110 unique interview questions to ask employers and stand out

A job interview is a two-way street. 

It’s not just a chance for your prospective employer to size you up and evaluate your candidacy. You’ll also have a conversation and get to know one another, so it’s your opportunity to decide if the role is right for you. 

Asking creative questions is a valuable way to stand out as a job candidate and learn more about the position. It shows that you’re engaged in the hiring process and eager to do your due diligence to ensure a mutual fit. And being forthright about expectations shows valuable soft skills like courage, honesty, and transparency. 

Throughout the interview, ask follow-up clarifying questions when they arise. And at the end, you’ll have the chance to take the floor and discuss topics or concerns that have yet to come up. 

Preparing a list of unique interview questions to ask an employer in advance can help you stay concise and intentional, giving you the information you need while respecting the interviewer’s time. If you aren’t sure what questions to ask your interviewer, here’s a list of 110 to choose from. 

110 job interview questions to ask an employer

Many good questions about your new role will come to mind before and during the interview. But to make sure you have enough time to receive the most valuable insights into your final decision, focus on yourself and the factors that might affect your decision to take the job. 

The best interview questions to ask an employer address your top work priorities, which look different for everybody. While you may prefer a flexible schedule and strong work-life balance, another candidate may be more concerned with long-term growth opportunities and leadership development. 

To help your brainstorming and self-reflection, here are several types of questions to consider. Each can give you a better understanding of the role, team, and company. 

Questions about the job role

Asking nuanced questions about the position shows proactivity and interest. Plus, understanding the job’s expectations and responsibilities will help you gauge whether it aligns with your long-term career goals. Here are relevant questions to ask that offer position-specific insight:

1. Can you describe the typical day in this role? 
2. How do you measure success in this position? 
3. What five skills are the most important to be successful in this role? 
4. Are there opportunities for professional development within this job role? 
5. How does this position interact with other departments? 
6. What’s the most challenging aspect of this role? 
7. Can you describe any projects I would be working on? 
8. How much autonomy will I have over decision-making, task prioritization, or project management? 
9. What are your expectations for the first 30, 60, or 90 days? 
10. Are there any responsibilities that don’t appear in the job description? 

Questions about the team

A study from the journal Mathematics shows that collaboration at work greatly affects team productivity and efficiency. With that impact in mind, good interview questions to ask an employer dig into team dynamics and communication styles. 

You can never really know what it’ll be like to enter a new group, but making the effort to understand how your future team works together will offer insights into how comfortable and productive you’ll be. Here are some questions to ask:

1. Can you describe the team I’ll be working with? 
2. What’s the team’s approach to diversity and inclusion? 
3. What does the day-to-day team collaboration look like? 
4. Will I join a new team or an established one? 
5. How does the company handle conflict resolution? 
6. Can you describe a time a team successfully confronted a big challenge? 
7. How does the team celebrate wins? 
8. How does the team communicate failures or challenges? 
9. What policies are in place to encourage team retention? 
10. How would you describe the team’s communication style? 

Questions about the company culture

Culture can significantly impact your well-being and job satisfaction when it doesn’t match your work style. Understanding a company’s values, priorities, and potential red flags will help you understand if it’ll engage you or overwork you. These questions give you a window into the environment:

1. What initiatives does the company have to support work-life balance? 
2. Are there any employee groups or communities within the company? 
3. How does the company give back to the community? 
4. What does the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion look like? 
5. How does the company recognize employees?
6. Are there any company-wide traditions? 
7. How would you describe the work environment? 
8. How transparent is leadership about company-wide goals or challenges? 
9. How will the company invest in my well-being? 
10. Is the team culture more collaborative or individual? 

Questions about management style

The relationship between you and your manager will greatly impact your job satisfaction and professional growth. An excellent question to ask an interviewer is how leadership will guide you through the position. The response can help you understand if they’ll support and engage you. 

These questions are most appropriate when a manager or supervisor is interviewing you, which may occur in a second round. If that’s the case, save these questions for that conversation. Here’s some inspiration:

41. How would you describe your leadership style? 
42. What are your performance expectations for this role? 
43. How often do you provide performance reviews?
44. What’s your approach to giving and receiving feedback? 
45. What’s the remote work policy? 
46. How do you approach conflict within your team? 
47. How do you motivate the team?
48. How accessible are you for questions or support?
49. What are your core values as a manager?
50. How do you help new team members onboard? 

