Interview Preparedness

Ask Questions

You’re not the only one being interviewed!

A Publication of Match Resumes and Careers

Interviews are a two way

street - 14 Questions

to ask the Interviewer

Why should you ask

questions too?

It's important to remember that every interview is a two-way street.

You should be interviewing the employer just as much as they're

interviewing you because you both need to walk away convinced

that the job would be a great fit.

So when the tables are turned and the interviewer asks, "Do you

have any questions for me?" take advantage of this opportunity. It's

the best way to determine if you'd be happy working for this

employer, and whether your goals are aligned with theirs.

"The very process of asking questions completely changes the

dynamic of the interview and the hiring manager's perception of

you," says Teri Hockett, chief executive of What's For Work?, a

career site for women. "Asking questions also gives you the

opportunity to discover details that you might not have otherwise

unveiled.“

Amy Hoover, president of TalentZoo, says there's another reason you

should always prepare questions. "It's expected — and if you don't

ask at least two questions, you will appear disinterested, or worse,

less intelligent and engaged than a prospective employer would

like." You should have at least four questions prepared, though, in

case your original two are answered through the course of the

interview.

But, Hoover says, don't just ask questions for the sake of it. To

actually benefit from them, you'll need to think carefully about

what you want to ask.

Why should you ask

questions too?

It’s a good idea to prepare several questions as the interview

process may involve multiple sessions with different people. It is

absolutely fine to have your questions listed in a notebook. The last

thing you want is to become distracted thinking more about what

questions to ask when your interview is wrapping up.

At the appropriate time let the interviewer know you’d like to refer

to your notes for a moment. Take a few breaths as you select two or

three questions that have not been discussed during the course of

the interview.

The questions in the next several slides are great examples of what

to say when the tables are turned and the interviewer asks you…

“do you have any questions” ?

Can you tell me what

steps need to be

completed before your

company can generate an

offer?

.

"Any opportunity to learn the timeline for a hire

is crucial information for you," Hoover advises.

Asking about an "offer" rather than a "decision"

will give you a better sense of the timeline

because "decision" is a broad term, while an

"offer" refers to the point when they're ready to

hand over the contract.

How would you score the

company on living up to its

core values? What’s the one

thing you’re working to

improve on?

.

This question supports your level of professional

maturity. You want to understand more about

the internal workings of the company before

joining it.

If the interviewer reveals an area of weakness,

you may have an idea how you can help.

What have past

employees done to

succeed in this position?

.

The answer to this question reveals what the

employer values.

If you were to hire me,

what might I expect in a

typical day?

.

Not only will this question communicate you are

interested in the position, but the answer will

help you decide if it’s a good fit for your goals

and your skills. Dig deeper on this one if you

have any concerns – we are talking about the

“typical day”. Is it what you want to be doing?

What type of employee

tends to succeed here?

What qualities are the

most important for

doing well and advancing

at the company?

.

These questions shows the interviewer you are

looking for a career, with opportunity for

growth and advancement, and you care about

your future at the company. It will also help you

decide if you're a good fit for the position

Is there anyone else I

should meet with in the

company – who will I be

reporting to if I am

offered the position?

.

The answer to this question will give you

several possible insights:

• Does the company value teamwork?

• If the interviewer tells you they plan on

scheduling several meetings with different

co-workers, you will have an idea of the

hiring timeline.

• You want to meet your teammates before

you accept the position, of course!

How do you help

your team grow

professionally?

.

If you are looking for a career with growth

opportunities, you want to know if the company

invests in training.

How do you evaluate

success here?

.

Knowing how an organization measures its

employees' success is important. It will help you

understand what it would take to advance in

your career with the company — and can help

you decide if the employer's values align with

your own.

What are some of the

problems your company is

facing right now, and how

are you working to solve

them?

.

Company’s hire people for one main reason – to

solve problems. You may have some ideas to

share if you know what they are.

Understanding a company’s problems also may

tell a you bit more about their values.

What is your timeline for

hiring someone for the

position – when can I

expect to hear back from

you?

.

Asking this questions confirms you are

interested in the position. The answer will help

you plan when to follow up if you don’t hear

back. Sometimes the process takes longer than

expected, priorities change at companies all the

time. You don’t want to be left waiting and

wondering – rather you want to be proactive in

your follow up.

Is this a new position,

or if not, why did the

person leave?

.

This question could reveal two important points

about the company.

• Was the person promoted? – good sign the

company advances its people.

• If it’s a new position – good sign the company

is growing.

Where do you see the

company in three years –

how will this position

contribute to the vision?

.

Are you looking for a career? You will want to

know where the company is headed so you can

be a positive contributor. Shows the interviewer

you know it’s important to stay focused on big

picture goals.

How do you handle new

business pitches? Who gets

involved in generating new

business at this company?

Is there a team in place,

and do they cull employees

from different teams

depending on the business

your firm is going after?

.

Asking about a company’s game plan shows you

are success oriented. "Star performers are

usually eager to get involved in the new

business effort, even if they are not technically

on the new business team," says *Oliver. "When

you ask about new business, you're signaling

that you're an A player.“

Vicky Oliver, "301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions."

Is there anything else I

can provide you to help

you make your decision?

.

This question not only shows your eagerness for

the position, it will give you peace of mind that

everything was covered during the interview. It

could also prompt a question the interviewer

would like clarified.

Asking questions during your

interview shows you are

prepared and interested in

finding a good fit.

For a review of your resume and a proposal

for resume services, contact

Deborah Olson, CPRW

206.310.7357

info@matchresumes.com

A Publication of ABC Company

If you are not getting interviews, it may be your resume does not stand out among the 100’s of applications employers typically receive. I help candidates get more interviews by writing targeted resumes that showcase my clients’ value proposition and relevant qualifications.

The introduction and some of the questions in this presentation are extrapolated from an article on BusinessInsider.com.