120 unique interview questions to ask employers and stand out

When you ask questions during the interview process, it also gives you insight into the things that really matter in a job, like how the team collaborates, how feedback is given, and what day-to-day flexibility actually looks like. 

Preparing a list of unique interview questions to ask a potential employer can help you stay concise and intentional, allowing you to get the answers you need while respecting the interviewer’s time. 

How to decide what questions to ask in an interview

The goal of an interview isn't just to prove you’re the right person for the job. It’s about making sure the opportunity aligns with your personal values, career goals, and lifestyle needs.

Asking intentional questions helps you understand whether the role supports what matters most to you, whether that’s space for creativity, meaningful collaboration, or clear boundaries between work and personal time.

Here are three things to consider as you prepare interview questions to ask an employer: 

1. The type of interview

Each stage of the interview process offers a different opportunity to learn. The type of questions you ask should match the depth and purpose of that conversation.

Here are a few common types of interviews and examples of what to ask in each one:

• Phone screen interview: During this first interview, ask the recruiter or hiring manager questions about salary range, hiring timelines, and logistical expectations to ensure alignment early on.
• First-round interview: Typically with the hiring manager, this interview should focus on high-level responsibilities, team structure, and role expectations.
• Manager or leadership interview: Ask questions about leadership style, performance goals, and how success is supported at the company. 
• Peer or team interview: You may get a chance to talk to team members at the same level as you. Try to talk about collaboration, communication styles, and team culture.
• Final round interview: Get clear on long-term growth opportunities, the company's direction, and what success looks like beyond the first year.

2. Who your interviewer is

If you're unsure about what kind of interview you're walking into, you can focus on tailoring your questions to match your interviewer's role and area of expertise. 

• Recruiter: Company culture, compensation, job benefits, and hiring process. 
• Hiring manager: Team goals, role expectations, leadership style, and feedback processes.
• Future teammates: Day-to-day collaboration, team rituals, and communication preferences.
• Senior leadership: Vision for the company or department, key priorities, and upcoming challenges.

3. What matters most to you

Your priorities should shape the questions you ask. Use the interview as a chance to explore how well the role supports your personal values and working style. For example:

• If growth is a priority, ask about professional development programs and career paths.
• If you value flexibility, explore how the team manages paid time off and if remote work is possible.
• If job security and stability are important to you, ask about the company’s long-term goals or past or recent performance.
• If you're looking for collaboration, ask how teams work together and solve problems.

What are the best interview questions to ask a potential employer?

If you’re short on time, start with these 10 well-rounded interview questions to ask in any interview. They work in most settings and will signal that you're prepared, curious, and professional:

1. What does success look like in this role over the first six months?
2. What qualities do your most successful team members have in common?
3. How does the team typically collaborate across time zones or departments?
4. What’s your approach to feedback and workforce development?
5. Can you share more about the company’s culture and how that shows up day-to-day?
6. What’s a challenge the team is currently navigating, and how are they approaching it?
7. What does the onboarding process look like for new team members?
8. How do management and leadership support work-life balance?
9. Are there opportunities for growth or development in this role?
10. What are the next steps in the hiring process?

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 individual, personal priorities. 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 you decide on the best questions for your needs, here are several types of questions to consider. Each can give you a better understanding of the role, team, and company. 

Interview questions to ask 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 a 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? 

Unique interview questions to ask 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 workplace 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. Will I join a new team or an established one? 
2. Can you describe the team I’ll be working with? 
3. What does day-to-day team collaboration look like? 
4. Does the team prefer asynchronous communication or live meetings? 
5. How do team members manage conflict, and can you provide an example? 
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 does the team typically stay connected during busy or high-pressure periods?

Interview questions to ask about the company culture

Organizational 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. How does the company give back to the community? 
3. How does the company recognize employees?
4. Does the company have a strong feedback culture?
5. How would you describe the work environment? 
6. How transparent is leadership about company-wide goals or challenges? 
7. How will the company invest in employee well-being? 
8. Is the team culture more collaborative or individual? 

