Understanding which are the best questions to ask during an interview changes an interview from a checklist into a conversation that uncovers skills, motivation, and cultural fit. Whether you’re hiring, applying to a college, making a sales call, or preparing for a job interview, the best questions to ask during an interview help surface stories, not rehearsed answers. This guide explains why those questions matter, which types work best, concrete examples you can use, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

Why are the best questions to ask during an interview important for assessing fit

• Motivation and career drivers that show long-term alignment

• Problem-solving approaches through past behavior instead of hypotheticals

• Cultural fit and interpersonal style from values-based prompts

• Asking the best questions to ask during an interview signals preparation and engagement while giving you evidence about fit. Thoughtful questions reveal:

Research-backed frameworks recommend behavioral and situational questions to get concrete examples rather than opinions. For example, behavioral questions that start with “Tell me about a time…” prompt storytelling and provide specific actions and outcomes you can evaluate Source: University of Arizona interview guide. Using the best questions to ask during an interview is how you move from surface-level answers to verifiable evidence.

What types of best questions to ask during an interview reveal the most about candidates

There are several types of high-impact questions. The best questions to ask during an interview typically mix these forms:

• Behavioral questions: Ask for past examples to predict future behavior (use STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result) Source: Pitt behavioral guide.

• Motivational questions: Explore why someone does the work and what drives long-term engagement (e.g., “What motivates you to come to work every day?”).

• Personality and cultural fit questions: Open-ended prompts that surface values, adaptability, and collaboration style (e.g., “How would your last boss describe you?”) Source: KarbonHQ interview list.

• Skills and knowledge questions: Role- or industry-specific technical probes to validate competence.

• Self-reflection and feedback questions: Evaluate coachability by asking “How do you like to receive feedback?” or “Describe a time you handled constructive criticism” Source: PowerToFly suggestions.

Mixing these question types ensures the best questions to ask during an interview cover both what candidates can do and who they are.

What are some top best questions to ask during an interview for job interviews

Below are high-utility examples of the best questions to ask during an interview that work across industries and levels. Use them as-is or adapt to the role.

• “What accomplishment are you most proud of and why” — reveals priorities and impact [Source: PowerToFly].

• “Tell me about a time when you had to juggle multiple projects” — probes organization, priorities, and outcomes [Source: University of Arizona].

• “How would your last boss or coworker describe you” — checks self-awareness and social perception [Source: KarbonHQ].

• “What motivates you to come to work every day” — clarifies drivers and retention risk [Source: PowerToFly].

• “Describe a time you handled constructive criticism” — measures growth mindset and feedback receptivity [Source: Pitt behavioral guide].

To get beyond rehearsed answers, follow up with specifics: “What did you say, exactly?” or “What was the measurable result?” The best questions to ask during an interview invite numbers, names, and timelines.

How can I adapt the best questions to ask during an interview for sales calls or college interviews

The core principle of the best questions to ask during an interview is to elicit stories and priorities. Adapt the framing for context:

• Sales calls: Use consultative questions that uncover pain points, budget, decision criteria, and urgency. Example: “What’s the biggest barrier keeping your team from reaching X goal?” Then follow with, “How have you tried to address it?”

• College interviews: Ask about resilience, learning style, and aspirations. Example: “Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned” shows reflection and growth potential.

• Job interviews: Go deeper on role-specific scenarios and team dynamics. Example: “Describe a time you changed a process that improved outcomes for your team” reveals initiative and stakeholder influence.

Across contexts, the best questions to ask during an interview prioritize open-ended prompts and real examples. For user-testing and technical roles, supplement with task-based prompts like those discussed by testing communities to evaluate domain-specific thinking Source: Ministry of Testing thread.

How do interviewers overcome common challenges when using the best questions to ask during an interview

Interviewers often face rehearsed answers, unconscious bias, and an awkward balance between structure and conversation. Use these strategies with the best questions to ask during an interview:

• Use behavioral anchors: Ask for the Situation, Task, Action, Result to reduce vagueness and rehearsed generalities [Source: Pitt behavioral guide].

• Probe for specifics: Follow with “Who else was involved?” “What metrics did you track?” or “What happened next?” to triangulate truth.

• Reduce bias: Standardize core questions for each candidate and add role-specific probes as necessary [Source: KarbonHQ].

• Encourage authenticity: Start with a short rapport-building icebreaker (e.g., “If you could invite any three people to dinner, who would they be?”) to lower tension and surface personality [Source: KarbonHQ].

