5 exercises — practise selecting and phrasing the best questions for the end of a technical interview. Strong questions show initiative, cultural intelligence, and genuine interest in the role.
10 high-impact questions for the end of a tech interview
Role & success: "What would a successful first 90 days look like?" · "What does the team most need this hire to accomplish in year one?"
Technical culture: "What does your deployment process look like, from commit to production?" · "How does the team handle technical debt?"
Team & growth: "How does the team approach professional development?" · "Can you describe a recent technical challenge the team solved?"
Collaboration: "How does engineering collaborate with product and design?" · "How are technical decisions made on the team?"
Next steps: "Could you walk me through what the next steps look like and the typical timeline?" · "Is there anything else you'd like me to clarify?"
0 / 10 completed
1 / 10
At the end of an interview, the interviewer says: "Do you have any questions for us?" You want to understand what success looks like in the first 90 days. Which question is most effective?
Option B is the strongest question for several reasons: (1) It shows strategic thinking — you're already thinking about delivering value, not just getting the job. (2) It gives you actionable information — you learn exactly what matters to the team. (3) It differentiates you — most candidates ask about the team or technology; this question signals ownership and drive. Why the others fall short: Option A signals you didn't research the company (always research before the interview). Option C asks about compensation too early — save it for the offer stage. Option D sounds more like self-interest than role interest. Key phrase template: "What would success look like in the first [30/60/90] days for someone in this role?"
2 / 10
You want to ask about the team's technical challenges to understand what you'd actually be working on. Which question is worded most professionally?
Option C is best because it's forward-looking, collaborative, and professional. It asks about challenges without implying the team has failed, and it immediately positions you as someone thinking about contribution. Why the others are weaker: Option A ("hasn't been able to fix") has a negative framing that implies incompetence. Option B ("is it a mess") is too casual and could offend. Option D ("biggest technical debt issue") is too specific and may put interviewers on the defensive about past decisions. Useful vocabulary for asking about challenges: "What are the team's current priorities?", "What technical decisions are you actively working through?", "Where do you see the biggest opportunities for improvement?"
3 / 10
Complete the question to ask about engineering culture: "How does the team approach _____ — for example, do engineers have protected time for learning, side projects, or contributing to open source?"
"How does the team approach professional development?" is a smart question that reveals a lot about engineering culture. You learn whether the company invests in its engineers' growth — conference budgets, learning subscriptions, 20% time, tech talks, etc. It also signals that you are a continuous learner who values growth. Common follow-ups: "Are there regular tech talks or knowledge-sharing sessions?", "Is there a budget for conferences or courses?", "Do engineers get dedicated time for learning?". Why the other options are less ideal: "overtime" (sounds like you expect to be overworked), "onboarding" (important but narrow — better asked as a separate question), "performance reviews" (sounds like you're already focused on evaluation rather than contribution).
4 / 10
You want to understand the team's deployment and engineering practices before deciding if the role is a good fit. Which question reveals the most useful information?
Option B — deployment frequency and the release process — is the highest-signal question about engineering maturity. Deployment frequency reveals CI/CD maturity (teams deploying daily have automated pipelines, good test coverage, feature flags; teams deploying monthly are likely struggling with process). The release process walk-through reveals: how much manual work is involved, how risky deploys feel, how long changes take to reach users. What you're listening for: "We deploy on every merge to main" (high maturity) vs. "We have scheduled release windows on Thursday evenings" (lower maturity). Why the others are less effective: Option A tells you little (everyone says Agile). Option C is useful but easily researched publicly. Option D is relevant but phrased in a way that could sound like concern-fishing.
5 / 10
Near the end of the interview, you want to ask about next steps without seeming desperate or aggressive. Which phrasing is best?
Option B is ideal: it reaffirms your interest, asks a practical question about process, and does so in a calm, professional tone. Breaking down the phrasing: "I'm very interested in this role" — confirms genuine enthusiasm (interviewers want motivated candidates). "Could you walk me through the next steps" — politely requests information. "and the typical timeline" — practical, gives you context without pressure. Why the others fail: Option A reveals a competing offer (fine strategically, but the phrasing is slightly pressuring). Option C sounds insecure ("am I still in the running?"). Option D sounds impatient ("as soon as possible"). Useful phrase to close with: "Is there anything else you'd like me to address or clarify before we wrap up?"
