Questions to ask HR (not the hiring manager)

Somewhere along the way I noticed that most “questions to ask in an interview” lists are actually written for the hiring manager round. That totally makes sense, except HR screens are usually happening earlier, they are shorter, and cover completely different ground. Asking a recruiter “what does success look like in this role technically” gets you a shrug. But you will get an actual answer if you ask “when did compensation last get reviewed”, because it’s literally their job to provide such context.

So here’s my running list, sorted by what an HR screen can actually tell you.

Hiring process

• What does the hiring process look like?

Simple, but worth asking early. Tells you how many rounds you’re in for and whether you should pace yourself.

Company culture & management style

• What’s your favourite thing about working here?
• What are the challenges about working here?
• Could you tell me more about the company culture and your experience working here?
• Can you tell me about the last change implemented based on employee feedback, and what impact it had?

That last one is the real test. Anyone can describe a culture in adjectives, but whether they can point to a specific thing that changed because someone complained about it is what differentiates a culture that listens and one that just claims it does.

The position itself

• Where did the last person in this role move on to?
• What would make someone successful in this role?
• What’s the common career path for this position — is there room for growth?

“Where did they move on to” is doing a lot of work here. Internal promotion, different team, or out the door entirely… All three answers tell you something different, and people are usually more candid about this than you’d expect.

Learning & development

• Are there structured learning opportunities (education budget, conferences)?
• How do performance reviews work?
• How often are compensation reviews conducted?
• What work equipment or setup is provided?

Think about what is important here for you. Maybe you want access to top tier courses, or would prefer attending a conference or two. Do you like getting feedback often, would you want your manager to shape your career progression?

One more

• Is there anything about my background that concerns you as a fit for this role?

This one is uncomfortable to ask, which is exactly why it’s useful.