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Teaching video: 8 minutes 44 seconds. Add this to the reading and practice estimate below; complete the lesson check once after studying.

Lesson 6 of 6 · Estimated 10 minutes reading and 30 minutes practice

Ask questions and plan your next steps

By the end of this lesson

• Ask questions that help assess the actual work and support.
• Write a concise follow-up with accurate details.
• Review an offer’s practical terms without relying on guarantees or legal assumptions.

Use your questions to learn

An interview also gives you information for your own decision. Prepare four or five questions and select the most useful two or three based on what has already been covered. Ask about responsibilities, success measures, training, supervision, workload, working arrangements or the selection timeline. You can ask for an example if an answer is too general.

Useful questions include: “Which tasks would be most important in the first three months?”, “How are new starters trained?”, “How does the team decide priorities when requests conflict?” and “What are the next steps and expected timing?” If the job description leaves hours or location unclear, clarify them. Ask about compensation and benefits respectfully when relevant, rather than treating them as forbidden topics or the only matters to discuss.

Replace vague questions with specific ones

Bad question: “Is this a good place to work?” Better question: “How does the manager give feedback, and how often would a new starter meet with them?” Bad question: “Can I get promoted quickly?” Better question: “What skills would someone need to demonstrate before taking on more responsibility?” Specific questions make it easier to compare an answer with your needs.

Listen rather than reading your entire prepared list. If the interviewer has already explained training, ask a follow-up about an unclear detail. Do not ask for confidential information about clients or other candidates. Write down important information afterward, separating what was promised, what was described as typical and what remains uncertain.

Follow up without pressure

After the interview, note the questions asked, evidence you gave, details you learned and one thing to improve. Where appropriate, a brief thank-you message can acknowledge the conversation and reinforce relevant interest. Respect an employer’s instructions about contact. If they gave a timeline, use it to judge when an update request is appropriate; daily reminders are rarely helpful. [UCB1]

Editable thank-you example: “Hello [name], thank you for speaking with me about the [role] position today. Our discussion of [specific task] helped me understand the role. My experience with [true relevant example] is particularly relevant to that work. I’m interested in the opportunity and happy to provide any additional information you need. Best, [name].” Remove any sentence that is not accurate. This is a draft template, not a message to send unchanged.

Editable update request: “Hello [name], I’m following up on the [role] interview on 2026. You mentioned an update around [timeframe]. Is there any news on the next steps? Thank you, [name].” If no date was agreed, use a reasonable interval for the employer’s process and keep the request brief. Do not invent a competing offer to create urgency.

Review an offer as a whole

If offered a role, request the terms in writing and check what you understand before making a commitment. Review the role and responsibilities, pay amount and currency, pay frequency, hours, location or remote expectations, start date, benefits, reporting line, response deadline and any stated conditions. Distinguish guaranteed pay from variable or discretionary elements. Check any unresolved questions with the employer. [NCS1]

Use your own priorities to evaluate practical fit: travel time and costs, schedule, learning, accessibility, support and the work itself. This course does not tell you whether to sign a contract or establish legal rights, tax treatment or employment status. For those questions, seek appropriate qualified local advice. Do not assume a verbal statement overrides written terms, or that a deadline can be ignored.

Learn from any outcome

A good interview does not guarantee a job, salary or promotion. Decisions can depend on factors you cannot observe. If you do not receive an offer, you can ask for feedback when appropriate and review your own evidence. Keep useful stories, adjust unclear answers and continue your search. If an offer does not fit your needs, seek clarification before deciding. The purpose of preparation is better communication and a more informed decision.

Exercise · Prepare your closing and follow through

1. Choose three employer questions that matter to your decision and are not already answered.
2. Draft a thank-you or update message using only real details. Keep it unsent until relevant.
3. List your three most important offer considerations and the information needed to assess each.
4. Complete the final assessment and choose one practice action from the rubric.

Produce: Three employer questions, one editable follow-up draft and a personal offer-review checklist.

Quality check: Have you separated confirmed terms from assumptions and avoided commitments you have not chosen to make?

Open the editable worksheets

Lesson knowledge check

Further guidance

• National Careers Service — Interview tips
• UC Berkeley Career Engagement — Interview Process Overview

Mock interview resources

Choose six questions across the categories. Allow about 20 minutes for the conversation and 10 minutes for feedback. Ask one follow-up per example, then score the observable evidence with the rubric. Repeat the two answers you most want to improve.

Opening and motivation

1. Tell me about yourself in relation to this role.
2. What interested you in the responsibilities listed in this vacancy?
3. Which strength would help most with these responsibilities?
4. What skill are you working to improve, and how?

Past evidence

1. Tell me about a time you helped a team finish a task.
2. Describe a mistake you made and what you changed afterward.
3. Give an example of learning an unfamiliar process.
4. Tell me about a time priorities changed.
5. Describe a time you explained something to someone with different knowledge.
6. Tell me about a disagreement and how you handled your part.
7. Describe a task where accuracy mattered.
8. Give an example of using feedback to improve your work.

Situations and judgment

1. What would you do if two requests had the same deadline?
2. How would you handle instructions you did not understand?
3. What would you do if you noticed an error just before submission?
4. How would you respond to a frustrated customer within your authority?
5. What would you do if asked to share information you were unsure was confidential?
6. How would you begin learning a tool you have not used?

Follow ups and closing

1. What did you do personally in that example?
2. What other option did you consider, and why did you choose this one?
3. How do you know the result happened?
4. What would you do differently next time?
5. What support would help you learn this role?
6. What questions would you like to ask us?

Self assessment rubric

Score each criterion from 1 to 4. Total: 5 to 20. A useful practice target is at least 3 in every criterion, while every experience claim must remain truthful. Scores are learning aids, not a validated employment prediction. Accent, eye contact, disability-related behavior and clothing cost are excluded.

Role relevance

1. Answers are unrelated to the role.
2. Some relevant links, but mostly generic.
3. Clear links to key requirements.
4. Clear, selective links with useful employer questions.

Truthful evidence

1. Claims lack support or are knowingly inaccurate.
2. Examples are real but vague or ownership is unclear.
3. Specific examples with accurate personal contribution.
4. Specific evidence, honest limits and clear result or learning.

Answer structure

1. The main point is difficult to identify.
2. Some organization; important parts are missing.
3. Question answered clearly with suitable structure.
4. Clear, concise answer adapted to follow-up questions.

Listening and judgment

1. Ignores the question or suggests unsafe unauthorized action.
2. Needs prompting to clarify or recognize limits.
3. Clarifies uncertainty and explains reasonable boundaries.
4. Explains choices, tradeoffs and appropriate escalation clearly.

Practical readiness

1. Key logistics are unknown.
2. Some details checked; important gaps remain.
3. Format, timing, materials and backup are checked.
4. Readiness includes confirmed access needs and a tested backup where relevant.

Use the result

For each score, write one observed example. Choose the two weakest answer elements, revise them and repeat. If an example is inaccurate, correct it before further practice regardless of the total. If an access need or logistics issue remains unresolved, confirm arrangements before treating the interview plan as ready.