Before an onsite interview, ask the recruiter who you will meet, what each round focuses on, what level you are being assessed for, which tools you will use, how breaks work, how to request accommodations, and what the company's policy is on notes and AI tools. Those answers turn a vague "final round" into a specific plan, and recruiters generally expect the questions because they want you to arrive prepared.
Many recruiters offer a short prep call once your onsite is booked. If yours does not, ask for one or send the questions by email. This guide is about that pre-onsite call. For the first screening call, where pay range, level and location come up, see our separate list of questions to ask a recruiter in the first call.
Why does the onsite prep call matter?
Onsite agendas vary by company, team and level, so generic preparation wastes time. Ten minutes with the recruiter can tell you that there is no system design round, that the behavioral session is with a director, or that coding happens in a plain editor without autocomplete. Each of those details changes how you should spend the next week.
The recruiter is usually on your side here. Their job is to fill the role, and a candidate who arrives well prepared makes that easier. Ask plainly and take notes.
What should I ask the recruiter before an onsite interview?
Pick the questions that matter for your situation. You will rarely need all 15.
The agenda and the interviewers
- "Could you send the agenda with the order, length and focus of each session?" This is the most useful single question. It tells you how to divide your prep time.
- "Who will I meet, and what are their roles?" Names and titles let you research each person and prepare a question for each one.
- "Which session is with the hiring manager?" That conversation usually focuses on motivation and fit with the team's work, so prepare it differently.
- "Is any session a panel, a presentation or a pair-working session?" These formats need their own practice.
The focus of each round and the level
- "What does a strong performance look like in each round?" Some recruiters can share what interviewers are asked to assess, such as problem solving, communication or ownership.
- "What level am I being considered for, and does the loop change by level?" Senior loops often weigh design and leadership more heavily; knowing the target level tells you what depth to aim for.
- "Are there company values or principles I should prepare stories for?" If the company publishes values, a values-based round may use them directly.
- "Is there anything from my earlier rounds you would suggest I focus on?" Recruiters sometimes pass on feedback from the phone screen. If they do, it is the most targeted advice you will get.
Tools and format
- "Which tools will I use for coding, design or diagrams, and can I try them beforehand?" A shared code editor without autocomplete or an unfamiliar online whiteboard costs time if you meet it for the first time on the day.
- "Can I choose my programming language?" Usually yes for coding rounds, but confirm it, and confirm whether code needs to run or only needs to be correct.
- "For a virtual onsite, which video platform is it on, and is it one day or split across days?" This sets your setup checklist and your energy plan.
Logistics, breaks, accommodations and rules
- "When are the breaks, and is lunch part of the day?" Plan your food and water around the answer. Lunch is sometimes with an interviewer.
- "For an in-person onsite, how do travel and reimbursement work?" Ask what is booked for you, what you pay first, and which receipts to keep.
- "How do I request an accommodation?" If you need extra time, a different format, captioning or an accessible location, ask now. In the US, the EEOC's guidance on job applicants and the ADA explains that applicants can ask for changes to the interview process, orally or in writing (as of October 2026). Rules differ by country, so check your local source.
- "What is the policy on notes, reference material and AI tools in each round?" Policies differ widely: some companies allow notes in some rounds, some provide tools inside a specific round, and many prohibit any outside help. Ask, write the answer down, and follow it exactly.
How to turn the answers into a prep plan
Write each answer next to the change it makes to your preparation. A short example:
| What the recruiter told you | What to change in your prep |
|---|---|
| Two coding rounds, one system design, one behavioral, one hiring manager | Split prep time roughly in proportion; do not skip the behavioral round because it feels easy |
| The behavioral round is with a director from another team | Choose stories with cross-team impact and clear business results |
| Coding is in a plain editor and code does not need to run | Practice without autocomplete; talk through tests out loud instead of running them |
| You are being assessed at a senior level | Prepare deeper trade-offs in design and stories where you led without authority |
| The company has six published values | Map one or two stories to each value |
| Virtual, split over two days | Test your setup twice and plan a full reset between days |
| No outside tools or notes in any round | Practice every round from memory, including formulas and story details |
From there, follow a full timeline such as the one in our guide on how to prepare for an onsite interview. If you learn the onsite will be remote, read our virtual onsite interview tips, and if you want to plan your day around the schedule, see how long an onsite interview usually lasts.
Prep-email template
If there is no call, or you want the answers in writing, send a short email. This is an example we wrote; adjust it to your situation.
Subject: Preparing for my onsite on [date]
Hi [Recruiter name],
Thank you for setting up my onsite for the [role] position on [date]. I want to make good use of everyone's time, so I have a few quick questions:
- Could you share the agenda, with the order, length and focus of each session and the interviewers' names and roles?
- Which tools will I use for coding or diagrams, and can I try them beforehand?
- What level am I being considered for, and is there anything from my earlier rounds you would suggest I focus on?
- What is the policy on notes, reference material and AI tools in each round?
- When are the breaks, and who should I contact on the day if there is a technical problem?
I would also like to request [accommodation, if any]. Please let me know if you need anything else from me.
Thanks again,
[Your name]
[Phone number]
Keep it to five questions or fewer. A longer list is better handled on a call.
Mistakes to avoid on the prep call
- Asking for the exact questions. Recruiters cannot share them, and asking can make you look focused on the wrong thing. Ask about the focus of each round instead.
- Not taking notes. Write down every name and detail. You will need them when you research interviewers and when you write thank-you emails later.
- Treating it as a negotiation. Salary details usually belong in the first call or after an offer. Keep this call about preparation.
- Guessing the rules. If you are unsure whether something is allowed in a round, ask before the day rather than assuming.
How to practice once you have the agenda
Once you know the rounds, rehearse them in the same order and format. You can rehearse with CoPilot Interview's AI interviewer: its Mock Interview builds questions from your résumé and the job description, lets you choose the mix (behavioral, technical, system design, coding), reads each question aloud and scores your spoken answer out of 10 with what to fix and a model answer. It is free for 15 minutes a day with no account. Follow each employer's rules on AI tools, and use AI to prepare beforehand.
Turn your agenda into practice rounds
Set the question mix to match your onsite, answer out loud, and get each answer scored out of 10 with what to fix. Free for 15 minutes every day, with no account.
Try a free AI mock interviewFAQ
Is it OK to ask the recruiter questions before an onsite interview?
Yes. Asking about the agenda, the interviewers, the focus of each round and the tools is normal, and most recruiters expect it. It shows you are taking the onsite seriously.
Will the recruiter tell me the interview questions?
No. Recruiters do not share specific questions, but many will describe the focus of each round and what interviewers assess, which is what you need for preparation.
What if the recruiter does not offer a prep call?
Ask for one, or send a short email with your three to five most important questions. Many recruiters are happy to answer in writing.
Should I ask about the AI policy before an onsite?
Yes. Policies on notes, reference material and AI tools differ between companies and sometimes between rounds. Ask, write the answer down and follow it exactly.
When should I ask for an interview accommodation?
As early as you can, ideally when the onsite is scheduled. Early requests give the company time to arrange it. In the US, the EEOC says applicants can request changes to the interview process orally or in writing.
Can I ask the recruiter for feedback from earlier rounds?
You can ask whether there is anything you should focus on. Some recruiters share general feedback and some cannot, so accept either answer gracefully.