Questions to ask your interviewer 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 senior leader 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:

1. How would you describe your leadership style? 
2. What are your performance expectations for this role? 
3. How often do you provide performance reviews?
4. What’s your approach to giving and receiving feedback? 
5. What’s the remote work policy? 
6. How do you approach conflict within your team? 
7. How do you motivate the team?
8. How accessible are you for questions or support?
9. What are your core values as a manager?
10. How do you help new team members onboard? 

Interview questions to ask 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: 

1. What are the most important projects for this role in the first six months? 
2. How has the company changed over the last few years? 
3. How do you envision the company’s future? 
4. Are there opportunities for lateral learning within the business? 
5. What’s the typical career path for someone in this role? 
6. How does the company support ongoing education and professional development? 
7. Is there a roadmap for company growth? 
8. What are the most important long-term organizational objectives?
9. How often do you reassess roles and responsibilities?
10. Does the company support lateral mobility? 

Questions about job training and onboarding

Transitioning into a new job is never straightforward. 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:

1. What does the onboarding process look like? 
2. What training can I expect as a new hire? 
3. How quickly do you expect new employees to get up to speed?
4. Are there mentoring opportunities available within the company? 
5. How does the company address skill gaps? 
6. Is there a probation period for new hires?
7. Are there opportunities to shadow other employees?
8. What kind of support system should I expect as a new hire? 
9. What’s the most challenging part of the onboarding process, and how can I prepare for it? 
10. How long does onboarding usually last? 

Questions to ask your potential employer 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:

1. What are the biggest challenges facing my department currently? 
2. How is the industry’s current landscape impacting the company? 
3. What challenges can I expect to face in this role? 
4. Are there any immediate problems that I’ll need to address in this role? 
5. How does the company adapt to setbacks? 
6. Can you give me an example of how the team has overcome challenges in the past?
7. How do you handle competing deadlines and priorities? 
8. Are there any upcoming changes in the team I should be aware of? 
9. What’s the most complex aspect of this company? 
10. What’s the company’s relationship with innovation like? 

Interview questions to ask 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:

1. What tools does the team use for project management and communication? 
2. Is there any specific software I need to be proficient in? 
3. Are there resources available for data or research? 
4. How do different departments share information?
5. Does the company provide any productivity tools? 
6. How does the company handle data security if remote work is available? 
7. Are there any stipends for a home office set-up? 
8. Does the company have IT support? 
9. How open is leadership to employees suggesting new tools or improvements to boost efficiency? 
10. How do teams stay up-to-date with each other’s work? 

Questions to ask your interviewer 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: 

1. What SMART KPIs are most important for this role? 
2. How frequently do you hold team meetings to discuss progress and performance?
3. Are individual metrics transparent within the team? 
4. How does management deal with poor performance or project failures?
5. What mediums are in place for upward communication? 
6. What incentives are available to encourage good performance?
7. How do you track and recognize individual and team achievements?
8. What are the parameters for taking on more responsibility? 
9. Are there bonus structures in place? 
10. How do employees and managers set performance goals? 

Questions about the next steps after the interview

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:

1. What are the next steps in the hiring process?
2. Is there a specific timeline for filling this position? 
3. Are you speaking to many candidates for the position? 
4. When can I expect to hear back about next steps? 
5. Can I reach out for feedback, regardless of the decision? 
6. Are there any additional steps in the hiring process, like a background check? 
7. How quickly would you expect a new hire to begin? 
8. Is there an opportunity for a signing bonus at this company?
9. Will I have the opportunity to meet team members or leadership in the next interview?
10. What does final approval for this role look like?

Asking questions helps you reach your career goals 

Asking questions as an interviewee gives you clarity about the role and demonstrates that you're a thoughtful, engaged candidate. As you move forward, take time to reflect on your values, job requirements, and long-term goals. When you're confident in your own priorities, it becomes easier to show up with confidence and ask your interviewer about what matters most. 

If you’re navigating a career move and want support along the way, a BetterUp coach can help you prepare, refine your strategy, and make sure each conversation moves you closer to the role that’s right for you.