30 Questions to Ask in a Job Interview: Choosing Useful Reverse Questions
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Category: Job Search Preparation & Interview Tips, Job Change
Authors: Shusaku Yosa
The questions you ask at the end of an interview help you understand the company and assess whether the role fits you. In Japan, this part is often called gyaku shitsumon (逆質問), or reverse questions. Rather than inventing a complicated question to impress someone, ask about matters that affect your decisions and future work.
The 30 examples below are options, not a checklist to complete in one meeting. Remove questions already answered and choose according to the time available and the interviewer's responsibilities.
Choosing questions by interview stage
Situation | Useful topics | How to prepare |
|---|---|---|
First interview | Duties, selection process, required experience | Identify unclear points in the listing. |
Second interview | Team, evaluation, practical challenges | Connect the work to your experience. |
Final interview | Business direction and organizational expectations | Clarify contribution and longer-term direction. |
Interview structures vary. An executive might conduct a first interview, so do not choose questions solely by the round number.
Ten questions about the work
- What would I be responsible for immediately after joining? (Initial responsibilities.)
- Could you describe an example of a typical working day? (Daily work.)
- Which problem is the priority for this position to solve? (Purpose of the hire.)
- What would you expect me to have achieved after the first three months? (Initial goals.)
- Which situations tend to be most challenging in this role? (Preparation for difficulties.)
- What do customers or users particularly value about the service? (Value provided.)
- How does this team work with other departments? (Collaboration.)
- Which decisions would I make independently, and which should I discuss first? (Authority and responsibility.)
- How often would I handle the duty mentioned in the listing? (Balance of tasks.)
- Is there knowledge or a tool I should learn before joining? (Preparation priorities.)
Ten questions about the team, development, and evaluation
- Could you describe the team I would join? (Role distribution.)
- How are training and handover organized for new employees? (Initial support.)
- Whom can I approach for help, and what support arrangements are available? (Consultation.)
- How often would I review progress with my manager? (Feedback.)
- What aspects of performance are evaluated in this role? (Assessment criteria.)
- How are goals set? (Participation in goal-setting.)
- What behaviors do successful people in this role tend to share? (Expected actions.)
- How are proposals to improve work considered? (Participation in improvement.)
- When are the busiest periods, and how does the team support one another? (Workload and support.)
- What opportunities are there to develop the expertise I would like to build? (Development options.)
Ten questions about business direction, conditions, and the process
- Which businesses or areas will receive particular attention in the coming years? (Company direction.)
- What role is this department expected to play in that direction? (Departmental contribution.)
- What is the background to this hire? (Expansion, replacement, or another reason.)
- What are the medium- to long-term expectations for this position? (Future responsibilities.)
- What are the main challenges facing the business now? (Understanding the situation.)
- What principles guide decisions in everyday work? (Values in practice.)
- Could I confirm how work locations and remote work are arranged? (Working conditions.)
- Whom should I ask about actual overtime and holiday arrangements? (The appropriate contact.)
- Is there an expected starting date? (Timing.)
- What are the next steps, and when should I expect to hear from you? (What to do next.)
Pay and working conditions are legitimate parts of an application decision. If another person handles those details, ask whom to contact and when you can confirm them.
Less useful wording and better alternatives
Instead of “What does your company do?”, refer to public information: “I read about your X business. How does this department work with it?” This allows you to ask for information beyond a basic company overview.
Instead of “Can I grow here?”, ask what opportunities this role offers to broaden your experience. A specific question makes the answer easier to assess.
Instead of “There is absolutely no overtime, right?”, ask about typical and busy-period overtime and how hours are managed. This helps establish actual practice.
Instead of asking for an immediate hiring decision, you can ask: “Is there any part of my experience that would be useful for me to explain further today?”
Ask one question at a time, then follow up if necessary. Combining several questions may make it difficult to receive a clear answer.
Following up on an answer
If the interviewer says you will handle existing customers, ask about the handover period. If improvement proposals are welcomed, ask for a recent example of one that was adopted.
When referring back to something already discussed, begin with “May I clarify one point about what you mentioned earlier?” If the discussion has resolved your questions, you can say so and briefly explain what you now understand. You do not need to repeat a prepared question just to ask something.
A preparation process
- Read the listing and company website and note what is unclear.
- Separate questions essential to your decision from optional questions.
- Match questions to the interviewer's role.
- Remove questions answered during the conversation and note new ones.
- Record answers afterwards for comparison with other employers.
Related reading: Final-interview preparation and Interview arrival times and etiquette. These linked pages may be displayed in Japanese.
