Guide · during the interview

Questions to ask at the end of an interview

“Do you have any questions?” is not a formality. It is the only moment in the interview when you choose what information you leave with.

Almost every interview ends the same way. Five minutes left, they ask if you have any questions and, out of nerves or not wanting to drag on, you say no, it is all very clear. You leave without knowing when they will reply, who decides or who to write to afterwards.

The final questions do two things: they tell you whether the role suits you, and they stop you being left in the dark afterwards. Here are the ones that work, grouped by what they give you.

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To really understand the role

The job ad says what the company wants to say. These questions bring out what is not written down:

  • What would a good first quarter in this role look like? What should I have achieved?
  • Why is this position open: is it new or replacing someone?
  • What is the team’s hardest challenge right now?
  • Who would I work with most day to day?

Listen to how they answer. A vague answer to “what would a good first quarter look like” may mean the role is not well defined yet.

To find out how they see you

These are the most uncomfortable to ask and the most informative, because they let you correct an impression before you walk out of the door.

  • Is there anything in my profile that gives you doubts for this role?
  • What does the person you are looking for have that you are not sure I have?

If they answer with a specific doubt, do not get defensive: clear it up with a short example. It is your last chance to change an impression, and almost nobody uses it.

The two almost nobody asks (and that save you weeks)

Much of the anxiety after an interview comes from not knowing anything: not when, not who, not whom to ask. And it is common: between 52% and 65% of candidates, depending on the country, leave an interview and never hear back (Greenhouse, 2024). Two questions at the end change that:

  1. “What are the next steps and when will I hear?”

    It gives you a date. With a date you know when to write without seeming impatient, and when to consider the process closed.

  2. “Could I have your email in case I have any questions?”

    It is a normal request and people rarely say no. With that email you can ask your interviewer for feedback, not a generic inbox.

What to do with that email afterwards, template included: How to ask for feedback after an interview

The ones best left for another time

  1. Salary and holidays with a team member

    It is not forbidden, but it fits better with the recruiter or at a later stage. If they ask about your expectations, answer with a range you have thought through.

  2. What is on the website

    Asking what the company does signals that you have not prepared.

  3. “How did I do?”

    It puts the interviewer on the spot: they can rarely answer there and then. The useful version is asking what doubts your profile raises.

Your cheat sheet for the end of the interview

Keep it on your phone or on a card. You do not need to ask them all: pick two or three depending on how the conversation went.

Questions for the end

About the role
· What would a good first quarter in this role look like?
· What is the team’s hardest challenge right now?

About me
· Is there anything in my profile that gives you doubts for this role?

About the process
· What are the next steps and when will I hear?
· Could I have your email in case I have any questions?

On your way out: note the company, role, date, and your interviewer’s name and email.

Bringing written questions does not count against you: it shows you prepared. What counts against you is reading them without listening to what was said before.

What to do with that email when you leave

You left with a date and your interviewer’s email. What usually happens is that the deadline passes, nothing arrives and you have to decide whether to write, when and what.

In KoManao you add the interview with that email and turn on the feedback request. About twelve days after the interview, unless you have closed the process, we ask for feedback on your behalf: one minute, seven criteria, no account needed. We let you know the day before so you can cancel it if you already have news.

We cannot promise they will reply. What we do is make sure the request arrives at a good moment, well framed and with a single reminder, and that if they reply, their assessment reaches you.

We only write to the address you register, for that interview, never for marketing, with one-click opt-out. If you register none, we write to no one.

Add your next interview

Creating an account is free. Once you sign up, the next step is to add your last interview with your interviewer’s email.

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Frequently asked questions

How many questions should I ask at the end of an interview?
Two or three are enough. Better a few, related to what was discussed, than a list read out in one go.
Does it look bad to say I have no questions?
It can signal little interest. If they really have covered everything, at least ask about next steps and timing: it is useful to you and nobody will see it as filler.
Can I ask my interviewer for their email?
Yes. It is a common request, especially if the interview was with a team member rather than the recruiter. If they would rather not give it, ask which contact you should write to for follow-up.

Sources

The final questions are yours. Use them to leave with a date, an email and, if needed, a corrected impression.

Mahalo for reading this far. Warm regards from the team at KoManao 🌺