An Underrated Moment That Really Matters

"Do you have any questions?" is never just a closing formality. Having no question, or asking an uninteresting one, sends a signal of disinterest — one of the mistakes listed in our interview preparation guide. Conversely, one well-chosen question can strengthen your candidacy right up to the very last minute.

Questions About the Role and Its Real Challenges

  • "What are the main challenges the person in this role will need to tackle in the first six months?"
  • "How do you measure success in this role after the first year?"
  • "What are the team's immediate priorities for this position?"

These questions show you're already picturing yourself in the role, beyond the theoretical job description.

Questions About the Team and Management

  • "How is the team I'd be joining structured, and who would I report to directly?"
  • "What's my future manager's management style?"
  • "How does onboarding work for new team members?"

Questions About the Company, Not Generic Ones

Avoid questions whose answer is two clicks away on the company's website. Favor questions that show deeper research:

  • "I saw that you recently [specific news item] — how does that affect the team's priorities?"
  • "What are the main development projects planned for the next 12 months?"

Questions to Avoid Asking First

  • Salary and benefits in the very first conversation — see our article on salary negotiation for the right timing.
  • Questions whose answer is already in the job posting.
  • "I don't have any questions" — avoid this at all costs, even if it means preparing a backup question at minimum.

Prepare 3 to 5 Questions in Advance

The recruiter may answer some of your questions naturally over the course of the interview without you having to ask them. So always prepare several questions ahead of time, to never find yourself with nothing to ask at the end.

Anticipate the Questions You'll Be Asked Too

Asking good questions of your own isn't enough — you also need to be ready for the technical, behavioral, and situational questions you'll be asked.

CVPocket generates exactly that: a list of likely questions personalized to your resume and the target posting, preparing both sides of the conversation at once.