Interview Tips
"Do you have any questions for me?" is not a formality. It is a genuine opportunity to learn whether a role is actually a good fit, and the quality of your questions is itself part of how an interviewer evaluates you. Showing up with nothing to ask is one of the most common, avoidable missteps in an interview.
"What would success look like in this role after the first six months?" gives you concrete information about expectations, and it signals that you are thinking about impact rather than just the job title.
"Can you tell me about the team I would be working with day to day?" often reveals more honest, specific detail than a question about company culture in the abstract, since the interviewer is describing real people and real workflows rather than a general pitch.
A new role, a replacement for someone who left, or a promotion backfill all tell you something different about the team and the opportunity. This is a direct, legitimate question that most interviewers are comfortable answering honestly.
How success is measured
“What would success look like in this role after the first six months?”
The team
“Can you tell me about the team I would be working with day to day?”
Why the role is open
“Is this a new role, or is it replacing someone?”
Questions about compensation and time off are fair, but usually fit better later in the process, once an offer is being discussed.
These are legitimate questions, but they are usually better placed later in the process (often once an offer is being discussed) rather than as your only questions in a first interview, where they can read as more transactional than curious.