Ask Questions During Interview

At the end of an interview, when the interviewer typically says, ‘Do you have any questions I can answer for you?', NEVER say, ‘Nope, I think you answered them all.'  Interviewers and recruiters will take this as a lack of interest in the position and the company.  It will reflect negatively on you.

Instead you must develop a few PERTINENT questions to finish things off and leave a good impression with the interviewer.   Asking really well-thought-out questions show you know the business that that interviewer is in, you know their company to some extent, and you've thought about your questions. It all goes back to preparation, and it tells the interviewer you thought about this interview before you walked in the door.

Sample Questions - From your research of the company and the position, you should be able to come up with several questions. You will need several ready, because some of the questions will be answered during the interview.

• I noticed the job position states...Can you tell me a little bit more about...?
• What are the companies plans for the future? The current market shows trends of ….
• I recently saw a press release that stated... What does this mean for the company?
• Where do you see the company in 5 years? Will there be growth and opportunities?

These questions should be very focused and specific to the company and the position. It shows that you took the time to research, that you are an intelligent, inquisitive person, and that you didn’t just get their name out of a Cracker Jack's box.

Make sure your questions are neatly written on your notebook or portfolio so that you have them in front of you. Don’t leave to chance that you can remember what you came up with! Having it written down shows you came prepared and you did your research!

Inappropriate Questions - The first and second interviews are not the place to ask any questions that sound like ‘what is in it for me?’ Inappropriate questions would be:

• How much vacation time do I get?
• What types of bonuses do you offer?
• What are your benefits?

Until you have a job offer, all of these things do not matter. If you get a job offer, ask the recuiter these questions to help you make a decision of whether you will accept the position or not. Never before a job offer is made!

Follow-through