From Applications to Interviews: Why the Questions You Ask Matter

As the semester unfolds, the recruiting season shifts too. For many students, October means moving from submitting applications to preparing for interviews. For others, it’s still a season of observation, exploration, and building habits that will pay off later. Wherever you are, now’s the time to take the next right step.

Use Questions to Stand Out

When an interviewer asks, Do you have any questions for us? it’s not a formality. It’s one of your best opportunities to show curiosity, preparation, and confidence.

Think of your questions as part of your performance: they reveal what you value, how much homework you’ve done, and whether you’re thinking like a professional.

Here are examples that go beyond the basics:

Personal (make it human):

• What’s one project you’ve worked on here that you’re especially proud of?

• How has your role changed since you joined the company?

• What keeps you energized in your day-to-day work?

Company (show you’ve done your research):

• I noticed your company recently launched [X initiative/product]. How do you see that shaping the team’s priorities in the next year?

• How does leadership here talk about success for early-career hires?

• What are some ways employees give feedback upward in the organization?

Role-Specific (show you’re already picturing yourself in the job):

• What would someone in this role need to accomplish in the first six months to be considered successful?

• What challenges is the team currently facing that this role could help solve?

• When people move on from this position, what are the typical next steps in their career path?

💡 Pro Tip: Aim for a mix of prepared questions and on-the-fly ones that tie back to something your interviewer said — those can be the most impressive of all.

Weaker vs. Stronger Questions

Not all questions are created equal. Framing matters.

• Weaker: What’s the company culture like?
  Stronger: How would you describe the team’s culture, and how does leadership help shape it?

• Weaker: Are there opportunities for growth?
  Stronger: Can you share examples of how early-career hires have been supported in their professional development here?

Notice how the stronger versions are specific and reveal curiosity, not just surface-level interest.

Final Thought

Interviews are about fit on both sides. The questions you ask can be one of your most powerful tools to leave a lasting impression — and to gain insight into whether the opportunity is right for you.