Mock Interview Copilot Interview questions by type
Questions to ask at the end of an interview
When the interviewer asks "Do you have any questions for us?", ask two or three questions about the work itself, how success is measured and the team, chosen because the answers genuinely matter to you. Saying you have no questions can come across as a lack of interest, and good questions are your best chance to learn whether you want the job.
How the interview usually runs
This part of the interview is still being assessed. Interviewers notice whether your questions show you were listening, whether you have thought about doing the job, and whether you are weighing them up as carefully as they are weighing you. It is also the moment to fill gaps: if something important has not come up, ask.
Prepare five or six questions, because some will be answered during the interview. Adjust them to the person: a recruiter can tell you about the process, a future manager about expectations, a future colleague about the day-to-day.
Good questions to ask, and what each one tells you
What would a great first six months look like in this role?
What you learn: What they really expect, and whether it is realistic. Vague answers can mean the role is not well defined.
What are the biggest challenges for the person in this role?
What you learn: The hard parts of the job before you accept it, and a chance to say how you would handle them.
How is success measured here?
What you learn: Which targets or outcomes you would be judged on, and how often.
Can you tell me about the team I would be working with?
What you learn: Size, experience, how people work together, and who you would learn from.
What do you enjoy most about working here?
What you learn: Something real about the culture. A long pause is information too.
How has this role come about? Is it new or a replacement?
What you learn: Whether the team is growing, or whether someone left, and why that might be.
What support is there for training and development?
What you learn: Whether learning is built into the job or left to you.
Is there anything in my background that makes you hesitate?
What you learn: A chance to address a concern before they make the decision. Ask it only if you can handle the answer calmly.
What are the next steps, and when should I expect to hear back?
What you learn: The timeline, so you are not left guessing after the interview.
How to ask well
Link a question to something said earlier when you can; it shows you were listening. Listen to the answer and respond to it briefly before moving on, so it feels like a conversation rather than a checklist. Two or three questions are enough unless the interviewer clearly has time.
- Refer back: "You mentioned the team is moving to a new system…"
- Ask one clear question at a time.
- Respond to the answer: a short follow-up, or how it connects to your experience.
- Finish with next steps, and thank them.
Example answer
"Do you have any questions for us?"
Yes, a couple. You mentioned the team is moving its reporting to a new system next quarter. What would you want the person in this role to have achieved by the time that is done?
(After the answer.) That makes sense. I did something similar at my last job, so I know how much the first few weeks of a migration depend on getting the data definitions agreed. My other question is about the team: who would I be working with most closely day to day?
And finally, what are the next steps in the process?
Mistakes to avoid
- Saying "No, I think you've covered everything".
- Asking something the website or the interview already answered.
- Leading with pay, holidays or working from home in a first interview, before they raise it.
- Asking a long list of questions when the interviewer is clearly short of time.
- Reading questions from your phone without listening to the answers.
- Asking "Did I get the job?"
Frequently asked questions
How many questions should I ask at the end of an interview?
Two or three is usually right. Prepare five or six, because some will be answered during the interview, and read the room: if the interviewer is short of time, ask your most important one.
Is it bad to have no questions at the end of an interview?
It can suggest a lack of interest or preparation. If everything really has been covered, say so and mention one thing you particularly enjoyed learning, then ask about next steps.
Can I ask about salary at the end of an interview?
In a first interview it is usually better to wait for the employer to raise it, or to ask the recruiter. In a later interview, or if the advert gave no range, asking politely about the salary range is reasonable.
What questions should I ask in a final interview?
Ask about expectations and how success is measured, the challenges the team faces, how decisions are made, and what the next steps and start date would be.