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What are some out of the box interview questions?
What are some unique question that I can ask a possible employer for my company?
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11 answers
Updated
Denise’s Answer
Hello Ja'Miah,
Great question! Here are a list of questions you can refer to regardless of type of role or company to foster discussion. I would also recommend doing some specific research on the company you are meeting with along with the role you are interviewing for to generate targeted questions. Lastly I would suggest noting any questions that come to mind as you are discussing the role with those you interview with to show your attention to detail.
About the Role
- Can you describe a typical day or week in this role?
- What are the most important skills and qualities needed to succeed in this position?
- What are the immediate priorities for someone stepping into this role?
- How do you measure success for this position?
- What are the biggest challenges someone in this role might face?
About the Team and Management
- Can you tell me about the team I would be working with?
- How would you describe the management style of the person I would be reporting to?
- How does the team typically collaborate and communicate?
- Are there opportunities for mentorship or professional development within the team?
About the Company Culture
- How would you describe the company culture here?
- What do you enjoy most about working at this company?
- How does the company support employee work-life balance?
- Are there any employee resource groups or community-building activities?
About Growth and Development
- What opportunities are there for professional growth and advancement?
- How does the company support ongoing learning and development?
- Are performance reviews conducted regularly? What does that process look like?
About the Hiring Process
- What are the next steps in the hiring process?
- When can I expect to hear back about the decision?
- Is there anything else you need from me to help with your decision?
About Company Vision and Strategy
- What are the company’s goals for the next year?
- How does this role contribute to the company’s overall mission and objectives?
- How does the company stay competitive and innovate in the industry?
Best of luck!
Great question! Here are a list of questions you can refer to regardless of type of role or company to foster discussion. I would also recommend doing some specific research on the company you are meeting with along with the role you are interviewing for to generate targeted questions. Lastly I would suggest noting any questions that come to mind as you are discussing the role with those you interview with to show your attention to detail.
About the Role
- Can you describe a typical day or week in this role?
- What are the most important skills and qualities needed to succeed in this position?
- What are the immediate priorities for someone stepping into this role?
- How do you measure success for this position?
- What are the biggest challenges someone in this role might face?
About the Team and Management
- Can you tell me about the team I would be working with?
- How would you describe the management style of the person I would be reporting to?
- How does the team typically collaborate and communicate?
- Are there opportunities for mentorship or professional development within the team?
About the Company Culture
- How would you describe the company culture here?
- What do you enjoy most about working at this company?
- How does the company support employee work-life balance?
- Are there any employee resource groups or community-building activities?
About Growth and Development
- What opportunities are there for professional growth and advancement?
- How does the company support ongoing learning and development?
- Are performance reviews conducted regularly? What does that process look like?
About the Hiring Process
- What are the next steps in the hiring process?
- When can I expect to hear back about the decision?
- Is there anything else you need from me to help with your decision?
About Company Vision and Strategy
- What are the company’s goals for the next year?
- How does this role contribute to the company’s overall mission and objectives?
- How does the company stay competitive and innovate in the industry?
Best of luck!
Updated
Ashley’s Answer
This is such a good question! I've been a career HR/Recruiting professional for almost 20 years, I've learned down through the years that it not just the job of the employer to ask interview the potential employee for fit purposes, but it's also for the potential employee to interview the company for fit purposes as well. Having this perspective helps to take away, or at least help lessen, the anxiety of being in an interview when asked questions. There's a few questions that come to mind for me that I feel is helpful.
1. What would you say are the top 3-5 things you enjoy most about working in your role or with your current company? (This helps you get an idea of what the interviewer values as well as what the company values and supports to help you make a decision on whether this company can be a good fit for you or not.)
2. What would you say is your leadership style along with your expectations for anyone working in this role or on your team in particular?
3. **Based on the last person who filled this role, is there anything in particular that you'd like for this person filling this role to do differently?** (I starred this one because this is the question that most interviewers did not expect and was told "Great question," every time I've asked it. This question really shows your intentionality to improve areas of opportunity to make them better and be successful)
Hope these tips and questions helps as these questions above can be applied in any role you're interviewing for!
1. What would you say are the top 3-5 things you enjoy most about working in your role or with your current company? (This helps you get an idea of what the interviewer values as well as what the company values and supports to help you make a decision on whether this company can be a good fit for you or not.)
2. What would you say is your leadership style along with your expectations for anyone working in this role or on your team in particular?
3. **Based on the last person who filled this role, is there anything in particular that you'd like for this person filling this role to do differently?** (I starred this one because this is the question that most interviewers did not expect and was told "Great question," every time I've asked it. This question really shows your intentionality to improve areas of opportunity to make them better and be successful)
Hope these tips and questions helps as these questions above can be applied in any role you're interviewing for!
