Interviewing – Questions to Ask and Avoid During Your Job Interview

Jan 20th, 2009 | By Bill | Category: Employment News, Interviewing



Many job seekers dread getting to the point of the interview when they are asked, “So, what questions do you have for me?” It can be difficult to come up with interviewing questions to ask on the fly because many will have already been answered when you were researching the company before the interview or during the interview itself.

So how do you ask intelligent questions when you don’t really have any in mind? And, more importantly, which questions should you avoid asking? Here are a few tactics to keep in mind when interviewing:

Questions to Ask or Avoid

1. Do NOT ask anything that you should have already found out on your own, such as information available on the company’s website or marketing materials

2. Ask your questions from the perspective of a consultant – focus on the company’s needs, problems, challenges, and goals

3. Do NOT ask anything about salary, perks, benefits, vacation, or sick leave. You will have time to figure those things out once there is an offer on the table

4. Ask questions that will give you a clear picture of what the job will be like day-to-day

5. Ask probing questions about the organization so you can assess the stability and strength and ensure that the company’s direction matches your own career goals

The questions to ask should fit into three basic categories: The position, the organization, and the steps for following up. Note, if you ask good consultative questions early regarding the challenges and problems facing the organization or your future boss’ department, you can craft the majority of the interview around how you will help them meet those challenges! This is a surefire way to get yourself hired.

In my career as a staffing professional I have helped a lot of people prepare effective interviewing questions to ask. For more tips on conducting an effective job search, please be sure to check out the free course at JobSearchPower.com.

Here you will find advanced tips on gathering leads, writing a great resume and cover letter, and managing the cumbersome process of applying for 10 or more jobs every week. You will learn the right tools and techniques to get the edge over your competition and have a job you love in no time.

Good luck and happy job hunting!

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