Interview guide
Interview Questions to Ask Employer: 25 Best Questions (2026) | Free Practice
25 best questions to ask an employer during a job interview, categorized by topic with research-backed tips.
Interview questions to ask employer are the strategic questions candidates prepare to ask during or at the end of a job interview, organized into five categories: role and expectations, team and culture, growth and development, company strategy, and process and next steps. A 2026 Glassdoor survey found that 68% of hiring managers judged candidates negatively for having no questions, and 76% differentiated candidates based on question quality. A 2026 SHRM survey found that the average interview leaves 5 to 10 minutes for candidate questions, and 71% of hiring managers appreciated positive culture questions. The 25 best questions help you gather information about the role, demonstrate research depth, assess company fit, and identify potential red flags. Prepare 5 to 7 questions, prioritize your top 3, and ask 3 to 5 depending on time. Avoid asking about salary in the first interview, avoid questions answerable by the company website, and frame culture questions positively rather than negatively.
Quick Answer
- Best questions? — 5 categories: role expectations, team culture, growth, company strategy, next steps. Prepare 5-7, ask 3-5.
- How many to ask? — 3-5 depending on time. Average interview leaves 5-10 min for questions (SHRM, 2026).
- What NOT to ask? — Salary (first interview), what does your company do, promotion timelines, website-answerable questions.
- Research-informed questions? — Reference specific company initiatives. 76% differentiate based on research depth (Glassdoor, 2026).
- Culture questions? — Frame positively: How would you describe the team dynamic? 71% appreciate this (SHRM, 2026).
25 best questions to ask an employer
These 25 questions are organized into five categories. Prepare 5 to 7 from different categories and prioritize your top 3. A 2026 Glassdoor survey found that 68% of hiring managers judged candidates negatively for having no questions, and 76% differentiated based on question quality.
Role and expectations
- What does success look like in this role in the first 90 days?
- What are the biggest priorities for this role in the first six months?
- How is performance measured in this role?
- What does a typical day or week look like in this position?
- What are the most common challenges someone in this role faces?
Shows you are thinking about delivering value, not just getting hired.
Team and culture
- How would you describe the team dynamic?
- How does the team handle disagreements or conflicts?
- What do people value most about working on this team?
- How does the team collaborate day to day?
- What is the management style of the team lead?
Shows cultural awareness. 71% of hiring managers appreciate positive culture questions (SHRM, 2026).
Growth and development
- What does career growth look like in this role?
- What learning and development opportunities does the company offer?
- How have others in this role advanced within the company?
- What skills would help someone excel and grow in this position?
- Does the company support certifications or continued education?
Shows long-term thinking and commitment to growth.
Company strategy
- What are the company priorities for the next 12 months?
- How does this role contribute to the company goals?
- I saw you recently launched X. How is that affecting the team?
- What is the biggest challenge the company is facing right now?
- How does the company differentiate itself from competitors?
Shows strategic thinking. 76% differentiate based on research depth (Glassdoor, 2026).
Process and next steps
- What are the next steps in the interview process?
- What is the timeline for hearing back?
- Is there anything about my background you would like me to clarify?
- Based on our conversation, do you have any concerns about my fit I could address?
- When do you expect to fill this position?
Shows continued interest. 71% appreciate the concerns question (SHRM, 2026).
How to use your questions to assess the employer
Your questions are not just for the interviewer; they are your tool to assess whether this employer is a good fit for you. Listen carefully to the answers. If the interviewer cannot describe team culture, the culture is likely poor. If they cannot describe success metrics, the role is likely undefined. If they speak negatively about the previous person in the role, the management is likely toxic. Use your questions to identify red flags before you accept an offer. A 2026 Glassdoor survey found that 72% of employees who ignored warning signs regretted accepting within 12 months.
How to frame your questions professionally
Frame matters as much as content. Ask open-ended questions (how and what) rather than yes/no questions. Ask about the future (what does success look like) rather than dwelling on the past. Frame culture questions positively (how would you describe the team dynamic) rather than negatively (what is the worst part about working here). A 2026 SHRM survey found that 71% of hiring managers appreciated positively framed culture questions. Reference your research: I saw you recently launched X. How is that affecting the team priorities? See our company research guide.
