Questions to ask the employer in a job interview: 20 examples

Why you should have questions for the employer in the interview

Most job interviews end with the same question: “Do you have any questions for us?” Many candidates say no because they are tired, or because they are worried about asking the wrong thing. That is a missed opportunity. The questions you ask say a lot about how well you have prepared and what you care about.

An interview also works both ways. You will spend many hours a week in this job, and you need to know what an ordinary day will actually look like. A good question can reveal things the ad does not mention, for example that the role is new, that the team is going through changes or that the expectations are higher than you thought.

A good question is specific, linked to this particular job and impossible to answer by reading the website. “What does your company do?” is weak. “You wrote in the ad that you are building a new customer service centre. How far have you got?” is strong. Many Norwegian workplaces have a fairly flat structure and interviews often feel like a conversation, so this kind of genuine curiosity usually goes down well.

The questions at the end are only part of your preparation. See also the guide to common interview questions for the questions you will have to answer yourself.

Questions to ask the employer about the role

Start with the job itself. That is where you get the most useful information, and it is easy for the interviewers to answer.

The question about the first three to six months, the second one in the list below, is especially useful. The answer tells you what they are really looking for, and you can use it to show how you would tackle it, either later in the conversation or in a short email afterwards.

• What does a typical working week look like in this role?
• What would you like the person you hire to have achieved after the first three to six months?
• Is this a new position, or will I be taking over from someone? If it is new, why did you create it?
• What is the biggest challenge in the role right now?

Questions about the team and your manager

Your colleagues and your line manager often matter more for how much you enjoy the job than the tasks themselves. So ask about the people you will be working with.

The last question in the list seems simple, but it often gets an honest answer. Notice whether the interviewer answers quickly and specifically, or whether there is a long pause followed by vague words.

• Who will I be working most closely with, and how is the team made up?
• How would you describe your management style, and how often do you have one-to-one meetings?
• How does the team work with other departments?
• What do you like most about working here?

Questions about development and training

Employers like to hire people who want to get better. Questions about development show that you are one of them, and at the same time you find out whether you will actually learn anything.

The question about how you will know you are doing a good job says a lot about the management. A specific answer about regular meetings and clear goals is a good sign. If the answer is “oh, you will notice”, expect little feedback.

• How does training work during the first few weeks?
• What opportunities are there for courses, certifications or further education?
• How have other people in this role developed within the company?
• How will I know whether I am doing a good job?

Questions about culture and ways of working

Culture is hard to ask about directly. “What is the culture like here?” almost always gets a polite and vague answer. Ask about things that have actually happened instead.

The answers give you a picture of what it is like to work there on an ordinary Tuesday, not just how the company describes itself on its careers page.

• Can you give an example of a time the team disagreed, and how you resolved it?
• How do you mark it when something goes well?
• How do you share out the work during busy periods?
• What qualities do the people who thrive here have in common?

Questions about the next steps in the process

Always finish by clarifying what happens next. That way you will not spend weeks wondering, and you will know when it makes sense to get in touch.

Asking what they are unsure about takes a bit of courage, but it is one of the most useful questions you can ask. It gives you a chance to clear up a misunderstanding before they make their decision. If you have not heard anything by the time they mentioned, read about how to follow up an application.

• What does the rest of the process look like, and when do you expect to make a decision?
• Will there be more interview rounds, tests or a case?
• Is there anything about my background you are unsure about that I can expand on now?
• Do you need anything else from me, such as references, certificates of employment or diplomas?

What should I ask in a job interview, and what should I save for later?

Some questions fit better in the second round or once you have an offer. They are not forbidden, but in a first interview they can give the impression that you care more about the perks than the job. If the interviewers raise pay, holidays or benefits themselves, it is perfectly fine to answer and ask follow-up questions. They are the ones who opened the topic.

These are usually best saved for later or left out:

• Questions about holidays, time off and time off in lieu. They belong in the conversation about the offer.
• Questions already answered in the ad or on the website. They show that you have not prepared.
• “How soon can I apply for another role internally?” It can sound as if you are already planning to move on.
• Questions about the interviewer's private life, or about rumours you have heard about the company.
• Yes/no questions such as “Do you like working here?”. Open questions get better answers.

How to ask about pay and working from home

Pay is not taboo, but timing matters. In a first interview it is usually best to let the employer bring it up. If you are asked “What salary are you expecting?”, you should still have a figure ready. Check what is normal for the role with the Salary check before the interview, so you can answer with a range you can justify.

If nobody has mentioned pay by the second round, you can ask neutrally: “Could you tell me a little about the salary range for this position?” In the Norwegian public sector the salary range is often stated in the ad, and then it is completely normal to ask where in the range they see you. Save the actual negotiation for when the offer arrives. Read more in the guide to negotiating your salary.

Ask about working from home in a way that is about the work, not about you: “How does the team work today? Are you mostly in the office, or is it common to work from home a few days a week?” That gets you the answer without sounding like a demand. If working from home is essential for you, raise it more directly in the second round.

On Selja you will find the free tool Questions for the employer, with good questions to ask at the end of the interview. If you want to practise the whole conversation, you can use Interview practice, where you practise the interview for the exact job you have applied for and get feedback on every answer.