Do you have any questions for us?
Why interviewers ask this
This question usually comes at the end, and it is still part of the assessment. Good questions show that you have researched the company, listened during the interview and are thinking seriously about the role.
It is also your chance to interview them. An interview is a two-way decision, and the answers can tell you a lot about the team, the manager and what the job is really like. Having no questions at all can suggest a lack of interest, even if you are genuinely keen.
How to answer
- Prepare three to five questions in advance, so you still have some left if a few get answered during the interview.
- Ask about the role and success: what the first months look like and how performance is measured.
- Ask about the team and the manager’s style, which strongly affects day-to-day work.
- Refer back to something mentioned in the interview to show you were listening.
- Leave detailed salary and holiday questions for later, unless the interviewer raises them.
Example answers
Yes, thank you, I have a few. First, what would success look like for this role after the first six months — is there a particular project or problem you’d want me to focus on? Second, you mentioned earlier that the team recently moved to a new reporting system. How is that going, and what part would this role play in it? And finally, how would you describe the way the team works together — is it mostly independent work with regular check-ins, or more collaborative day to day?
I do, thank you. I’d love to hear how teachers in the same year group plan together — do you share lesson planning, or does each teacher plan independently? I’m also curious about support for new staff: is there a mentoring programme in the first year? And you mentioned the school’s focus on reading this year. What has worked well so far, and where do you feel there’s still room to improve? Finally, what do you personally enjoy most about working here?
Mistakes to avoid
- Saying “No, I think you’ve covered everything”, which can come across as a lack of interest.
- Asking questions that are easily answered on the company website.
- Opening with questions about salary, holidays or leaving early before an offer is on the table.
- Asking a long list of questions when time is clearly running out.