to their needs.

How Many Questions Should You Ask?

Prepare three to five questions in advance, and plan to ask two or three. Some may get answered during the interview, so having extras means you won't be left with nothing. The Open University's careers guidance suggests preparing one or two focused questions that show you've thought about the role and how it fits your experience. Watch the time: if the interview has run long, ask your best one or two and stop.

40 Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview

About the role

1. What does a typical day or week look like in this role?
2. What are the most important priorities for this role in the first three months?
3. What would success look like in this position after six months to a year?
4. What are the biggest challenges someone in this role will face?
5. Is this a new role, or is it replacing someone? (If replacing, what did the previous person do especially well?)
6. How will my performance be measured?
7. Which skills or qualities make people especially successful in this job?

About the team

8. Who will I be working with most closely?
9. How is the team structured, and who would I report to?
10. How does the team usually communicate and share work?
11. What do you enjoy most about working with this team?
12. How does this team work with other departments?

About the organisation and culture

13. How would you describe the culture here?
14. What do you personally enjoy about working for this organisation?
15. What values are most important to the organisation day to day?
16. How has the organisation changed in recent years?
17. What are the organisation's main goals for the next year or two?
18. How does the organisation support staff wellbeing and work-life balance?

About training and development

19. What training or onboarding is provided for new staff?
20. Are there opportunities for professional development, such as courses or certifications?
21. What career paths have people in this role followed?
22. How often do staff receive feedback or performance reviews?
23. Is there a mentoring or supervision programme for new employees?

About the sector and challenges

24. What challenges or opportunities do you see for the organisation or sector in the coming years?
25. How are new technologies or digital tools changing the way you work?
26. Who do you see as your main competitors or partners, and what makes you different?
27. Are there any upcoming projects this role would be involved in?

About fit and your application

28. Is there anything in my background you'd like me to explain further?
29. Do you have any concerns about my application that I can address now?
30. Based on our conversation, is there anything you think I should develop to succeed in this role?
31. Can I return briefly to an earlier question? I'd like to add a better example.

About next steps

32. What are the next steps in the selection process?
33. When are you hoping to make a decision?
34. Will there be another interview stage, a test or a practical assessment?
35. When would the successful candidate be expected to start?
36. Is there anything else you need from me, such as documents or referee details?
37. What's the best way to follow up with you after today?

For graduate, internship and trainee roles

38. How is the graduate or trainee programme structured?
39. What have previous graduates in this programme gone on to do?
40. What would you advise a new graduate to focus on in their first year here?

The Most Powerful Questions (If You Only Ask Two)

If time is short, these combinations work well in almost any interview:

• "What would success look like in this role after the first six months?" This shows you're focused on results and gives you clear expectations. Both Warwick and the Open University highlight questions about early expectations.
• "What are the next steps in the process?" This is practical, professional and tells you when to expect news.

A bolder option is "Do you have any concerns about my suitability that I can address?" Warwick describes it as risky but valuable, because it lets you respond to doubts before the panel makes a decision. Only ask it if you can respond calmly and positively.

Questions to Avoid

Avoid	Why	Ask instead (if relevant)
"What does your company do?"	Shows you didn't research	"I read about your new rural clinics project. How would this role support it?"
"How much leave do I get?" (in a first interview)	Suggests your priority is time off	Wait for the offer stage, unless the employer raises it
"When can I get a promotion?"	Can sound impatient	"What career paths have people in this role followed?"
"Did I get the job?"	Puts the panel in an awkward position	"What are the next steps in the process?"
"Why should I work for you?"	Sounds confrontational	"What do you enjoy most about working here?"
Yes/no questions	Give you little information	Open questions starting with "what" or "how"

What about salary? The Open University advises not raising pay, benefits or leave during the interview unless the employer brings it up, and saving those discussions for when you have an offer. In many government jobs, salary scales are published in the advert, so check there first. If the employer asks about your expectations, give a researched, realistic range.

Tailoring Your Questions to the Interview Type

Government and public-service interviews

Public-sector interviews, such as those run by recruitment bodies like Tanzania's Public Service Recruitment Secretariat, are often panel-based and structured, with limited time. Ask one or two concise questions about the role's priorities, training for new staff, or next steps. Keep them formal and respectful. For more on public-sector applications, see our Ajira Portal guide.

Private-sector interviews

Questions about targets, performance measurement, competitors and growth plans show commercial awareness. Asking how success is measured is particularly effective for sales, finance and operations roles.

NGO and development-sector interviews

Ask about the project's goals, the communities served, how impact is measured, and how the role works with partners, donors or government. This shows understanding of how development projects work.

Graduate and internship interviews

Focus on training, supervision, learning opportunities and what previous trainees have achieved. These questions show you're serious about developing a career, not just finding any job.

How to Ask Questions Well

• Write them down: it's acceptable to bring a notebook with prepared questions.
• Listen to the answers: respond briefly, and where possible connect the answer to your experience ("That's great to hear; in my field attachment I...").
• Refer to the conversation: asking about something the interviewer mentioned earlier shows you were listening. The Open University specifically recommends this.
• Don't interrogate: two or three questions is usually enough.
• Use names and roles: for panel interviews, you can direct a question to a specific panel member.

How to Close the Interview

After your questions, end with a short, confident closing statement. For example:

"Thank you for your time today. From what you've described, especially the focus on improving reporting accuracy, I'm even more interested in this role, and I believe my experience with reconciliations and Excel reporting would help the team. I look forward to hearing about the next steps."

Then thank each panel member, collect any business cards if offered, and, if appropriate, send a brief thank-you email within a day. Our guide to job interview preparation covers follow-up in detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it bad to say "I have no questions"?

It isn't fatal, but it is a missed opportunity and can suggest a lack of interest. If all your questions have been answered, say so politely and ask about next steps: "You've answered the questions I prepared about training and team structure. Could you tell me about the next steps in the process?"

How many questions should I ask?

Usually two or three. Prepare three to five so you have options.

Can I ask about salary at the end of an interview?

Generally, wait until the employer raises it or makes an offer, unless salary information is missing and you are at a late stage. Check the job advert first, especially for public-sector roles.

Is it acceptable to read my questions from notes?

Yes. Glancing at a notebook shows preparation. Just make sure you maintain eye contact while asking and listening.

What should I ask in an online interview?

The same types of questions work. You might also ask about remote or hybrid working arrangements if the role involves them, and confirm how you'll hear about next steps.

Sources

• University of Warwick Careers: What should you ask an employer at the end of a job interview?
• The Open University: Asking questions at the end
• CUNY Career Plan: Questions to ask at the end of a job interview

Note: Interview practices vary by country, employer and sector. Example statements in this article are fictional. Last reviewed: November 2026.