Research shows that most good interviewers carefully watch for the questions that an interviewee asks. If you want to help your customers, clients, and students win in the interview, prepare them ahead of time to ask the questions inerviewers appreciate most. Specifically, your customers, clients, and students should go in with two or three questions that will give insight into whether this job would be a good match for them. These types of questions not only help your folks, but they also signal the interviewer that your person is there at the interview to make a decision about this job. That type of forward, responsible thinking goes a long way towards making a positive impact in a competitive job interview!
We have put together a few of our favorite questions. There are, of course, many more that a job seeker might ask during an interview. Check out the ones below and use them as an example and a standard.
- What are the daily duties and responsibilities I would have in this job?
- What types of people seem to excel most in your department (group, section, etc.)?
- What are the most important knowledge, skills, and abilities for a person to succeed in this job?
- What are the main concerns a new hire in this job would have to be able to address?
- Are there any plans to expand or bring on new products and services that could impact this job over the next year or so?
- What processes or activities do you see this job having the greatest potential to improve in your department?
- How would you describe your own management style and the overall culture of this division?
- Would the person in this job be part of a team, or would the new hire spend more time working independently?
Do you want to help your customers, clients, and students succeed in their next interview? If so, teach them how to prepare powerful, meaningful questions ahead of time that they can ask the interviewer. Try it … it really works!
Consider the timing of your interview questions. The interviewer will ask at some stage, “Do you have any questions for me?” You can wait for this opportunity to ask your prepared questions or you can assess things as the interview progresses to decide when it is an appropraite time to ask your questions.
If the interview seems to be not flowing smoothly asking a relevant question can improve the flow and build rapport with the interviewer. If the interviewer doesn’t directly ask for your questions take the opportunity towards the end of the interview to ask your questions:
“Is this an appropriate time to ask you some questions?”
Really great advice, Julia. Thank you for adding that!!!
I believe too many people ask the questions employers do not want to hear, such as pay, benefits, and vacation. These items will reveal themselves if you are offered the job. Concentrate on questions that will reveal your compatibility to the working environment. Satisfaction in a job is much more important than pay. I have experienced it first hand.
I agree completely with Tracy’s comments regarding people asking pay and benefit questions too early in the interviewing process. I believe that the applicant (interviewee) should do some research on pay, benefits, etc. before they go to the interview. They should know a considerable amount about what the company does, what it makes, or what services it provides, what the company’s long range goals are, turnover rate among employees, etc.
The applicant should show a true interest in working for the company, not just getting the job and the paycheck. Of course, most everyone I know works to earn a living, but being satisfied with your job should be equally important.
Using well timed insightful questions shows the interviewer that you have done your homework and gives them a glimpse of where your priorities lie. I agree with the other 2 posts stating that questions regarding pay are not appropriate at the point of interview unless initiated by the interviewer. I give interview pointers to the youth in my WIA program and will be sure to tell them about the good questions listed in the Blog. Good BLOG!
I remember my first interview as a co-op student in high schoool. I was 16 and truly uninformed. When I asked my supervisor why I got the job; she said it was because I asked questions when none of the other students did. Since then, I realized how important it is to show interest in the job you are applying for by asking questions. One other hint I have is to know something about the company/organization and mention something that makes the employer feel you did your homework.
When I was younger I never knew to ask questions in an interview, one of the things I was not taught in high school. I now know that its important to ask questions and there are good questions here that I will keep in mind to be sure I inform others of.
I am currently preparing students for FBLA State Leadership Conference. One of my students placed 1st at the regional level in Job Interview, and has advanced to compete at the state level in April. This article could not have come sooner. Thanks, for all of the resources that you are providing us with in this class. I have printed this off to share with him so that he will be prepared and ready for the challenge. He is going to get that JOB. We are looking forward to advancing on to compete at the national level.
Before becoming a school counselor, I directed a youth development program for a non-profit organization. In this area, turnovers tend to be high. It amazed me how interviewees were at times ill prepared for the interview. Some were new to the work force, others had several years work experience. It was the individuals that ask questions similar to those in the article and were prepared (attire, answering questions, etc.), received the job offers.
Yes, I agree that asking questions in an interview is very important - not only does it show that you are listening during the interview, along with “doing your homework”, but it shows the employer that you are truly interested in the position…and probably helps with the “comfort” factor. No one feels very comfortable in an interview - so asking questions can be used as an “icebreaker” and to further get to know each other in that process, etc.
I agree totally with the above comments. It is very important to ask questions in an interview. However to help our clients to be successful in an interview we (CDF) must teach our clients how to prepare strong and meaningful questions to ask the interviewer. The questions in the article are some powerful and meaningful question to use.