What to say when the interviewer asks, “Do you have any questions for me?”

A list of some thoughtful questions that can help you learn more about the company and its values.

Remember that interviews are a two-way street — they’re an opportunity for the company to assess your background and skill set, but also a chance for you to see if the company is the *right* fit for you!

(short backstory) I recently finished the soul-sucking process of interviewing and after completing over 30 interviews (from screener to final round stages) — I’ve found what questions worked best for me and helped me learn about the company. I’ve categorized and listed these questions below, along with general tips that may help you pick which values to ask about. good luck ❤

Some Precautions

It’s great to use interviews to learn about the work environment and see if the fit is right for you! However, remember that as a candidate, you’re still trying to secure an offer — until then, you do not have any leverage. Just remember that once you secure the offer, you’re free to ask as much about the company as you’d like! I’d suggest saving the more detailed questions for a later stage interview (think final round).

General Tips:

1. Decide which values mean the most to you and put them in a list!
   For example, do you care about ownership and being able to pick how you contribute? Or do you care more about having access to resources and mentors? What kind of work environment would you like to have?
2. Based on your values, build a template of ~5–6 general questions that you can ask any company in an interview.
   This little ‘cheat sheet’ of questions will be helpful for you to reference when the interviewer asks you at the end, ‘Do you have any questions for me?’
3. At the end of your interview, ask 1–3 questions from your list* *depending on the mood of the interviewer and what areas you have not already covered, pick the questions based on what feels right!
4. (Rule of thumb) Always keep things on a positive note, and try not to frame questions in a negative way!!

Company Culture Questions

Questions to help you understand the company’s culture and see how company *X* supports certain values you may have

1. How would you describe *X*’s environment? If I were to be stuck on something and needed help, would you say that it’s relatively easy to reach out to find someone or get the resources I need?
2. As someone newer to the field, I definitely look forward to being in a work environment where I can learn from more experienced professionals. Would there be an opportunity for mentorship at *X*?
3. What are your company values surrounding *(insert characteristic here)*?
   *Insert* : ownership, innovation, mentorship, continued learning, etc.
4. Off the top of your head, what are three words you would use to describe company *X*?
5. What happens at *X* company that doesn’t happen anywhere else? Or what first comes to mind when you hear that question?

Previous Projects & Future Work Questions

Questions to help you get an idea of what kind of work and projects you’d be involved in at company *X*

1. What’s one of your favorite projects you’ve worked on while at *X*?
2. What are some projects that interns have worked on at *X* in the past?
3. What are some of the company’s biggest challenges its currently facing?*
   *BONUS POINTS IF: you do research beforehand, and ask a specific question about a potential pain point of the company.

Personal Experience Questions

Questions that are about the interviewer’s personal experience in the field and what they like in particular about company *X*

1. In your experience, what makes a team member great and someone you would want to work with on a project, versus a team member that isn’t so great?
2. What is your favorite thing about working at *X*?
3. Is there anything about working at *X* that surprised you?
4. Out of curiosity, why did you decide to work at *X*? / How did you end up at *X*?
5. (Alternative to 5) Out of curiosity, what do you like about *X* in comparison to companies you’ve worked at before?
6. If you could change one thing about working at *X* what would that be?

It’s always good to ask a question or two at the end of an interview to show that you’re genuinely interested! That being said, it’s important to ask thoughtful questions that don’t come off as generic or impersonal.

I hope this guide was able to help you in your journey — good luck! :)

If you enjoyed this post and could take the few seconds to send over a clap or two, that would really mean a lot! Thank you ❤