Job Hunting: Job Interview Questions

Every job candidate should come to a job interview 1) prepared to answer questions and 2) prepared to ask questions. In the hunt for your dream job, you've probably practiced that first part, and you feel pretty confident that you can answer whatever comes your way. That's not enough. You must also ASK questions that let the potential employer realize that you are interested and enthusiastic about working for the company.

Use the questions to gather information, as well as to let the interviewer know you've researched the company and the industry in general. Think in terms of four distinct sets of questions: specific job-related questions, questions about the company and questions about the industry, how the company fits (now and in the future) in that marketplace, and finally, nuts and bolts information about the job ONCE you have been offered the position.

If you are applying for a lower-level position, it may seem odd to ask certain questions, but employers are proud of their companies. Your enthusiasm for the company's well being will be seen as an asset regardless of what position you hold. Remember, not all of these questions will be asked during that initial interview. Some are intended for a second interview, while others would come at the tail end of the process once you've been asked to become part of the team.

Start out with questions about the company in general. Here is where you show you've done your homework. Ask how many employees currently work in the company and the kinds of positions they hold. Relate that to your research. If the number of employees has grown from what you've researched, note that to the interviewer, and ask what they attribute that to.

Again, go to your research and make a statement about the customers the client is trying to reach, and ask how the company serves the various clientele. Is one segment of the business stronger than another?

During one job interview, I told the employer that what prompted me to apply for a position there was because of the kind of community service I had seen the company and its principals doing over the years. I also commented on personal experience I had had with the company. To that end, I asked about the company's goals in relation to the community as it was obviously an important part of the company's operating credo. There were no jobs at the time, but the president of the company contacted me directly after the interview to thank me for taking note of their commitment to the community. I got information on the workings of the company and I made a lasting impression that went far beyond that initial interview process.

Switch over to job-related questions. You have a better idea on what the company wants and needs because you've asked. Now you have to figure out how you would fit into that plan.

Job-related questions stretch beyond the standard: What are your hours of operation? In fact, save very specific questions such as dress code, vacation, holidays, etc. and the like until after you are offered the job.

Instead, think broadly. Is this a newly-created position? If so, why was it created? What does the potential employer envision the position to be (beyond the job requirements listed in the initial ad). Will you be part of the front line in meeting the public? What would a typical day be like, if there were such a thing? Which sets of employees would you typically interact with?

With each question, remember that you want to get information, but you always want to show 1) that you are enthusiastic about the prospect of working there, and 2) you are thinking about how your job skills can be utilized to make the company the best it can be.

Other questions fall into the categories of how the company fits (now and in the future) in that marketplace, and those related very specifically to your job with the company. Both have a time and a place, but not at the first in-person interview unless they are hiring on the spot.

Many companies will schedule a second interview with senior players at the company. This is a good time to ask questions about the company's role in the marketplace, long-term goals (with an eye towards how you will fit into those plans). These are more specialized questions that should be guided by your research on the company. You may even come away from the first interview with some of these questions brewing since you had a chance to look the place over in person. Here's a sample involving the company in the marketplace:

Market Position: If you've done your research, you already have a good idea where the company places in relation to its competitors. Before you ask the question, make a comment on the company's market position, if it's a good one. "In my research I've found that you were rated #1 over the last three years running in new construction," for example. That tells the interviewer you've done your homework, so you're not going to waste his or her time asking silly questions that can be answered by a few simple keystrokes.

You've just set yourself apart from your competition. Any number of questions are appropriate.

--- What do you attribute your strong standing in the marketplace to? The interviewer may answer: "We make sure to hire the right people for the job." Be interactive. To say "I'm glad to hear that. It would be nice to be part of a well-thought out team" is completely appropriate.

--- Since you have been #1 for the last three years, have you set any goals for expansion into other arenas? What is the encore for being ranked #1?

When you are offered the position, then discuss some of the serious, employee-related issues such as health insurance, working hours, salary and the like. If you bring these things up earlier, you may turn the employer off, giving him the feeling that any job will do if it fits your hours and wages. An employer may bring up certain perks on his own, but let him be the one to bring them up. Don't make them the focal point of your questions. Again, you should have done your homework and have a good idea on the salary range, etc.

Ultimately, when it comes to that all-important question: "Do you have any questions," you want to be prepared. As you think of questions you may have, remember, you will be representing this company, a fact those hiring always keep at the forefront of their minds when evaluating you during a job interview. If you are not interested and enthusiastic about the company before you get the job, the potential employer has little reason to believe that you will gain enthusiasm once you are hired.