• Balance structure and conversation: Use a core list of the best questions to ask during an interview, but allow natural follow-ups when answers invite them.

These techniques help interviewers turn the best questions to ask during an interview into reliable evidence rather than impressions.

What actionable tips can interviewees use to respond well to the best questions to ask during an interview

Candidates can prepare to shine with these concrete tactics:

• Use STAR for behavioral answers: Situation, Task, Action, Result. This structure converts anecdotes into evaluable data [Source: University of Arizona].

• Prepare 4–6 standout stories that map to common competencies: teamwork, conflict, problem-solving, leadership, deadlines. Tailor each story to the role.

• Be ready to ask the best questions to ask during an interview back to the interviewer — it signals curiosity and helps assess fit. Consider asking about success metrics for the role, growth opportunities, and team dynamics.

• Practice concise and specific answers with measurable outcomes. Replace “I improved engagement” with “I increased retention 15% over six months by X.”

• Demonstrate coachability: When asked about feedback, describe a concrete change you made from input you received [Source: PowerToFly].

Preparation on both sides ensures the best questions to ask during an interview lead to useful, honest exchange.

How can hiring teams assess soft skills with the best questions to ask during an interview

Soft skills often decide long-term success. Use targeted behavioral prompts among the best questions to ask during an interview:

• Communication: “Describe a time you explained a complex idea to a non-expert”

• Teamwork: “Tell me about a time your team disagreed and how you influenced the outcome”

• Adaptability: “Describe when priorities changed suddenly and how you responded”

• Stress management: “Tell me about a high-pressure deadline and how you delivered”

Observe not just content but delivery: clarity, ownership language (“I” vs “we”), and how honestly they describe setbacks. The best questions to ask during an interview uncover both what happened and what the candidate learned.

What techniques help get genuine responses when using the best questions to ask during an interview

To avoid canned replies and surface authentic stories, try these approaches:

• Ask for the timeline and role specifics to force detail: “When did this happen and what was your specific role?”

• Use follow-up curiosity: “What surprised you about that outcome?” or “What would you do differently now?”

• Ask counterfactuals sparingly: “If you had to do it again with half the resources, what would change?”

• Create low-pressure prompts before big questions: A quick icebreaker invites storytelling momentum.

• Mix structured and open-ended questions to compare consistency and depth.

These methods make the best questions to ask during an interview more diagnostic and less performative.

How can Verve AI Interview Copilot help you with best questions to ask during an interview

Verve AI Interview Copilot helps you prepare, practice, and refine the best questions to ask during an interview by coaching both questions and answers in real time. Verve AI Interview Copilot suggests role-specific question banks, models STAR responses, and gives feedback on clarity, depth, and follow-up opportunities. Use Verve AI Interview Copilot to rehearse asking and answering the best questions to ask during an interview, sharpen how you probe for details, and reduce bias in evaluation. Learn more at https://vervecopilot.com

What are the most common questions about best questions to ask during an interview

Q: How many of the best questions to ask during an interview should I prepare
A: Prepare 8–12 core questions plus role-specific follow-ups to cover skills and fit

Q: Which best questions to ask during an interview reveal motivation
A: Ask “What motivates you” and “Why this role now” to understand drivers

Q: Can the best questions to ask during an interview reduce bias
A: Yes, standardizing core questions for all candidates helps reduce bias

Q: How do I get real stories with the best questions to ask during an interview
A: Use behavioral prompts and STAR follow-ups to force specifics

Final checklist for using the best questions to ask during an interview

• Create a balanced list: behavioral, motivational, skills, and cultural questions.

• Standardize 4–6 core questions for every candidate, add 2–4 role-specific prompts.

• Train interviewers to probe for specifics and use STAR evaluation.

• Encourage candidates to ask thoughtful questions back.

• Debrief with a scoring rubric that includes soft skills and growth potential.

Using the best questions to ask during an interview consistently will improve decision quality, candidate experience, and your ability to predict on-the-job success.

• 30 interview questions to help you identify the best candidate KarbonHQ

• Interview questions to ask candidates with explanatory notes PowerToFly

• Behavioral interview questions to ask candidates University of Arizona guide

Further reading and resources:

By focusing on the best questions to ask during an interview, you move conversations from rehearsed summaries to meaningful stories that reveal capability, motivation, and fit.