Questions about future projects

A Frontiers in Psychology study reports that career growth opportunities drive your engagement and help you commit to a job. Assessing your room for growth helps you envision how this job will fit into your broader career path, and it shows a potential employer that you’re a long-term thinker. These questions teach you about your future at the company: 

51. What are the most important projects for this role in the first six months? 
52. How has the company changed over the last few years? 
53. How do you envision the company’s future? 
54. Are there opportunities for lateral learning within the business? 
55. What’s the typical career path for someone in this role? 
56. How does the company support ongoing education and professional development? 
57. Is there a roadmap for company growth? 
58. What are the most important long-term organizational objectives?
59. How often do you reassess roles and responsibilities?
60. Does the company support lateral mobility? 

Questions about training and onboarding

Transitioning into a new job is never straight and narrow. It’s a long journey that sometimes has challenges, and learning about the employee onboarding process can help you understand how quickly you’ll succeed — and give you an idea of how the company supports its team members. 

Plus, training queries are great interview questions to ask an interviewer in later rounds because they show that you’re envisioning your success and excited to begin. Here’s what to ask:

61. What does the onboarding process look like? 
62. What training can I expect as a new hire? 
63. How quickly do you expect new employees to get up to speed?
64. Are there mentoring opportunities available within the company? 
65. How does the company address skill gaps? 
66. Is there a probation period for new hires?
67. Are there opportunities to shadow other employees?
68. What kind of support system should I expect as a new hire? 
69. What’s the most challenging part of the onboarding process, and how can I prepare for it? 
70. How long does onboarding usually last? 

Questions about challenges

Every job comes with a unique set of hurdles. Learning about the biggest and most common challenges in the position can show you whether it’ll be an opportunity for growth or a source of stress. And asking about challenges shows that you’re realistic and unafraid of obstacles. These questions can teach you about potential roadblocks:

71. What are the biggest challenges facing my department currently? 
72. How is the industry’s current landscape impacting the company? 
73. What challenges can I expect to face in this role? 
74. Are there any immediate problems that I’ll need to address in this role? 
75. How does the company adapt to setbacks? 
76. Can you give me an example of how the team has overcome challenges in the past?
77. How do you handle competing deadlines and priorities? 
78. Are there any upcoming changes in the team I should be aware of? 
79. What’s the most complex aspect of this company? 
80. What’s the company’s relationship with innovation like? 

Questions about tools and resources

Knowing what resources are available, and what tools you’ll use on the job, helps you gauge expectations. Asking a hiring manager indicates that you’re a hands-on, practical candidate who doesn’t just care about what you’ll be doing, but how.

The attention to detail could signal that you’re a job seeker with a strong work ethic already thinking about settling in efficiently. Here are some examples:

81. What tools does the team use for project management and communication? 
82. Is there any specific software I need to be proficient in? 
83. Are there resources available for data or research? 
84. How do different departments share information?
85. Does the company provide any productivity tools? 
86. How does the company handle data security if remote work is available? 
87. Are there any work stipends for a home office set-up? 
88. Does the company have IT support? 
89. How open is leadership to employees suggesting new tools or improvements to boost efficiency? 
90. How do teams stay up-to-date with each other’s work? 

Questions about performance 

Every company measures performance differently, and asking about the process can teach you what the company values, how it measures success, and how you can expect to grow professionally. And learning about performance before you even start the job gives you a competitive edge, showing you how and where to focus your efforts. Here are some questions that tackle employee performance: 

91. What SMART KPIs are most important for this role? 
92. How frequently do you hold team meetings to discuss progress and performance?
93. Are individual metrics transparent within the team? 
94. How does management deal with underperformance or project failures?
95. What mediums are there for upward communication? 
96. What incentives are available to encourage good performance?
97. How do you track and recognize individual and team achievements?
98. What are the parameters for taking on more responsibility? 
99. Are there bonus structures in place? 
100. How do employees and managers set performance goals? 

Questions about next steps

When the hiring process is almost over, you’ll want to know what to expect next in terms of timeline and additional information. These questions for the end of an interview convey enthusiasm, curiosity, and eagerness, and they give you insight into the next phases of the hiring process. Here are some final questions to ask:

101. What are the next steps in the hiring process?
102. Is there a specific timeline for filling this position? 
103. Are you speaking to many candidates for the position? 
104. When can I expect to hear back about next steps? 
105. Can I reach out for feedback, regardless of the decision? 
106. Are there any additional steps in the hiring project, like a test or background check? 
107. How quickly would you expect a new hire to begin? 
108. Is there opportunity for a signing bonus at this company?
109. Will I have the opportunity to meet team members or leadership in the next interview?
110. What does final approval for this role look like?

Ask away

While you shouldn’t show up to an interview with a long list of questions, curating some potential queries is a smart way to make the most of the process. You’ll show genuine interest and gather all the information you need to make an informed decision. 

Take time to reflect on your green flags, job requirements, and long-term goals, and compare them to this list of unique interview questions to ask an employer. The right questions will bring clarity to an important decision and impress your interviewer — and maybe even get you a job offer.