6 / 10
During a code review of Sarah's pull request for the new user authentication module, you notice a potential vulnerability. You want to politely raise your concerns while remaining constructive. Which of the following comments is most appropriate?
// This looks like it could be vulnerable to XSS...
The key here is framing your feedback positively. Option 1 focuses on a negative observation without suggesting a solution. Option 2 directly raises security concerns and invites discussion. Options 3 and 4 are dismissive or overly demanding, potentially alienating Sarah. It's crucial to acknowledge potential issues constructively.
7 / 10
You're in a Slack channel discussing a recent performance issue with the database server. David suggests increasing the memory allocation. Which question would best clarify his proposed solution?
// I'm wondering if this will impact other services...
David's suggestion needs further scrutiny. Simply stating it's 'more effective' isn't sufficient. Option 3 directly asks about risks, a vital consideration in performance tuning. Options 1 and 2 offer vague inquiries while option 4 is too open-ended without specific details.
8 / 10
You're drafting the PR description for a bug fix that resolves an intermittent issue with the API endpoint. Which sentence best communicates the scope and impact of the change?
// Fixed a minor bug...
A good PR description needs specifics. Option 1 clearly states the endpoint affected, the type of error, and the impact (data loss prevention). It demonstrates a thorough understanding of the issue. The other options are too vague or focus on unrelated changes.
9 / 10
During a standup meeting, your team lead asks you to briefly update them on your progress. You've been working on implementing a new feature in the payment processing system. Which statement is the most effective and professional?
// I'm still stuck on this...
Providing a concise update is crucial during standups. Option 1 gives a brief overview of what you've accomplished and highlights current focus areas. It proactively mentions challenges, demonstrating self-awareness. Options 2 and 3 are too vague, while option 4 is completely uninformative.
10 / 10
You've been asked to review a code change submitted by Mark regarding the user profile service. He asks for feedback on his approach. Which response is most appropriate and professional?
// That's not how I would have done it...
The best response is one that invites dialogue and understanding. Asking for an explanation demonstrates a willingness to learn and appreciate Mark's perspective. It avoids immediately dismissing his work while opening the door for constructive feedback. Option 2 is overly critical, and options 3 and 4 jump to conclusions.
What does "Questions to Ask the Interviewer — IT English Exercise" cover?
Practice choosing the best professional questions to ask at the end of a technical interview. 5 exercises on role expectations, engineering culture, deployment practices, and next steps.
How many questions are in this interview set?
This set has 10 exercises, each with a full explanation.
Is this exercise free to use?
Yes. Every exercise on CoderSlingo, including this one, is free to use with no account, sign-up, or paywall.
Do these exercises include model answers?
Yes. Each interview question gives you several possible responses and asks you to pick the one that communicates most clearly and completely — the explanation then breaks down exactly why that answer works, including the specific vocabulary a strong candidate would use.
What if I choose an answer that isn't the strongest one?
You'll see which option was correct and read a full explanation of why it's stronger than the alternatives, plus the key vocabulary and phrasing worth reusing in a real interview.
Can I retry the questions?
Yes — use the "Try again" button on the results screen to reset and go through the set again.
Is this the same as a real technical or behavioural interview?
No — it's focused practice for the language side of interviewing: recognising which phrasing sounds precise and confident versus vague, and knowing the vocabulary interviewers expect for this role. It won't replace mock interviews, but it builds the vocabulary you'll need in one.
Where can I find interview prep for other roles?
Browse the full Interview exercises hub for 170+ modules covering behavioural, technical, and system design rounds across dozens of IT roles, or check the "Next up" link below to continue.
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Who writes these interview questions?
Every question is written by the CoderSlingo team based on real technical interview patterns for this role, then reviewed for accuracy and clarity.