Most interview preparation books are filled with sample
questions that you'll have to answer during an interview.
While it's certainly important to know how to answer tough
interview questions, it's equally important to know how to
ASK questions in an interview. There are three good
reasons to be prepared to ask great questions during
interviews.
* To uncover the interviewer's hiring motives.
* To demonstrate your interest and intelligence.
* To uncover any unspoken concerns or "red flags."
Let's look at each of these points:
1. To uncover the interviewer's hiring motives.
A big mistake candidates make going into a job interview is
to assume that they know the hiring motives of the
interviewer, based solely on the job description. But the
reality is that each person within an organization will
have a slightly different idea of the perfect person for
the job.
Consider how the person doing the interview will interact
with the new hire. An operations manager will have
different needs than the sales manager—although they
may both work closely with the new hire. The HR manager
may envision a different "perfect candidate" than the
actual hiring manager.
It's up to you to find out the hiring motives of each
person you interview within any one organization. Ask a
simple question and you'll know what your interviewer is
looking for. Such as:
* What do you see as the most significant challenges for
this position?
* What qualities do you look for to fill this position?
Then just listen closely. He/She will tell you just what
you need to know in order to tailor your answers to his/her
desires.
2. To demonstrate your interest and intelligence.
Nothing works better than a well thought out question to
convince your interviewer of the sincerity of your
interest. Additionally, a good question is the simplest,
yet most effective way of impressing them with your
intelligence.
In order to ask this type of question, you'll have to do a
bit of research homework prior to your interview.
Fortunately the internet provides many shortcuts to finding
out issues of interest specific to just about any
organization. Company websites are a good place to start,
but you'll also want to search online industry publications
and press release archives to dig a little deeper.
The main thing is that you want your question(s) to be
specific to the organization you are interviewing with.
Avoid generic questions such as "Where do you see your
company going in five years?" The interviewer is going to
realize you just asked the last five companies that same
question. A more targeted and specific question will win
you points in the interview, and may tip the scale in your
favor when they're discussing which candidate to hire.
3. To uncover any unspoken concerns or "red flags."
Before you walk out of your interview, find out any
concerns that may eliminate you as a candidate. This is
your best chance to defend your candidacy. This is also
your second chance to undo an interview error, or provide
vital information. The best approach, again, is with a
simple question. Something like:
"What concerns do you have that would prevent you from
calling me back for the next interview?"
Then just listen. Anything the interviewer says will give
you an opportunity to comment. Spoken concerns can be
answered with new information on how you've overcome
challenges, learned new skills, or adjusted to new
industries quickly. Remember, if you don't ask, they will
not tell you, and you'll always wonder why they didn't call
you back.
When it comes to interviews, there is no such thing as over
preparation. An important lesson I learned in my years as
a recruiter is that the best jobs go to the candidates who
give the best interviews. A resume will get your foot in
the door, but the interview will seal the deal. Make sure
you're ready to win the job by asking the right interview
questions.
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Deborah Walker, Interview Coach, offers an individualized
approach to interview strategies. Her background as former
executive recruiter and veteran career management coach
provides an insider's perspective on the toughest interview
challenges. Visit Deb on the web at
http://www.AlphaAdvantage.com
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