Asking Job Interview
Asking the Right Questions – Good Questions to Ask In a Job Interview
o just what are the good questions to ask in a job interview?
Well before I address this popular question (and the answer may surprise you) I think it's really important to put to rest one long standing misconception…
Asking questions in your job interview is not that important.
There, I said it. May the recruitment gods strike me down for my blasphemy.
Understand that it is perfectly common for a candidate to give a great job interview without asking any questions at all – and as a professional interviewer myself this is something I see every day.
When an interviewer is assessing a candidate there is a set criteria of what they are expected to evaluate (this is to keep it fair and consistent for all candidates) and the questions a candidate asks are NOT evaluated. It would be madness to try to appraise a person's skills and behaviours on a quantified scale based on the infinite range of things they could ask about. What if they ask which way to the loo or about the parking outside? Who is to say if that is a good question or a bad question?
Well that being the case, why are you still here writing about it? Why even write an article at all?
You see although it is not relatively important, it is possible that when done in the right way it can help. If we think about the reasons behind asking questions in any given situation, they can be pretty diverse. We can ask questions to provoke thought, to intimidate, to amuse, to belittle and so on, but in job interview we should use questions for 2 reasons: to gain specific information and more importantly to demonstrate interest.
Imagine for a moment that you found yourself sat in front of your favourite actor, or writer, or band or some historical figure you have a fascination with. In your enthusiasm you would naturally have a million and one things you would want to ask them. You wouldn't have to put it on, or fake it because you would be genuinely interested, excited and recognise what a great opportunity it is.
Well likewise if the job you are interviewing for creates a similar level of enthusiasm you will have questions. Consequently this will give the interviewer the opportunity to pick up on how keen you are.
So if the questions I ask show I'm interested in the job, how will this help me exactly?
In every job interview, the interviewer will use a dedicated line of questioning to assess a candidate's motivational fit for the role they have applied for. (Think of questions like ‘what made you want to apply for this role?' or ‘what aspects of this role really appeal to you?')
When it's time for the interviewer to mark this question, your answers may not be particularly strong but they are much more likely to take a favourable viewpoint if you did a good job of showing them that the role interests and excites you through the questions you have asked.
There is also the competition to consider. When it comes to the employer making the final decision on whom to offer the job to from the pool of candidates they have interviewed, sometimes that extra enthusiasm and interest in the job can just give you that edge needed to come out on top as their first choice.
So what exactly are the questions I should be asking?
You will find that you can pretty much ask any arbitrary question about the role or the company to demonstrate interest (obviously within reason.) What is more important than the questions themselves is how you ask them. Consider the previous situation where we discussed how you would automatically have questions for your favourite band, author, actor etc if given the exciting opportunity to meet them.
Your vocal tonality would convey enthusiasm and range, I'm sure you would be far from mono-tone. You may even be slightly animated as you ask your questions, you will likely be smiling the whole time and your eyes will light up with interest. Your word choices would similarly denote how keen you are with lots of positive adjectives and phrases EG. "I would love to know about…." or "I was excited to learn……..can you tell me more about that because it sounds fantastic!"
These are the communicative traits you will want to adopt when asking questions in your interview.
So I have described how to ask your questions, but there may be some of you reading this thinking just tell me what to say already! When giving interview advice I have always made the conscious decision to avoid giving you ‘canned/scripted lines' or ‘rehearsed phrases' probably because it annoys me immensely when they are used on me and I can usually spot them a mile off. However to satisfy the Playstation generation amongst you here are a few of the better lines I have heard when I have asked:
Finally do you have any questions you would like to ask me?
- This is an incredible opportunity for me and I really want to excel in this role – can you tell me what kind of day to day challenges I can expect to face?
- I know from my research when applying for this role that this company is a leader in its field and constantly innovating – I would love to hear more about some of the changes going on at the moment.
- Actually I have nothing to ask. I have been researching everything I can about the company for the last week or so, from its history to its current stock market performance and I also think the company website is so clear and informative I have all the information I need (controversial!)
So in summary, I do not want anyone reading this to get too hung up on good questions to ask in a job interview. They are the icing on the cake, they are NOT the cake. No in fact that would be too generous – they are more like the candles, which go on the icing, that go on the cake.
They can give the overall feeling of the interview a subtle nudge in your favour and they present a good opportunity to communicate your enthusiasm and interest in the company/role but no more than that. The real work is always done in your interview answers.
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Strange job interview asking about references and taking a while?
Hello, I had a job interview and it went pretty good. They told me they had other candidates still applying and had to give everyone an equal chance. A few days later they called me and told me they were sending this questionnaire to my references and for me to follow up with them by giving this agency their fax number to quicken the process. Then I found out that one of my references wasn't there anymore so I called them the nest day and told them to replace one of my references. This was on Friday and they said ok. Then monday (today) they called me and I though I got the job. They called me today to make sure the name of the reference I gave on Friday was correct. I said yes and they said ok.
I never had a prospective job give me the run around like this. What could eb going on or is this normal? The position is
the posiiton is for a clinical position.
it pays 45k per year.
Yes, it doesn't sound all that usual to me. A little disorganized, but that is rather typical I'm afraid.
Don't forget that the job hunting process is a two way process: You are interviewing them as they check you out. Unless you are rather literally starving to death, "no thank you" is a perfectly rational answer to a job offer. A company that "creeps" or "freaks" you out in the beginning, is unlikely to improve with close, personal contact.
Trust your instincts when it comes to people and environments if (1) you are over the age of 25 and (2) reasonably social and good with people.
Asking Job Interview
Job Interviews & Offers : How to Ask for a Job Interview
What questions do they ask at a job interview?
I just got a call from Chuck E Cheeses and they want me to go to an interview tomorrow. What questions do they ask at an interview? (Its my first job so I'm extremly nervous and want to have a heads up on what they are going to ask!)
Q) What do you do if a cutomer complains
A) Get a manager
Q) Are you in sports (they want to know because if your in a lot of sports, you cant get scheduled much)
Q) What are your strengths
Q) Where else have you applied
Q) Why did you apply here
Q) Do you like to start trouble/arguments
...those are all i can remember from my first interview. GOOD LUCK!!!!
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