Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview: 30 Examples

Quick answer: prepare five to eight questions and ask two or three that the interview has not already answered. Match them to the person in front of you: ask a recruiter about the process, a hiring manager about expectations and challenges, an engineer about how the team works, and a senior leader about direction. Close with a question about next steps.

This guide gives 30 example questions grouped by interview round, the questions to avoid, and a closing statement you can adapt. It is written for software engineers and other tech candidates in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and other English-language job markets, and most of the questions work for any professional role.

Why "Do you have any questions for us?" matters

Most interviews end with this question, and "No, I think you covered everything" gives away the last few minutes you control. Good questions do two jobs: they show you have thought about the role, and they help you decide whether you actually want it.

Career services give the same advice. The Worcester Polytechnic Institute career center's tip sheet on questions for the interviewer suggests preparing three or four thoughtful questions, and Microsoft's interview tips tell candidates to prepare questions and to ask when they can expect to hear back (both checked 15 October 2026).

Write your questions down before the call. Glancing at a short list is normal, and it shows you prepared.

Questions to ask a recruiter

A recruiter cares about fit, logistics and keeping you moving through the process. Ask about the process and the role rather than technical detail.

1. "What does the rest of the process look like, and how should I prepare for each round?"

2. "Is this a new position or a replacement for someone who moved on?"

3. "What does the hiring manager care about most in this hire?"

4. "Is the role remote, hybrid or office-based, and which time zones does the team work in?"

5. "What is the timeline for a decision?"

6. "Is there anything in my background you would like me to make clearer for the hiring manager?"

If pay has not come up, the recruiter call is usually the right place to ask about the range. Our salary expectations guide covers what to say when they ask you first.

Questions to ask the hiring manager

The hiring manager decides what success looks like. Ask questions that help you picture the job after you join.

7. "What would you want someone in this role to have achieved after 90 days?"

8. "What is the biggest challenge the team is facing right now?"

9. "How will you measure success in this role after the first year?"

10. "What separates the strongest people on your team?"

11. "How do you like to give feedback, and how often do you hold one-to-ones?"

12. "If you could change one thing about how the team works, what would it be?"

Questions to ask engineers in technical rounds

Engineers can tell you what the job is like day to day. Keep the questions practical and show interest in the work itself.

13. "What does a typical week look like for you?"

14. "How does code get from a pull request to production here?"

15. "How are on-call and incidents handled on this team?"

16. "What is a recent technical decision the team debated, and how was it settled?"

17. "How is time split between new features, maintenance and technical debt?"

18. "What do you wish you had known in your first month?"

Questions for a final round or a senior leader

Senior interviewers think about direction and priorities. One thoughtful question about strategy lands better than several small ones.

19. "Where do you see this product or team in the next two years?"

20. "How does this team's work connect to the company's priorities this year?"

21. "What kind of person does well here, and who tends to struggle?"

22. "How has the team changed over the last year?"

23. "A year from now, what would make you feel this hire was a great decision?"

24. "What do candidates often misunderstand about the company's direction?"

Questions about next steps and fit

25. "What are the next steps, and when should I expect to hear back?"

26. "Is there anything from today you would like me to expand on?"

27. "Is there anything about my fit for the role that I could address now?"

28. "Who else would I meet if I move forward?"

29. "Is there anything I should read or review before the next round?"

30. "What do you enjoy most about working here?"

Question 27 takes some nerve, but it gives you a chance to answer a doubt before the interviewer writes it down. If the answer is "nothing", you have lost nothing.

Questions to avoid

1. Anything the interviewer already answered. It suggests you were not listening.

2. Facts from the company's homepage, such as what the product does.

3. "Did I get the job?" Ask about next steps instead.

4. Detailed leave and benefits questions in a technical round. Save them for the recruiter or the offer stage.

5. Yes-or-no questions. "Do you like working here?" gets a polite "yes"; "What do you enjoy most about working here?" gets a real answer.

6. Questions that sound like complaints, such as "How strict are you about working hours?"

A closing statement you can adapt

After your questions, take 20 seconds to close. For example:

"Thank you, this was really useful. What you said about moving the team onto the new platform is exactly the kind of work I did in my last role, and it makes me more interested in this job. I look forward to hearing about next steps."

Keep it short, mention one specific thing from the conversation, and do not repeat your whole pitch.

The closing works best when the rest of the interview went well. Prepare the questions that usually come earlier with our guides to why you want to work here and STAR answers.

How CrackInterviewAI helps you prepare

CrackInterviewAI is a Windows 10/11 app that turns a spoken, typed or screenshot question into a short answer outline, using your resume, target role and job description as context. New accounts get 30 free minutes; after that, international prices start at $3.99 for one hour, with no subscription or auto-renewal (USD plans).

Add the job description, ask for five questions tailored to the role, then keep the two or three that suit your interviewer. You can rehearse the whole interview, closing included, with a free mock interview. In the real interview, follow that interview's rules on outside help.

Prepare questions for your next interview

Download CrackInterviewAI for Windows, add the job description, and use your 30 free minutes to prepare tailored questions and rehearse your closing.

Download for Windows · See USD plans from $3.99

Frequently asked questions

How many questions should I ask at the end of an interview?

Prepare five to eight and ask two or three. If time is short, ask one strong question and one about next steps. If the interviewer has time and seems engaged, a fourth is fine.

Is it bad to have no questions for the interviewer?

It is a missed opportunity, and interviewers often read it as low interest or weak preparation. If the interview already answered your questions, say so and ask about next steps or something you would like to hear more about.

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

With a recruiter, yes, especially if the range has not been shared. In technical rounds with engineers, it is usually better to save pay questions for the recruiter.

What is the best question to ask a hiring manager?

"What would you want someone in this role to have achieved after 90 days?" works well, because the answer tells you how they define success and lets you reply with a relevant example of your own.

Should I bring my questions written down?

Yes. A short written list is normal and shows you prepared. Add notes during the interview so you can refer back to something specific the interviewer said.

Keep exploring

Return to the CrackInterviewAI homepage to download the Windows app, or browse all guides on the interview prep blog.

Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview: 30 Examples for Every Round