Turn the Tables: Must‑Ask Questions for Your Technical Interview

Interview Strategy

Interviewers usually dominate the process; to flip the script, ask thoughtful questions that give you control and visibility.

Self‑Assessment

Identify which questions interest you.

Determine which you can answer yourself through research.

If you can’t find an answer, ask the interviewer.

Do not try to ask every question on the list.

Responsibilities

What are the on‑call policies and overtime compensation?

What does my day‑to‑day work look like?

What is the junior‑to‑senior engineer ratio and any planned changes?

What does onboarding training involve?

What is the balance between independent development and routine tasks?

How many core work hours are expected each day?

What defines success in this role?

Am I filling a new position or replacing someone (any technical debt to inherit)?

Which project team will I join, and is it a new or existing project?

Technical

What is the primary technology stack?

How do you use source‑control systems?

What testing practices are in place?

How are bugs tracked?

Do you employ CI/CD for code integration and deployment?

Is infrastructure defined as code and stored in version control?

What does the workflow from planning to completion look like?

How do you prepare for disaster recovery?

Is there a standard, enforced development environment?

How long does it take to set up a local test environment for a product?

How quickly do you respond to security issues in code or dependencies?

Do developers have local admin rights on their machines?

Are there regular technical sharing sessions, and how often?

Team

How is work organized?

What are the typical communication patterns within and between teams?

How are differing opinions resolved?

Who sets priorities and plans?

What happens if work is returned as incomplete?

What types of meetings are held weekly?

How is product/service planning structured (e.g., weekly releases, continuous deployment, multiple release streams)?

What is the process for handling production incidents, and is there a blameless culture?

What current challenges is the team facing?

What is the composition of the technical team and its hierarchy?

Company

Is there a budget for meetings or travel, and what are the guidelines?

How does the promotion process work, and how are expectations communicated?

Are technical and management career tracks separate?

What is the company’s stance on diverse hiring?

Are there company‑wide learning resources such as e‑book subscriptions or online courses?

Is there a budget for certifications?

What stage of maturity is the company at (early direction‑finding, steady work, maintenance, etc.)?

Can I contribute to open‑source projects, and does it require approval?

Are there non‑compete or confidentiality agreements?

What gaps do you see in the company culture?

Can you share stories of difficult situations the company faced and how they were handled?

Business

Is the company currently profitable?

If not, what is the timeline to profitability?

What are the sources of funding, and who influences high‑level plans?

How does the company generate revenue?

What obstacles prevent higher earnings?

What do you consider the company’s competitive advantage?

Remote Work

What is the ratio of remote to office work?

Does the company provide hardware, and what is the refresh plan?

Can accessories or home office equipment be purchased with a budget?

Is there a budget for shared office space or internet?

How often must I come to the office?

Are meeting rooms always ready for video calls?

Office Work

What is the office layout (open, cubicles, private offices)?

Are there support, marketing, or high‑call‑volume teams nearby?

Compensation

If there is a bonus plan, how is it distributed?

What percentage of salary has historically been paid as bonuses?

Are there social insurance, pension, or other benefits, and does the company provide complementary commercial insurance?

Paid Leave

How many days of paid vacation are offered?

Are sick leave and personal leave separate?

Can vacation be taken in advance, resulting in a negative balance?

What is the policy for rolling over unused vacation days?

What are the policies for childcare support?

What is the policy for unpaid leave?