Should you prepare a list of Questions to Ask An Interviewer? The answer is yes, but you'll have a limited amount of time to ask any questions at all of the interviewer. So, you'd better know the important ones to ask and you'd better also know the ones to definitely stay away from.
Kiss of Death Questions to Ask An Interviewer
A common theme throughout much of the advice you may read regarding the types of questions you should ask an interviewer has to do with you and your needs. You'll be advised to ask such questions as:
- What will my salary be?
- Who will be training me?
- Whom will I be reporting to?
- What kind of people will I be working with?
- What is a typical workday like?
- What level of performance will be expected of me in the first 3 months?
- Do you offer continuing education?
You'll also run across advice to ask these types of questions:
- How would you describe the perfect candidate for this position?
- What 3 words would you use to describe the goals of this company?
- What advice would you give someone entering this position?
- What 3 things should I know to be successful in the position?
- Based on our conversation, would you recommend me for the position?
What Do These Questions to Ask An Interviewer Have in Common?
They all have in common the fact that if you ask them, you'll look ridiculous.
You have to put yourself in the position of the employer and of the interviewer who is representing the employer. Don't you think the interviewer intends to tell you the answers to the first 7 questions above without you having to ask them? They're pretty important. They're answers that any interviewee would want to know and the interviewer understands that.
If the interviewer has not gone over those subjects, then that isn't the purpose of that interview. The purpose of that interview is to probably filter the candidates down to a handful, based upon how well they present themselves, and then to call them back for a second interview during which time those subjects will be covered.
Remember: The interviewer sets the agenda for the interview, not you. If they have not brought those subjects up in the interview, it's probably because they have either concluded you aren't right for the position or those subjects aren't within their purpose for that interview.
If they ask you if you have any questions, DON'T ask the types of questions you see above. It will make you look like you are only in it for a job and a paycheck with the least amount of hassle for you. What employer wants that kind of employee?
The next 5 questions listed above are often recommended by "psycho-babble" career advisors as great questions to ask an interviewer. They aren't. Who are you to survey the interviewer?
Advisors will tell you that you'll make a positive impression and demonstrate that you are on top of knowing who you are and what you want by asking such questions. But, what those questions and many others like them have in common is that they will make you look arrogant to say the least.
Interviewers aren't morons. 60% of the impression you make will be from your Resume and Cover Letter. Another 20% will be from the impression the interviewer immediately gets upon first meeting you. 10% will be from how you conduct yourself in the interview(s). And the final 10% will be from the impression they get when they contact your references and past employers.
So, forget about using crazy techniques to make your impression. Nothing speaks louder than your qualifications, your employment history, and just being yourself. You are either right for the position or you're not. You are not going to trick your way into it.
The Correct Questions to Ask An Interviewer
So now you know not to play silly games with the interviewer by asking the questions above and all the other similar types of questions that will only make you look like you're out for yourself and unqualified for the position.
Remember: It takes a lot of investment in time, energy and money to start a business and make it successful. Considering that most new businesses fail, it is a major accomplishment to succeed and in most cases they succeeded by forming a closely knit team that worked with a common purpose toward attainable goals.
The key words are team, purpose and goals. So, here are the first steps you need to take in order to formulate your own questions to ask an interviewer:
You must Google Search the field of interest that the Company is engaged in.You need to do this in order to clearly know what they do and what they are probably seeking to accomplish. Also, if they have a Website be sure to read through the entire site and do not skip the "About Us" page. By doing this you will get a general feel for their purpose.
With a feel for their purpose and reading through their Website you will get a feel for some general goals they are trying to achieve.
From having a general feel for their purpose for being in business and what they are trying to achieve, you will have a feel for the type of mindset each employee must probably have in order to be an effective team.
After completing this exercise you will be able to formulate your own questions to ask an interviewer that will be TARGETED and RELEVANT to the business - NOT TO YOU, but to the Business! That is what will impress an interviewer.
How to Formulate Questions to Ask An Interviewer
With the information you compiled from the exercise above, here's an example of how to go about coming up with dynamite questions to ask an interviewer:
"I know you have been in business for ___ years and that you have expanded 3 times into larger offices due to your main focus on (how they benefit their customers). I would be very excited for the opportunity to use my skills and experience towards directly contributing to this Company's goal of (a recurring theme you discovered from their Website). Do you feel I would be able to accomplish that from my position here?"
Now, which do you think would impress an interviewer more? A question like that or one like: "Uh, how much do I get paid?" or "Will I get training?" or "Whom will I be reporting to?" or "How would you describe the perfect candidate for this position?"
For more easy to apply tips for making the best possible impression, be sure to check out Effective Communication Skills, Objective for Resume and Salary Negotiation Tips.
