By the end of this episode, you will be able to prepare and ask three well-targeted questions that leave a strong final impression on the interviewer.
Quick recall · Episode VII
Before you start: read the prompt, say the full phrase aloud, then tap to check.
A positive way to say you’ve outgrown your current job
I feel I’ve grown as much as I can in my current role, and I’m ready for the next challenge.
/aɪ fiːl aɪv ɡrəʊn æz mʌtʃ æz aɪ kæn ɪn maɪ ˈkʌrənt rəʊl/
tap to revealWhat you want next, without criticising your employer
I’m looking for a role with broader scope and more responsibility.
/aɪm ˈlʊkɪŋ fɔːr ə rəʊl wɪð ˈbrɔːdər skəʊp ænd mɔːr rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪlɪti/
tap to revealA neutral way to mention a restructuring or redundancy
The company is going through a restructuring, so I’m exploring new opportunities.
/ðə ˈkʌmpəni ɪz ˈɡəʊɪŋ θruː ə ˌriːˈstrʌktʃərɪŋ/
tap to revealHow do you feel about this question right now, before the lesson?
Tap a card to flip it. The back shows the meaning and an example of how the word is used. Pay attention to the stress: it’s marked in capital letters.
Key words & pronunciation · tap a card
These words are often mispronounced in interviews. Stressed syllables are shown in CAPITALS.
Each card shows a common mistake (You say), how it lands (Interviewer thinks) and a stronger alternative (Better). Flick through and remember what to avoid.
Interview Crimes · what not to say
“Do you have any questions for us?”
You say:
“No, I think you’ve covered everything. I’m good, thank you.”
Interviewer thinks:
“No questions? Either they are not curious about the role, not prepared, or not genuinely interested. All three concern me.”
Better:
Always prepare at least two or three questions. “I have no questions” is never the right answer. It signals that you have not thought about the role, the team, or what your first weeks would look like.
You say:
“Yes! How much is the salary? And how many holidays do I get? Is there remote work? What about the bonus?”
Interviewer thinks:
“We haven’t even agreed on the role yet and they are already negotiating perks. Their priority is clearly what they get, not what they contribute.”
Better:
Save salary, benefits, and holiday questions for the offer stage. At the interview stage, ask about the role, the team, expectations, and growth. This signals the right priorities. Salary will come naturally once they want to hire you.
You say:
“Yes, could you tell me more about the role? What exactly would I be doing day to day?”
Interviewer thinks:
“I just spent 20 minutes explaining this. Were they not listening? What happens when I give them a complex brief?”
Better:
Keep track of what has already been covered. Your question list should adapt during the interview. If a question has been answered, move to the next one. Asking something just explained signals you were not listening.
You say:
“Yes, I have quite a few actually. [12 minutes later] ...And one more thing, could you also explain the reporting structure, the quarterly review process, the performance bonus calculation, and...”
Interviewer thinks:
“This is no longer an interview. I have another call in two minutes and they show no sign of stopping. I asked for a couple of questions, not a second interview.”
Better:
Prepare five questions, but ask two or three. Read the room. If the interviewer looks at their watch or starts wrapping up, finish gracefully. Save additional questions for the follow-up email.
Listen to the audio and fill each gap with the word you hear. Press Check to see how you did, Show answers to reveal everything, or Try again to start over.
Model Answer · read & fill in the gaps
“I do have a few questions, thank you. First, could you help me __________ what success looks like in this role in the first 90 __________?
I am also __________ about the team dynamics and how the team __________ day to day.
And __________, would you be able to tell me more about the __________ for professional development for someone in this position? I am looking to grow with the company __________ term, so that matters to me.”
Cultural Note
Candidates very often say “No, everything is clear, thank you” at the end of an interview. In English-language interviews, this is a significant missed opportunity. Having no questions signals a lack of curiosity, preparation, or genuine interest. Always prepare at least three questions before you walk into any interview. Good questions leave a strong final impression and are often the thing that separates two equally strong candidates.
Try answering each question in your own words first, then press Show answer to compare.
Check your understanding
1. Why is “No, everything is clear” a damaging answer at the end of an interview?
It signals a lack of curiosity, preparation, or genuine interest in the role. Asking good questions shows engagement, strategic thinking, and that you have already imagined yourself in the position. Interviewers expect questions and remember candidates who ask insightful ones.
