One of the most underrated keys to acing your job interview? The questions you ask.
Great questions don't just show curiosity — they demonstrate strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and genuine interest in the role.
Below, you'll find 50 powerful interview questions, broken down by category — so you can pick a mix that feels authentic and aligned with your goals.
Questions About the Role
Hiring managers want to know you understand the role and how you'll add value. These questions help you get clarity and make a strong impression.
- 1Who is the hiring manager and how will we work together week to week?
- 2What decision scope does this role own in the first 60 days?
- 3Why is this role open now and what triggered the need?
- 4If I crush the first 30–60 days, what measurable outcomes would you point to?
- 5Which 1–2 problems are most urgent for this role to solve?
- 6What behaviors separate top performers from averages here?
- 7How will success be measured in month 1, month 3, and month 6?
- 8Where have past hires struggled in this role and what would you change now?
- 9What would exceptional look like by day 90, with examples?
- 10How does this role move the company’s top quarterly goals?
- 11Which KPIs matter most and what are the current baselines?
- 12What tools and systems are core today and which are changing soon?
- 13Where do you expect the steepest learning curve and how do you support it?
- 14What cross-functional projects could I own in my first quarter?
- 15What should be accomplished by month 6 to call this a win?
- 16What are the clear paths to level up from this role?
- 17How do stakeholders give feedback and how is it acted on?
- 18What risks or unknowns could derail this work and how are you mitigating them?
- 19Is there any part of my background you want more depth on right now?
- 20If I had to de-prioritize something in the first 30 days, what would it be and why?
Aim to ask 2–3 job-specific questions like these to show you're focused and prepared.
Questions About the Company
These questions signal that you're thinking long-term and care about where the company is headed.
- 1How would you describe the culture in moments of stress or deadlines?
- 2Which values show up in real decisions, not just on the wall?
- 3What is the 2–3 year plan and the biggest bet to get there?
- 4What recent milestone are you most excited about and why?
- 5How has the company evolved since you joined and what’s next?
- 6Who are the top competitors and where do you win or lose against them?
- 7What are the top priorities for the next two quarters and how were they chosen?
- 8How do you collect customer feedback and turn it into roadmap changes?
- 9How are decisions made here and who is the final approver for big calls?
- 10What is the biggest company-level risk this year and the plan to address it?
- 11In 12 months, what would success look like across product, revenue, and team?
Avoid asking about things you can easily find on the company's website. Use these to go deeper.
Questions About the Team
Ask these to understand who you'll be working with and how collaboration happens.
- 1How is the team organized and who owns which domains?
- 2What’s the team’s average tenure and what keeps people here?
- 3How do you collaborate day to day: standups, docs, async, pairings?
- 4What skill gaps are you hiring this role to fill immediately?
- 5What is the meeting cadence and what makes a meeting valuable here?
- 6What recent win are you proud of and what unlocked it?
- 7How are technical decisions proposed, reviewed, and documented?
- 8What does onboarding look like in weeks 1–4 and who is my go-to person?
- 9How do you handle incidents or urgent issues and what are on-call expectations?
- 10Where can I mentor or lead within the first quarter?
- 11How are wins recognized and how is impact communicated to leadership?
Opinion-Based Questions (Great for Building Rapport)
These questions help you connect on a personal level — and they're perfect when you're interviewing with multiple people.
- 1What’s your favorite part about working here right now?
- 2What initially drew you to the company and what made you stay?
- 3How has your role changed since you joined?
- 4What habits have helped you be successful on this team?
- 5What do you wish you had known before starting?
- 6If you could change one thing about the interview process, what would it be?
- 7What has surprised you most since joining?
- 8What advice would you give a new hire to nail the first 90 days?
These questions can be asked to multiple people — and still feel fresh every time.
What NOT to Ask in a Job Interview
Avoid questions that make it seem like you're only in it for the perks:
- ❌Salary
- ❌Benefits
- ❌Vacation time
- ❌Dress code
- ❌Office snacks 😬
Save those for when you're deeper in the process or after receiving an offer.
How Many Questions Should You Ask?
Aim for 4–6 great questions per interview. It's better to ask fewer, thoughtful questions than to fire off a laundry list.
Customize your questions based on who you're speaking with. For example:
- Ask recruiters about the job's responsibilities and company overview.
- Ask the hiring manager about team dynamics and career growth.
- Ask leadership about company strategy or industry outlook.
Final Tips for Success
Before the Interview:
- • Pick questions that matter to you personally
- • Write them down and rehearse them
- • Prepare 4–6 go-to favorites
- • Research the company and role thoroughly
During the Interview:
- • Always ask: "When can I expect to hear back?"
- • Lean on opinion-based questions for rapport
- • Don't ask everything up front
- • Save some questions for later rounds
Asking great questions is only part of the puzzle — but it's one of the easiest ways to stand out.