It’s important to remember that asking relevant and thoughtful questions during a job interview can increase your chances of receiving a job offer and help you better understand the company and determine if the role is a good fit for you.

Many candidates miss the opportunity to ask questions during an interview, believing it will make a better impression on the employer. However, this is not the case. Failing to ask questions can suggest a lack of interest or preparation.

While there is no set number of questions during an interview, it’s generally sufficient to ask three or four well-chosen questions. Toward the end of the interview, most employers will ask if you have any questions about the company or the job position. Here are a few potential questions to consider asking during an interview:

1. How does the company support product team members' professional development and career growth?

Asking about the company’s approach to professional development and career growth can be an important question during a job interview because it can give you insight into the company’s values and culture. It can also help you determine if the company is committed to investing in its employees and helping them grow in their careers.

Knowing that the company values professional development can be particularly important for product team members, as the field of product development is constantly evolving, and staying up-to-date with new technologies and trends is essential for success. A company that prioritizes professional development is more likely to provide opportunities for employees to learn and grow, such as training programs, conference attendance, and mentorship opportunities.

Asking about professional development and career growth can also help you understand what opportunities may be available to you within the company and whether there is potential for advancement. This can be especially important if you are considering a long-term career with the company.

🌱 Benefit: Understand the company’s commitment to its employees and determine if it fits your career goals and aspirations well.

2. Why does a company want to hire a UX designer?

As a job candidate, it can be helpful to ask why the company is looking to hire a UX designer. This question can provide valuable insight into the company’s goals and priorities and help you understand the challenges and opportunities the company faces.

Knowing the context in which you will be working as a UX designer can be especially important, as it can help you understand the scope and focus of the role and how your skills and experience can be used. For example, if the company is looking to improve the usability of its website, you can expect to be involved in research, and design efforts focused on this goal.

🌱 Benefit: Asking about the company’s motivations for hiring a UX designer can help you determine if the role is a good fit.

3. How would you describe the ideal candidate for this position?

Knowing what the company is looking for in a candidate can also help you tailor your application and interview responses to highlight your relevant skills and experience better. For example, if the company is seeking a candidate with experience in user research, you can highlight any past research projects you have worked on.

In addition to gathering information about the role, asking about the ideal candidate can also be an excellent way to build rapport and show interest in the position. By demonstrating that you clearly understand the company’s needs and are committed to meeting them, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for the position.

4. Can you describe a typical workday for this job?

Asking about a typical workday for a UX design role can provide valuable information about the daily activities you can expect to be involved in and the type of work environment you will be working in (such as remote-first, full-time office, part-time office with presence hours, etc.). This information can help you understand how the position fits into the company, which you will be working with (your team) and reporting to (your management), and what departments you expect to work closely with.

Additionally, asking about a typical workday can give you insight into the level of UX maturity at the organization. If you receive a vague answer to this question, it may indicate a lower level of UX maturity, which could mean a more chaotic design process.

It’s also worth considering if the role is a new one. In this case, you can ask about the company’s plans for the role's future to understand better what to expect.

5. How does the product team collaborate and communicate with other teams and stakeholders within the company?

First, it can help you understand the company’s approach to collaboration and communication and how the product team fits into this structure. This information can be especially helpful if you are considering joining a new team or company, as it can give you insight into the team’s dynamic and how you can best contribute to the team’s success.

Knowing how the product team communicates with other teams and stakeholders can help you understand the company’s overall workflow and decision-making process. For example, if the product team works closely with the marketing team to develop product messaging, you can also expect to be involved in these discussions.

Asking about collaboration and communication can also help you understand the level of transparency and openness within the company. For example, if the product team has regular check-ins with other teams and stakeholders, it may indicate a more transparent and open work environment.

6. Can you share how the last project that the team worked on went?

The purpose of asking about a previous project is to learn about the team’s successes or challenges and gain insight into the company’s design process. By understanding the upsides and struggles of the process, you can identify areas where your skills and experience might be able to help improve the process and address any current challenges or gaps.

In addition to learning about the design process, asking about a previous project can also provide information about the project duration, the company’s product design culture (whether it is user-led or product-led), and the leadership and decision-making process within the organization. You can learn how managers interact with UX designers and who has the final say on design decisions.

Overall, asking about a previous project can provide valuable information about the company’s design process, culture, and leadership, which can help you understand the team’s work and how you can fit into it.

7. How will my performance be evaluated in this role?

It’s important to be aware of the metrics an organization uses to evaluate employee performance, as different organizations may have different approaches. By understanding the key performance indicators (KPIs) that are important to the organization, you can better understand the specific goals and expectations that the company has for your role. This information can be especially helpful if the job description is not detailed or if you are considering joining a new team or company. Knowing what is expected of you can help you set your own goals and determine how you can best contribute to the team’s success.

8. How does the company stay up-to-date with industry trends and technologies?

By asking how the company stays up-to-date with industry trends and technologies, you can get a sense of its dedication to staying current and relevant and its approach to learning and development. This can be especially important if you consider joining a new team or company, as it can help you understand its culture and values.

Takeaways

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when asking questions during a job interview:

• Engage in conversation with the interviewer. Don’t just ask questions from a list mechanically. Use the opportunity to build a rapport and ask follow-up questions based on the answers you receive. For example, if you ask about the career path for the role and don’t hear about support for professional development, you could ask about that as a follow-up.
• Avoid asking questions that have already been answered in the job description. Be sure to thoroughly read the job description before the interview so you can focus on asking more specific, insightful questions.
• Pay attention to the interviewer’s nonverbal cues when you ask questions. Body language can often reveal how a person is feeling. If you notice that the interviewer seems uncomfortable answering your questions, it’s best not to push them.
• Be mindful of the time. Your questions should not dominate the interview. Aim to ask around 5–10 minutes worth of questions.

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