DO ASK:
1. What happened to the last guy? "Candidates should always ask what happened to the previous person who had the job," says etiquette expert Jodi R. R. Smith. "You are trying to tell if the job holder is promoted up into the company or if the company uses the person, burns them out and then they leave." - Be careful, sometimes the situation is confidential. If you notice that the interviewer becomes uncomfortable, just say that you understand if he/she cannot answer.
2. What do you like about working here? "This question will give you further insight into the company's corporate culture and will give the interviewer a chance to talk about themselves for a change--and who doesn't like to talk about themselves?" Benwell says. - Pay attention to the words and to the demeanor. Sometimes the body language will tell you much more than words!
3. How do people typically work together here? "Even if the pay and job content sound good, it's important to understand the environment that you would be going into," says career coach Dorothy Tannahill-Moran. "Job seekers too often forget that this process is as much about them picking you and it is you picking them. You want to ensure the highest potential for success and eventually growth." - I completely agree with this. Don't forget that if you start working there out of impatience because you have not been able to find a job and then leave because it was not a good fit for you, you might be considered as a job hopper by other prospective employer.
4. How can someone succeed at this job? "This tells you exactly what they're looking for in a candidate and allows you to reiterate your relevant strengths," Benwell says.- What a great question! Ask if there is a job description for your review.
5. What's next in the hiring process? "Too many interviewees forget this easy question and are left wondering when to follow up later on," says Anthony Morrison of the career networking site Cachinko.- Another excellent question! Don't wait around if they don't call you in a day or two. Remember that even if you feel that the interview goes well, that does not mean that you have pocketed the job. Keep marketing yourself!
DO NOT ASK:
1. What do you do? "That general question makes me cringe every time I hear it asked. How can the person prove they are right for job if they don't even know what they would be doing?" says Ryan Mack, a partner at the career website TruYuu.- However, you can ask "are you the direct supervisor of the position?" That will provide you good insight.
2. How much is the pay? "Don't ask about money too early in the interview process," says career coach Roy Cohen. "It's a distraction and will draw attention to you as a dollar amount before they may be ready to evaluate your potential to add real and meaningful value." - Especially if you do not know the job duties, yet.
Likewise, don't ask about vacation days and paid holidays--wait for a job offer before you tackle compensation and benefits. This is a time to show what you can offer the prospective employer.
3. What are the hours? "This question makes candidates look more like clock-watchers on the first interview rather than serious professionals," says Rod Hughes of Oxford Communications.- Agree!
4. Do you have other open positions? "This offers the perception that the job you are interviewing for is of little or no interest to you," Hughes says.- However, you can ask about the growth opportunities, if lack of growth opportunities will be a deal breaker for you.
5. Will there be a drug test? If you have to ask, it means you're concerned about your ability to pass.- However, you can point out that you are willing to take a drug test, physical exam, background check, etc. as most places will require it, anyway.
1. What happened to the last guy? "Candidates should always ask what happened to the previous person who had the job," says etiquette expert Jodi R. R. Smith. "You are trying to tell if the job holder is promoted up into the company or if the company uses the person, burns them out and then they leave." - Be careful, sometimes the situation is confidential. If you notice that the interviewer becomes uncomfortable, just say that you understand if he/she cannot answer.
2. What do you like about working here? "This question will give you further insight into the company's corporate culture and will give the interviewer a chance to talk about themselves for a change--and who doesn't like to talk about themselves?" Benwell says. - Pay attention to the words and to the demeanor. Sometimes the body language will tell you much more than words!
3. How do people typically work together here? "Even if the pay and job content sound good, it's important to understand the environment that you would be going into," says career coach Dorothy Tannahill-Moran. "Job seekers too often forget that this process is as much about them picking you and it is you picking them. You want to ensure the highest potential for success and eventually growth." - I completely agree with this. Don't forget that if you start working there out of impatience because you have not been able to find a job and then leave because it was not a good fit for you, you might be considered as a job hopper by other prospective employer.
4. How can someone succeed at this job? "This tells you exactly what they're looking for in a candidate and allows you to reiterate your relevant strengths," Benwell says.- What a great question! Ask if there is a job description for your review.
5. What's next in the hiring process? "Too many interviewees forget this easy question and are left wondering when to follow up later on," says Anthony Morrison of the career networking site Cachinko.- Another excellent question! Don't wait around if they don't call you in a day or two. Remember that even if you feel that the interview goes well, that does not mean that you have pocketed the job. Keep marketing yourself!
DO NOT ASK:
1. What do you do? "That general question makes me cringe every time I hear it asked. How can the person prove they are right for job if they don't even know what they would be doing?" says Ryan Mack, a partner at the career website TruYuu.- However, you can ask "are you the direct supervisor of the position?" That will provide you good insight.
2. How much is the pay? "Don't ask about money too early in the interview process," says career coach Roy Cohen. "It's a distraction and will draw attention to you as a dollar amount before they may be ready to evaluate your potential to add real and meaningful value." - Especially if you do not know the job duties, yet.
Likewise, don't ask about vacation days and paid holidays--wait for a job offer before you tackle compensation and benefits. This is a time to show what you can offer the prospective employer.
3. What are the hours? "This question makes candidates look more like clock-watchers on the first interview rather than serious professionals," says Rod Hughes of Oxford Communications.- Agree!
4. Do you have other open positions? "This offers the perception that the job you are interviewing for is of little or no interest to you," Hughes says.- However, you can ask about the growth opportunities, if lack of growth opportunities will be a deal breaker for you.
5. Will there be a drug test? If you have to ask, it means you're concerned about your ability to pass.- However, you can point out that you are willing to take a drug test, physical exam, background check, etc. as most places will require it, anyway.
I will be writing soon about how to spot a company with a bad culture.
Talk to you soon!
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