The Best Questions to Ask at the End of a Job Interview (UK)

"Do you have any questions for us?" is the one part of an interview you fully control, and most candidates waste it. A good question does three things at once: it shows you have been listening, it tells you something you need to know, and it leaves the panel with a last impression of someone who thinks. Here are twelve, grouped by what they tell you, plus the ones to avoid.

About the job itself

1. "What does a typical week look like in this role?" The honest answer tells you what the job actually is, as opposed to the advert.
2. "What would you want me to have done by the end of the first three months?" You learn their priorities and what "good" means to them. It also starts the conversation as if you already have the job.
3. "Why is the role open?" Growth, a promotion, or someone leaving. If someone left, a brief follow-up ("what would have made it work better for them?") is fair.
4. "What is the hardest part of this job?" Every job has one. A panel that says "nothing, really" is not being straight with you.

About the team and the manager

1. "How is the team set up, and who would I work with most day to day?"
2. "How do you like to manage?" Ask this of the person who would be your line manager. The answer, and how comfortably they give it, tells you a lot.
3. "How does the team handle it when something goes wrong?" Blame cultures reveal themselves here.

About the future

1. "Where have people who did this job before gone next?" The real answer to "what are the progression opportunities?", which usually gets a stock reply.
2. "What training or qualifications does the company support?" Matters especially in trades, care, driving and finance, where a paid-for licence or qualification is worth thousands.

About the practicalities

1. "What are the hours, and how much flexibility is there?" Ask plainly. Shift patterns, weekend work, core hours, hybrid days. It is better to know now.
2. "What are the next steps and when will you decide?" Always ask this one. It gives you a date to follow up on (see our follow-up guide).
3. "Is there anything about my application you'd like me to expand on?" Your last chance to fix a weak answer or a gap they are quietly worried about.

Questions to avoid

• Anything answered on the company website or in the advert.
• Salary and holiday at a first interview, unless they raise it. Save it for the offer stage (see negotiating a salary).
• "How soon can I be promoted?" It sounds like you do not want this job.
• "What does the company do?"
• Nothing. "No, I think you've covered everything" reads as not interested.

How many, and which

Prepare five, ask two or three, and let the conversation choose which. If the interview has run long, ask the first-three-months question and the next-steps question and stop. Write the questions down; reading from a notebook looks prepared, not weak.

Reading the answers

Vague answers to the "typical week" and "hardest part" questions usually mean the role is not well defined yet. A manager who cannot say how they manage may not have thought about it. "People who did this job went on to" followed by silence means nobody has progressed. None of these is a reason to withdraw on its own, but together they are what you weigh against the offer.

FAQ

What is the best question to ask at the end of an interview?

"What would you want me to have done by the end of the first three months?" It shows commitment, tells you what matters to them, and gives you the material for a strong follow-up email.

Is it OK to ask about salary in an interview?

At a first interview, let them raise it. If they ask your expectations, give a range based on advertised pay for the role. Negotiate at the offer stage.

How many questions should I ask?

Two or three, chosen from five you prepared. Always include the next-steps question.

Next step

Prepare the rest of the interview with our interview preparation guide, and keep the pipeline full: set up a free daily job alert.