'Do you have any questions for me?' How IT contractors can answer

Classic job interview questions like ‘What’s your greatest weakness?’,  ‘What’s your greatest strength?’ and ‘Why should we hire you?’ aren’t to be underestimated. But out of all the questions that can trip up IT contractors at the end of the interview, ‘Do you have any questions for me?’ leads the pack.

Increasingly in 2025, interviews for IT contractors are about the candidate and client/hirer understanding each other’s needs, writes Matt Collingwood, managing director of VIQU IT.

IT contractor job interviews are therefore about how you can provide something that the other party values.

That’s why, predictable as it is, ‘Do you have any questions for me?’ allows the candidate to make sure it’s not just the interview that’s a two-way street.

‘Do you have any questions for me? So predictable there’s no excuse not to prepare

When placed via our tech staffing teams, we’d advise every contractor attending an interview to have questions prepared for the inevitable ‘Do you have any…? probe.

It’s interview 101.

But some contractors still say they have “no questions” even when they’re invited to ask some.

Are you an IT contractor who says ‘No, I think you’ve covered everything already?’

Don’t do this. In fact, we advise both clients and candidates alike that although ‘No, I’ve got no questions’ isn’t necessarily a reason not to hire someone, it doesn’t reflect well. Having no questions to ask when effectively invited to ask questions could be interpreted as a lack of interest.

Furthermore, as many roles require an element of requirement-gathering and understanding, ‘Do you have any…?’ is your chance to showcase your experience, ability to comprehend, and skill in conveying information.

Don’t pass up that opportunity.

Look at it another way. Do you really want to take on an assignment that you don’t FULLY understand, in terms of what’s required?

Two main types of questions interviewees can ask

Interviewees or candidates should be aware of two main types of questions from them:

• Pre-planned questions

These questions can be prepared in advance, before meeting the client. They are perfect for the concluding ‘Do you have any questions for me?’ probe. These pre-planned questions can even be discussed with your recruiter, if applicable.

• Spontaneous questions 

These questions should be asked by you based on what gets discussed during the interview.

As someone who has interviewed thousands of candidates, I like to see someone who has prepared in advance (i.e. got their pre-planned questions, above, down) but isn’t 100% scripted. Impromptu or spontaneous questions from the interviewee demonstrate that they are paying attention and can think on their feet.

Top four questions to ask in reply to ‘Do you have any questions for me?’

Every interview and role is different, so it’s impossible to provide an exhaustive list of great questions in YOUR next IT contractor job interview to ask in reply to ‘Do you have any…?’

 However, here are four very solid example-type questions:

Answer one: ‘What’s the biggest challenge or risk in this assignment?’

This is a good question for IT contractors to ask solely on the basis that it could open up a worthwhile conversation about any project issues and how they are being managed.

And that conversation could:

1) Give you the opportunity to ‘sell’ how you would manage and resolve the issues/risks yourself

2) Help you understand the project in more detail and assist you in deciding whether the project is the right fit for you.

Answer two: ‘What are the skill levels of the team I would be working with?’

And to this second question, you could add this quick follow-up – as soon as you utter the above; ‘Are there any skills gaps?’

Why? Well, it’s always good for IT contractors to know in advance when joining a team where there’ll be a clear skills shortfall.

Plus, organisations often use contractors who have specialist skillsets with the intention that they will pass on some of their knowledge to their colleagues.

So, depending on their answer to ‘What are the skill levels… and are there any skills gaps?’, you could ‘sell’ how you enjoy upskilling team members with examples of when you have done it previously.

Answer three: ‘What is the timeframe for the project? Is the project on schedule?’

By asking these two, and by understanding these two factors, IT contractors will be able to get a sense of whether the contract might get extended further down the line, which is always good to be aware of.

And if you get back a ‘No’ in answer to the latter, you need to delve further into why.

Answer four: ‘Why is the project falling behind schedule?’

You hopefully won’t need to ask this fourth question. Indeed, it might feel uncomfortable to ask it as it opens up a discussion about the company’s or hirer’s failings. 

But it’s better to understand what you’re getting into and how committed the client is to addressing the issues.

For example, I once worked with an IT contractor who declined an assignment because, after discussing its failings at the interview stage, they determined that simply replacing the project’s existing IT contractor wouldn’t fix the issues.

This questioning contractor demonstrated a strong understanding of the situation and made a professional decision to avoid risking a failed assignment on their CV, highlighting the importance of taking advantage of ‘Do you have any questions for me?’

Understanding the interviewer’s needs: use SPIN

Most interviewers are hiring to meet their own objectives, and they may even be under pressure to deliver results.

Questions from candidates that focus on their challenges can humanise the process and build rapport.

For instance, there’s a methodology called ‘SPIN’ (Situation, Problem, Implication, Need-Payoff).

It centres on making sure your questions in answer to ‘Do you have any questions for me?’ uncover the interviewer’s needs, pain points, and then challenges -- but at the right time to deliver maximum impact.

Is ‘Do you have any questions for me?’ an opening to bring up IR35? Yes and no

Before your IT contractor job interview at any end-client that is not a small company, a recruiter (if applicable) or the client should have provided you with an SDS (Status Determination Statement). The SDS contains the role’s IR35 status.

You may want to ask the client questions about the engagement in a way that relates to the role’s status. For example, relevant questions here could query the location of the services you’ll provide, or tools you will provide versus tools that the client will provide.

But we do not recommend using ‘Do you have any questions for me?’ as a window to try to change the client’s opinion on the role’s IR35 status.

An OPW lecture: What NOT to do for 15 minutes…

We recently had feedback about a contractor who spent 15 minutes explaining to the end-user how to engage PSCs on an outside IR35 basis, but the interviewer had no authority to change the determination.

If you want to have this sort of discussion, do it with someone who has decision-making power—don’t use up your valuable selling time exclusively on IR35!

By avoiding telling the engager what IR35 approach they should be taking, you’re also avoiding potentially aggravating the recruiter who put you forward for the assignment!

Leave things on an ENTHUSIASTIC positive

Some of the most seasoned IT contractors that first-timers can learn from know the temporary IT labour market in and out, and know themselves pretty well too.

They know ‘the game;’ are skilled at answering questions, and can confidently highlight their strengths. There’s an art to feeling comfortable while telling someone how great you are!

However, these calm, composed IT contractors with bags of experience can sometimes unintentionally give the impression that they’re not particularly keen or excited about the opportunity.

In the past, I’ve had clients give me slightly disappointed feedback like:

“The contractor is great, but I don’t think they’re too keen on us.”

If the interview has gone well, you’re enthusiastic, and you’re confident you can deliver, make sure to communicate this to the client.

For example, come back to them asking you the age-old ‘Do you have any questions for me?’ by saying something like: “Thanks for answering my questions. I’m confident I can deliver the outcome we’ve discussed, and if offered, I’d be very keen to accept.”

TL:DR: How to master your answer to ‘Do you have any questions for me?’  

It’s important to be prepared for this final interview question which gives you a genuine chance to ask questions of your own while keeping in ‘selling’ mode right to the end, and still impressing.

Asking relevant and interesting questions -- when clearly expected to -- could mean the difference between securing your next contract assignment and building a strong working relationship with a fantastic client, or making for an awkward interview ending and missing out altogether.

Keenly listen throughout the interview to understand the client’s needs and pain points with ‘SPIN’ in your mind. Then use your opportunity wisely to leave a good lasting impression about why you -- and not Joe Bloggs who’s interviewing after you -- are the right contractor for the role.