Questions to Ask Interviewers
By Taunee Besson
Q: "I have several important interviews coming up, and I want to be fully prepared. I'm pretty confident about how to answer interviewers' questions, but I am not sure what I need to be asking them. Are there any questions you recommend using in a typical interview?"
A: It's very smart for you to be thinking about the interview questions you should ask. Good questions give you useful feedback about the job and the company. A savvy query also offers your interviewer a chance to showcase his expertise and opinions. Of course, you may uncover some ineptitude and evasiveness you didn't expect. Whether you find the company and manager are exemplary or have clay feet, the more information you know about them, the easier it is to make an intelligent decision.
Asking juicy questions also tells your interviewer you've done your homework. It shows you understand the key issues and challenges likely to be involved in the job. In fact, you may find your effort to gather information is a more effective sales tool than your astute, insightful answers.
Here are some questions you might want to include in any interview:
Tell me about the job's responsibilities and goals.
What are the most important characteristics the person filling this position must possess to be successful?
What is the career path for this job?
What types of training do you offer your employees?
Tell me about the key people I would be working with on a daily basis.
How does this department fit into the organization as a whole?
What are the department's goals for the next three to five years? What are the strategies for achieving those objectives?
What are the department's greatest strengths and challenges?
What do you like about this company?
Please discuss the organization's mission, values, strengths and challenges.
Where does the company plan to be three years from now? What is the strategy for getting there?
What is your management style (if you are talking to your potential manager)?
When glitches occur, what do you consider the best approach for dealing with them?
Based upon what you've heard so far, do I seem to be a good fit for the position?
Do you have any concerns about my ability to do the job or fit into your team/organization?
(Toward the end of the interview) What is the compensation package for this position?
What is your timetable and process for filling this job?
When can I expect to hear from you?
If you haven't contacted me by (date), may I call to touch base?
