Questions to Ask the Employer in a Job Interview in Norway

Published November 12, 2026

Near the end of almost every job interview in Norway, someone on the panel will ask: "Do you have any questions for us?" Many international applicants say "No, I think you covered everything" and miss an easy chance to show real interest. A few good questions show that you have read the job ad (stillingsannonse), thought about the job and can picture yourself working there.

This article gives you questions you can use, sorted by topic. It also covers which questions to save for later and how to ask them naturally.

Why your questions matter in a Norwegian interview

Norwegian interviews are often relaxed and conversational. The interviewer may be your future manager, and a colleague or someone from HR may join. Many Norwegian workplaces value employees who take initiative, ask when something is unclear and care about working well with others. Your questions are a quiet way to show those qualities.

Good questions also help you. An interview is a chance to find out whether the job, the team and the way of working suit you. If you are new to Norway, it is also a natural moment to ask about language, training and how things work in practice.

A useful rule: prepare four or five questions, and expect to ask two or three. Some may already be answered during the interview.

Questions about the role and the first months

These questions show that you are thinking about doing the job well, not just getting it.

What would a typical week look like in this role?

What do you expect from the person in this job in the first three months?

How does training work for new employees here?

What are the biggest challenges for the person in this role right now?

How do you measure whether someone is doing a good job here?

Make your questions specific to the job. Compare these two versions for a job as a care worker at a care home:

• Before: "What are the tasks?"
• After: "The ad mentions both day and evening shifts. How is the work different on an evening shift compared to a day shift?"

The second version shows that you read the ad and are already thinking about the daily work.

Questions about the team and the working culture

In Norway you will often work closely with colleagues, and your manager may be easy to approach. Asking about the team shows that you care about cooperation.

How big is the team, and who would I work most closely with?

How does the team usually share information and plan the work?

How do you give feedback to each other here?

What do you like most about working here?

The last question works well with a future colleague on the panel. People usually enjoy answering it, and their answer tells you a lot about the workplace.

For example, Amira is interviewing for a job as a warehouse worker at Y AS. Instead of a general question, she asks:

I have worked in a warehouse with fixed teams before. Do you work in fixed teams here, or do people move between areas?

Questions about language at work

If you do not yet speak fluent Norwegian, it is better to bring up language openly than to hope it never comes up. Asking about it shows honesty and a wish to fit in.

Which language is used in meetings and in daily work with colleagues?

Will I need to write reports or emails in Norwegian?

I am learning Norwegian and I am at about B1 level now. Is there anything in the job where better Norwegian would help me early on?

Do any of your current employees take Norwegian courses alongside their jobs?

Describe your level honestly and in plain words. If you know your CEFR level (A1–C2), give it. If not, use words such as "basic", "conversational" or "fluent", and mention what you are doing to improve. Do not claim a higher level than you have: the interviewer may switch to Norwegian for a few minutes to hear how you manage.

Questions about the next steps

Always finish with a question about what happens next. It is practical, and it gives you a reason to follow up later.

What are the next steps in the process?

When can I expect to hear from you?

Is there anything else you would like to know about me, or anything I can explain better?

The last question is useful if you feel an answer went badly. It gives you a calm second chance to explain, for example, a gap in your CV.

Questions to avoid or save for later

Some questions can give the wrong impression if you ask them first or in the wrong way.

• Questions answered in the ad. Asking "What does the company do?" shows that you did not prepare. Read the ad and the employer's website before the interview.
• Pay, holidays and days off as your first question. These matters are important, but leading with them can make it sound as if you only care about benefits. It is usually wise to wait until the employer raises them or until you get an offer. If you need to ask, do it near the end and keep it neutral: "How do you usually handle salary in the process?"
• Questions about how fast you can get promoted. In many Norwegian workplaces this can come across as impatient. Ask instead: "What opportunities are there to learn and develop in this role?"
• Very personal questions to the interviewers. Keep the focus on the job and the workplace.

It is fine to ask whether the job is permanent (fast stilling) or temporary (vikariat) if the ad does not make this clear.

How to prepare and ask your questions

A few simple steps make your questions sound natural instead of memorised:

1. Read the job ad again and underline anything that is unclear or interesting.
2. Write four or five questions linked to what you underlined.
3. Put them in order of importance, so the best one comes first.
4. Bring them on paper or in a notebook. Looking at notes is perfectly normal.
5. Listen during the interview and cross out questions that have already been answered.

You can also link a question to something said earlier: "You mentioned that the team is growing. How will that change the work in the next year?" This shows that you were listening.

If you are unsure which parts of the ad you match well and which you do not, look at that before the interview. Knowing your weak points helps you ask smart questions, such as how training works in an area where you have less experience. For help with the rest of the interview, read common job interview questions in Norway and how to answer 'Tell me about yourself'.

Summary

• Prepare four or five questions and expect to ask two or three.
• Ask about the role, the first months, the team and how people work together.
• Bring up language openly and describe your Norwegian level honestly.
• Always ask about the next steps.
• Save pay and holidays for later, and never ask what the ad already answers.
• Link your questions to the job ad and to what was said in the interview.