Interview Like a Pro: The Art of Asking the Right Questions

Most people think that interviews are a way for prospective employers to find out if you’re the right person for the job. While that is true, they also provide a great opportunity for you to get to know your potential employer and find out more about them and the role. 

Knowing more about the employer, the role, and your prospective work environment is crucial to working out if the job is a good fit for you. One of the best ways to do that is to ask questions at the end of your interview. If you’re not sure what to say, this guide is for you...

Why Ask Questions at Your Care Job Interview?

Most interviews conclude an interview by asking if you have any questions for them. It’s a good opportunity to continue talking, but it can be difficult to think of something to say if you have to come up with a question on the spot. For that reason, it’s a good idea to prepare some questions to ask.

Choose questions that help you determine whether the company is a good fit for you. As well as gaining more information, asking questions brings other benefits. You can provide a short introduction to your question, which introduces some skills or experience that you want to bring to their attention. Also, asking insightful questions shows the employer how interested you are in the role.

Top Questions to Ask at an Interview for a Care Role

These questions are a useful starting point. Remember that you can adapt them to match your priorities and the specific care organisation where you have your interview.

Can you tell me more about the day-to-day duties of this role? What would a typical day look like?

This question is an ideal starting point for gaining a greater understanding of what’s expected of you. Many care roles involve different types of duties, so you’ll find out which ones occur most often in a typical day. Ideally, they’ll provide more detail than the job description.

It’s also a useful opportunity to find out how the team works and how they communicate. Listen out for any mentions of briefings, handovers, meetings with supervisors and other interactions. Depending on what they tell you, this topic provides the opportunity for follow-up questions. 

What is your favourite thing about working here?

The answer to this question will be pretty telling. The interviewer will need to really think about what it is they like about the job. You’ll be able to see from their reaction whether they do like working there, which is an important factor when choosing an organisation.

The interviewer’s answer will also give you insight into the personal experience of someone who works at the company. A negative response is not a good sign, nor is an answer that doesn’t seem to come naturally or say anything specific. Ideally, you’ll hear positive things about the team, the interesting people you’ll care for and support, and a supportive atmosphere.

How could my career progress at this company?

When you ask this question, you’re showing the interviewer that you’re committed to working at that company for the long term. It’s an excellent way to demonstrate that you’re thinking about the future and will take the role seriously. It’s not just a question to impress the interviewer, though.

The answer should give you an idea of your potential career path. Ideally, you’ll want to hear that there’s room for growth. Career progression isn’t just about new job titles and an increased salary. Progression isn't just about taking on management responsibilities - it might be specialising in a topic such as dementia or autism, becoming a mentor or buddy to another colleague, or a champion for a particular activity or ways of working.

Listen out for the increased responsibilities you would take on and how the company will help you develop. A follow-up question could involve asking whether many staff have started where you are and progressed. It’s a great sign if people want to stick with the company.

What would I need to do in the first six months to impress you?

This question gets the interviewers to reveal their true expectations of any new hires. They might say they’re looking for someone to hit the ground running. If you’re looking for training, support and experience as you develop, the role might not be a good match.

Pay attention to their markers for success. You can use this information to determine if their expectations are reasonable and work for you. Make a note of some of the comments during or after the interview, as you can use them as your roadmap to success in the job if you get it. Starting on the right foot is a great way to develop and improve your chances of career progression.

Can you tell me about the training and induction process?

When you ask this question, you’re really finding out what steps the company takes to help new hires settle in. The more detailed the answer, the more obvious it will be to you that the company is invested in the success of its employees.

Even if you have the skills and experience required, new teams and environments require some sort of induction. Ideally, they’ll spread out the induction and training to let you find your feet, meet the team, get to work and ask questions as needed. An ideal follow-up to this question is to ask about the next steps in the hiring process so that you’re left in no doubt about when they’ll contact you.

Can I learn about the people I’ll be caring for / supporting?

When you ask this question, you’re really trying to understand who you’ll be working with day-to-day — not just in terms of needs, but personalities, routines, and preferences. 

A thoughtful response will go beyond diagnoses or basic care requirements. It should give you a sense of what makes each person unique, what they enjoy, and how they like to be supported. This helps you imagine what your role will feel like in practice and whether it’s a good match for your skills and approach.

An ideal follow-up is to ask how staff are kept informed about changes in a person’s needs or preferences — that way you’ll know how communication flows within the team and how proactive they are about person-centred care.

It's two way...

Asking thoughtful questions at an interview isn’t just about impressing your potential employer — it’s about making sure the role, the team, and the organisation are the right fit for you too. By focusing on questions that uncover the culture, values, and day-to-day realities of the job, you’ll leave with a clearer picture of what to expect and how you can thrive. Remember, an interview is a two-way conversation; the more you learn now, the more confident you’ll feel when deciding whether to say “yes” to the offer.

Good luck!