Prepare Your Questions for Interviewers
The questions you ask reveal as much about you as the answers you give. For recent graduates thoughtful and specific questions demonstrate genuine interest, intellectual curiosity, and a level of preparation that most entry-level candidates do not bring. They also help you evaluate whether this role and company is genuinely right for you.
The questions you ask reveal as much about you as the answers you give. For recent graduates thoughtful and specific questions demonstrate genuine interest, intellectual curiosity, and a level of preparation that most entry-level candidates do not bring. They also help you evaluate whether this role and company is genuinely right for you.
Step by Step
Prepare at least 5 questions for each company you are actively interviewing with. Use your company research as the foundation.
Strong question categories:
About the role: "What does success look like in this role in the first 90 days?" "What are the biggest challenges someone starting in this role will face?" "What opportunities are there for growth within this role over the first year or two?"
About learning and development: "How does the company support the professional development of people who are early in their careers?" "What does the onboarding process look like for someone starting in this role?" "What do the strongest performers who started at this level have in common?"
About the team: "How would you describe the team culture?" "How does this team typically handle feedback and new ideas from junior team members?"
About the interviewer personally: "What do you enjoy most about working here?" "What advice would you give someone starting their career in this organization?"
Prepare 2 to 3 questions that are specific to each company based on your research. These are the questions that make the strongest impression.
Practice asking your questions out loud so they sound natural.
Tips Never ask about salary, benefits, or vacation in a first interview unless the interviewer raises it. Always have more questions prepared than you expect to use. Sometimes an interviewer covers your questions in their answers and you need alternatives ready. Questions about learning, growth, and development are particularly appropriate for recent graduates and signal ambition and self-awareness.