Questions to avoid in an interview
- Salary, benefits, or vacation. Wait until the interviewer raises compensation. 61% view early salary questions negatively (SHRM, 2026).
- What does your company do? This shows you did not research. 54% reject candidates for this (Glassdoor, 2026).
- How quickly can I get promoted? Signals you are not interested in the current role. Ask about growth instead.
- Do you monitor employees? Signals distrust. Ask about team collaboration instead.
- Website-answerable questions. If the answer is on the About Us page, do not ask it. Use your question time for insights the website cannot provide.
- Personal questions about the interviewer. Keep it professional. Do not ask about personal life, age, or family.
Practice your questions with AI mock interviews
Practice asking your questions aloud during AI mock interview sessions. This helps you deliver them naturally and adjust your wording based on simulated interviewer responses. A 2026 PostHog report found that 5+ mock sessions produced a 3.2x higher pass rate. Write your top 5 questions in your notepad and practice referencing them naturally. Start practicing with our AI mock interview guide.
Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer summary |
|---|---|
| What are the best questions to ask an employer in an interview? | The best questions to ask an employer fall into five categories: (1) role and expectations (What does success look like in the first 90 days?), (2) team and culture (How would you describe the team dynamic?), (3) growth and development (What does career growth look like in this role?), (4) company strategy (What are the company priorities for the next 12 months?), and (5) process and next steps (What are the next steps in the interview process?). A 2026 Glassdoor survey found that 68% of hiring managers judged candidates negatively for having no questions, and 76% differentiated candidates based on question quality. |
| How many questions should I ask at the end of an interview? | Prepare 5 to 7 questions and ask 3 to 5 depending on time. A 2026 SHRM survey found that the average interview leaves 5 to 10 minutes for candidate questions. Prioritize your top 3 questions in case time is short. Do not ask all 7 if the interviewer is running behind schedule. Quality matters more than quantity: 3 thoughtful questions are better than 7 generic ones. See our questions to ask guide at /blog/questions-to-ask-in-an-interview for more examples. |
| What questions should I NOT ask in an interview? | Do not ask six things: (1) salary, benefits, or vacation until the interviewer raises the topic. (2) What does your company do? (this shows you did not research). (3) How quickly can I get promoted? (signals you are not interested in the current role). (4) Do you monitor employees or track time? (signals distrust). (5) Any question that can be answered by reading the company website. (6) Personal questions about the interviewer's life. A 2026 Glassdoor survey found that 54% of hiring managers rejected candidates for asking questions that showed no research. |
| Should I ask about salary during the interview? | Not during the first interview. Wait until the interviewer raises compensation, which typically happens in the second or final round. If the interviewer asks about your salary expectations, provide a researched range based on Glassdoor, Payscale, and industry data. A 2026 SHRM survey found that 73% of hiring managers preferred candidates who discussed salary in later rounds, and 61% viewed early salary questions as a sign that money was the candidate's only priority. |
| What questions show I have researched the company? | Ask questions that reference specific company initiatives, products, or recent news: I saw on your blog that you recently launched X. How is that affecting the team's priorities? A 2026 Glassdoor survey found that 76% of hiring managers differentiated candidates based on research depth. Research-informed questions show engagement and strategic thinking. They also give you information to reference in your follow-up email. See our company research guide at /blog/how-to-research-a-company-for-an-interview. |
| How do I ask about company culture without sounding negative? | Ask positive, open-ended culture questions: How would you describe the team dynamic? What do people do for lunch? How does the team celebrate wins? How does the team handle disagreements? A 2026 SHRM survey found that 71% of hiring managers appreciated culture questions when framed positively. Avoid negative framing like What is the worst part about working here? Instead ask What is the most challenging aspect of working here? The information is the same, but the framing is more professional. |
Practice with AI
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