Questions to Ask During a Job Interview

The interview is almost over and the prospective employer asks you if you have any questions you want to ask him or her. This is where your research comes into effect, you should ask a couple of questions to show you are very interested in the position and the company. There are some employers that go over everything so you may not have any questions, but many don’t. So, let’s take a look at some questions you can ask the prospective employer.

There are a few things to remember when asking questions to the employer. Make sure the employer can answer the question, don’t bring ask a lot of questions, and don’t ask about benefits until you get the job. Now on to the questions you can ask.

– Ask what the position could lead to? What are the advancement opportunities? This shows your initiative to do well and your long-term goal with the company. However, don’t let this be the first question. To some employers this may show a disinterest in the position you are applying for.

– What skills are considered most useful for success in the position? This shows your interest in really being successful in the position and with the company.

– Mention something about the company that shows you did some research. Mention that you noticed in a particular magazine or in a trade publication that such and such, or that I noticed your company’s revenues were mainly generated from this department. This shows that you are very interested in the company and have done extra work in learning about the company.

Lastly, if you don’t have any questions or it’s the end the interview just before the employer thanks you always end with a powerful, impressive statement, such as “I really would love the opportunity to work for your company. It’s a great company and I’m confident I can do the job or you can say that I am confident I will be successful in the desired position.” Never leave the interview without knowing what the next step is. Politely ask the employer, “what’s the next step in the hiring process.”

The purpose of an Informational Interview

An informational interview is for those who are just entering in the workforce, those who have been absent from the workforce for a long period of time or even those who are seeking a career change. Although some people will see this as a waste of time, it can be very beneficial in providing someone knowledge about certain careers and companies that they may be interested in. An informational interview consists of having a meeting with someone in a particular field, industry, or company that you are interested in.

An informational interview will help you prepare for a real interview by finding out how compatible you are with a company or the industry or field your are interested in. It helps by talking with someone in the industry and comparing their abilities and characteristics with yours to see if you would be a good fit in the type of work you seek. The interview helps you understand how people in the field or industry view their job, roles, and duties. It allows you to receive feedback from the person interviewed about your particular skills, qualifications, and characteristics. The interview will help you to learn the industry jargon and the positives and negatives of the field. It is also a good way to build your network contacts and references.

When setting up the informational interview make sure it is with someone who has extensive experience in the field. Be sure to tell the contact you are just seeking advice not a position. Some of the questions you would ask during your informational interview is how did they get started in the business, what experience or education helped them to become qualified for this job, how did they get to this point in their career, what are their primary responsibilities, what do they like and dislike most about their job, what are the basic requirements for an entry level job in this field, what has been their greatest challenges, and what is the current state or growth prospects of the job.