2. Why is asking about salary and holidays at this stage a mistake?
It shifts the conversation to what you want from the company before you have established your value. It suggests your priority is compensation, not the work itself. Save those questions for the offer stage, once they have decided they want to hire you.
3. What makes a question “strong” in a final interview?
Strong questions are specific, cannot be answered by a quick Google search, and show you have already thought about the role. They are forward-looking (what success looks like, what challenges to expect), people-focused (team culture, how the team works), or about growth. They reveal that you are genuinely engaged, not just going through the motions.
Use the arrows to browse the key phrases from this episode. Tap the heart to save a phrase to My Word Bank so you can come back to it later.
Phrase Flashcards My Word Bank 0
This is an answer template with slots for your own details. Replace the underlined parts with your information, then read your answer aloud a few times until it flows naturally.
Answer Builder · build your answer
Prepare your three best questions below. Click Build my answer to combine them into a polished response you can use in any interview.
Prepare 3–5 questions. Ask 2–3 in the interview. Always have a backup in case some were already answered during the conversation.
Your answer
Sample · three targeted questions
“What does success look like in this role after the first 90 days?”
“What is the biggest challenge the team is currently working through?”
“How do people in this team typically develop. Are there examples of someone growing into a senior role internally?”
These are example questions. Adapt them to the specific role and what you genuinely want to know.
Grammar Practice · Indirect questions: polite forms
Fill in the gaps
Complete each indirect (polite) question with the missing word.
Direct: “What are the next steps?”
→ “Could you tell me what the next are?”
Direct: “When will you make a decision?”
→ “I was when you would make a decision.”
Direct: “How many people are in the team?”
→ “Would you be to tell me how many people are in the team?”
Direct: “What does success look like?”
→ “Could you what success looks like in this role?”
Note: Indirect questions sound more polite and professional than direct ones. Use Could you tell me...? or Would you be able to tell me...? for requests. Use I was wondering...? for more tentative questions. Notice that indirect questions use normal word order (what the steps are), not question word order (what are the steps).
Fill in the gaps
Complete the polite question sequence with the missing words.
“I have a few questions if that’s . First, I was about the team structure. Could you me how many people are in the direct team? And would it be to hear more about the professional development opportunities for someone in this role?”
- Press Mock Interview · 5 Questions. Your browser will ask for camera and microphone access. Click Allow. Recording starts automatically.
- You’ll hear a question. Answer on camera as if it were a real interview. Aim for 60–90 seconds.
- After your answer, 3 seconds of silence triggers the next question. Or press Next question to move on right away.
- After the last question, press Finish interview to end the session.
- Press Play back and watch the whole session. Tick off the checklist: eye contact, pace, confidence. The questions aren’t audible during playback, so read them on screen.
- Want another take? Press Clear and start again.
Quiet room: auto-advance listens through your microphone. In a noisy place (a café, an open office) it’s better to press Next question manually.
- Do you have any questions for us?
- Is there anything you would like to know more about the role?
- What would you like to know about the team or the company?
- Do you have any questions about the position or how we work?
- Before we wrap up, is there anything you would like to ask?
- Tell me about a time when you had to overcome a significant challenge at work.
Interviewer Ready
HR Manager
Watch for:
- ☐I asked at least two questionsPractise saying them out loud. Written questions often sound stilted when spoken for the first time.
- ☐My questions showed genuine interest, not just politeness“Do you have any good advice for someone starting here?” is polite but vague. “What does success look like in the first 90 days?” is specific and engaging.
- ☐I did not ask about salary or benefitsThat conversation belongs at the offer stage, not the interview. Save it.
While reviewing:
Pick one item to focus on this playback. You don't need to fix everything at once.
- ☐Did I ask at least two questions?Even one good question beats no questions. Two or three is ideal.
- ☐Were my questions specific enough to show preparation?Generic questions like “What is a typical day like?” are fine, but targeted ones leave a stronger impression
- ☐Did I avoid asking about salary, holidays, or benefits?If you asked, note it here and hold those questions for the offer stage
- ☐Did I use polite, indirect question forms?“Could you tell me...?” or “I was wondering...” sounds more professional than a direct question
- ☐Did I leave the interview on a confident, positive note?End with a clear expression of interest: “Thank you, I am genuinely excited about this role.”
HR Manager
Connecting…
Check before recording
How do you feel about this question now, after the lesson?