Updated
Yoav’s Answer
It's such a smart move to look for questions that go beyond the standard script because it shows you're truly interested in the culture and the long-term reality of the job. Instead of just asking about daily tasks, you might try asking your interviewer what the most successful person they've hired did in their first three months that really blew everyone away, or ask them what the one thing is about the company's culture that doesn't show up on the website. Another great one is to ask how the team handles it when things go wrong or a project fails, since that'll give you a real look into the support system you'd have. You could even ask what the most challenging part of the role is for someone coming in from the outside, which shows you're proactive about wanting to get things right from day one. By asking these kinds of things, you're not just being interviewed but you're also interviewing them to make sure it's a place where you'll actually be happy and thrive. You've clearly got a professional mindset and any employer would be lucky to have someone who thinks as deeply as you do. You're going to stand out for all the right reasons with this approach, and I wish you the very best of luck.
Updated
Alexandra’s Answer
Asking unique questions in an interview can help you stand out and show interest in the company. Here are some questions you might ask a potential employer:
1. What challenge is the company facing that you are eager to address?
2. How does the company culture promote creativity and innovation?
3. Can you share a recent unexpected success your team had?
4. What does exceeding expectations in this role look like in the first 6 months?
5. How does leadership support learning and career growth?
6. What might surprise outsiders about a typical day in this position?
7. How does the company celebrate achievements?
8. What projects would you pursue if resources weren't limited?
9. How do employees maintain work-life balance during busy times?
10. What is something interesting about the company that most people don’t know?
Feel free to adjust these questions to fit your style and the company. Good luck!
1. What challenge is the company facing that you are eager to address?
2. How does the company culture promote creativity and innovation?
3. Can you share a recent unexpected success your team had?
4. What does exceeding expectations in this role look like in the first 6 months?
5. How does leadership support learning and career growth?
6. What might surprise outsiders about a typical day in this position?
7. How does the company celebrate achievements?
8. What projects would you pursue if resources weren't limited?
9. How do employees maintain work-life balance during busy times?
10. What is something interesting about the company that most people don’t know?
Feel free to adjust these questions to fit your style and the company. Good luck!
Updated
Steve’s Answer
Here are a few out-of-the-box interview questions that spark deeper conversations and show strategic thinking. You can ask how success is truly measured in the first 90 days beyond KPIs, or what problems the team keeps postponing due to time or resource limits. Another strong question is how the company adapts when a decision turns out to be wrong and what they’ve learned from it. You can also ask how AI is used in day-to-day workflows and whether the team encourages AI-assisted decision making. Using insights from an AI-Powered Interview Tool like LockedIn AI can help you frame and deliver these questions confidently during real interviews.
Updated
Lindsay’s Answer
I enjoy asking people what superpower they would pick. It reveals a lot about who they are.
Updated
Rachael’s Answer
Here are some helpful questions to ask during an interview. It's important to understand the role clearly, as this is your chance to see if it's the right fit for you too.
1. Are there any chances for career growth in this position?
2. Can you tell me about opportunities to work with other departments and how leaders support this?
3. How is the company using AI or new technologies currently?
4. What are the next steps and timeline for the hiring process?
5. How does the company support work-life balance?
1. Are there any chances for career growth in this position?
2. Can you tell me about opportunities to work with other departments and how leaders support this?
3. How is the company using AI or new technologies currently?
4. What are the next steps and timeline for the hiring process?
5. How does the company support work-life balance?
Updated
Gwen’s Answer
Here are some creative questions that can spark a deeper conversation:
1. What are your hopes for the Company in the next 5 years?
2. How is AI making a difference at the Company right now?
3. What does Success mean to the Company?
4. How does the Company support a good Work-Life Balance?
5. What is the Company's view on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion?
6. What is a typical day like at this Company?
1. What are your hopes for the Company in the next 5 years?
2. How is AI making a difference at the Company right now?
3. What does Success mean to the Company?
4. How does the Company support a good Work-Life Balance?
5. What is the Company's view on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion?
6. What is a typical day like at this Company?
Updated
Danielle’s Answer
Questions from candidates (you!) are sometimes as -- or more -- helpful than the answers provided to the interview questions. They give some insight into your expectations, attitude, and assumptions around the role and the company. Irrelevant or standard questions can mean you either don't understand the role you're applying for, or are just checking a box and are unengaged. Either would be a mark against you.
The best questions reflect a clear understanding of the role, while probing for more information around scope or company culture. It's also good to bounce off of the questions you were asked during the interview, and probe for more information about the role or the team that way ... this shows you were listening and applying it to yourself strategically.
Be curious! But always be conscious of time-management, too.
The best questions reflect a clear understanding of the role, while probing for more information around scope or company culture. It's also good to bounce off of the questions you were asked during the interview, and probe for more information about the role or the team that way ... this shows you were listening and applying it to yourself strategically.
Be curious! But always be conscious of time-management, too.
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. This is a good question and many students may have something similar.
Below are a few suggestions :
1. What career development opportunities are available with this role?
2. How does this role contribute to the company's long term goals?
3. What qualities make someone success in this role?
4. What this role can do more to add value to the team?
5. What are the next step of the recruitment process?
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Below are a few suggestions :
1. What career development opportunities are available with this role?
2. How does this role contribute to the company's long term goals?
3. What qualities make someone success in this role?
4. What this role can do more to add value to the team?
5. What are the next step of the recruitment process?
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Updated
Janet’s Answer
If you could describe yourself in one word what would your use?