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Imagine you’re buying a house. You wouldn’t make an offer without asking about the neighborhood, checking for hidden maintenance issues, or understanding the long-term value, right? A job interview is a similar investment, but instead of buying a house, you’re considering investing your time, energy, and future with a company.
Like a savvy homebuyer, you need to ask the right questions before deciding. That’s where talking to a hiring manager becomes one of your most valuable opportunities.
Below are 10 essential questions to ask hiring manager to help you dig deeper and make a confident, informed decision.
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During a job interview, the interviewer asks job interview questions to assess whether a candidate is a good fit for a particular role, team, and organization. These questions help employers evaluate candidates' skills, experience, behavior, and cultural fit.
At the same time, they allow candidates to learn more about the job, the company's values, expectations, and work environment.
Importantly, interview questions aren’t just one-way; they’re part of a two-way conversation that can create a positive impression.
While hiring managers ask questions to assess a candidate’s qualifications, candidates are also encouraged to ask questions to understand the role better and determine if the opportunity aligns with their goals and values.
This mutual exchange ensures that both parties can make informed decisions about moving forward in the hiring process.
👉Related: How to Make a Good First Impression: 7 Tips for Success.
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When you reach the end of an interview and the hiring manager asks, “Do you have any questions for me?” — that’s your moment to shine.
Asking the right questions shows you’re prepared and engaged and helps determine if the company, role, and team fit you. Here are 10 thoughtful questions to consider asking to set realistic expectations.
Understanding company culture is key to determining whether you’ll thrive in your current position and how it aligns with your career goals.
Is it fast-paced and competitive or more collaborative and supportive? Does the team value autonomy, or is there a lot of oversight?
You might say: “I’ve read about your core values on the website, but I’d love to hear your take. How would you describe the team culture here? For example, what's the work-life balance?
Companies prioritizing culture experience a significant 33% increase in revenue.
This open-ended question invites the hiring manager to share authentic insights that go beyond the company’s branding and help you measure success.
You’ll understand how people interact, what behaviors are rewarded, and what to expect daily.
This question helps you understand the company’s expectations and whether they have a clear vision for the position. A good answer should include key performance indicators (KPIs), important milestones, or specific goals.
It also allows you to reflect on whether your skills align with the job description and vision of success. If they expect someone to lead a project within the first two months and you’re looking for more onboarding time, this may not be the right fit, or it may signal that the role is more senior than it appears.
Understanding their company goals allows you to assess whether your skills, performance evaluation, and career goals align with the role.
If there's a disconnect, such as you needing more ramp-up time while they expect immediate impact, it may suggest the role isn't the right fit or could be more senior (or junior) than it initially appeared. This question ultimately helps you decide more about the opportunity and whether it supports your professional growth.
The people you work with can make or break your experience at a job. Understanding team structure, dynamics, and collaboration styles helps you gauge the responsibilities you'll share and if you’ll mesh well with your future colleagues.
You can phrase it like this: “What can you tell me about the team responsibilities I’d be joining? What are their roles and how do they typically collaborate?”
If the hiring manager describes a close-knit team with regular brainstorming sessions and group projects, but you prefer working independently, that’s important to know before saying yes.
This is a great question to explore the role's realities. Every job has challenges, and this question shows that you’re not afraid of them; you want to understand them upfront.
Through probing and research, you might learn that the team struggles with outdated tools, navigating organizational change, or facing tight deadlines. Whatever the answer helps you understand the road ahead and decide if you’re prepared to tackle those obstacles.
A healthy feedback culture is essential for growth opportunities and development. Some companies offer structured performance reviews every quarter, while others provide more informal, real-time feedback.
You could ask: “How do you typically give feedback to your team members? Is there a regular performance review process?”
The answer will give you insight into the management style and the company's commitment to helping employees grow.
👉Related: 360 Feedback Examples For Peers & Managers
Most job seekers are interested in more than just a paycheck — they want to learn, grow, and advance in their careers. This question shows you’re thinking long-term and want to invest in yourself.
Whether it’s mentorship programs, access to online courses, or clear promotion pathways, the answer reveals how much the company values internal talent.
An example: “Are there opportunities for internal mobility or continued learning within the organization?”
👉Related: 10 Leadership Development Strategies to Implement
It’s crucial to know how your potential interviewer and manager operates. Are they hands-off or highly involved? Do they focus on outcomes or the process? How do they handle conflict?
You could ask: “How would you describe your leadership style? How do you support your team when they’re facing challenges?”
This helps you determine whether their approach aligns with your preferred work style and whether you’ll feel supported or micromanaged.
If you're hoping to grow within the company, this question helps you understand what advancement might look like for the ideal candidate. Is the company known for promoting from within? Are there examples of employees who have grown into leadership roles?
This also allows the hiring manager to share success stories, or lack thereof. Either way, you’ll get a sense of your long-term prospects.
While it may seem like a basic question, asking about the next steps shows you’re engaged and ready to move forward. It also helps set expectations so you do not wonder what's next.
You can say, “Thanks for sharing all of that. What are the next steps in the process?”
The response will clarify the timeline and whether you must prepare for a second round, an assignment, or a panel interview.
👉Related: How to Ask if You Got the Job – Without Appearing Needy
This question can lead to a more personal, candid conversation. It shows you’re not just evaluating the role but genuinely curious about what makes the company worth joining.
It’s a great way to build rapport and may reveal aspects of the company culture, leadership, or mission that aren’t obvious from the outside.
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When you reach the end of an interview and the hiring manager asks, “Do you have any questions for me?” — that’s your moment to shine.
Asking the right questions shows that you’re prepared and engaged and helps you determine if the company, role, and team are the right fit for you. Here are 10 smart questions to consider asking.
Ready to take your communication skills to the next level?
Let Highrise teach you how to answer questions, express your ideas clearly, and stand out in every conversation.
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