Questions to Ask in Interviews
About Preparing Interview Questions to Ask
Ever draw a blank when an interviewer asked, "Any questions?" If
so and you didn't land the job, it might have been because your
interviewer expected you to ask interview questions, but you didn't.
Preparing interview questions to ask shows that you've done your
homework and are interested in the job; not preparing can indicate
one more among indifference, disorganization and lack of professionalism.
In fact, interviewers might be more impressed with your questions
than your answers. Still, it's a professional courtesy to withhold
the bulk of your questions until your interviewer asks if you have
any. Interviewers typically will ask toward the end of an interview
or near the conclusion of each phase.
Of course, it's okay to ask a few questions to clarify matters,
steer topics and such, as your interview progresses; for example,
a question such as,
"What does the ideal candidate bring to this job?" would
be appropriate early in your interview. But wait until it's "your
turn" before you fire off a barrage.
On the other hand, if your interviewer seems to be reaching for
questions to ask you, it might be your opportunity to take control
of your interview, by tactfully placing the interviewer in the
position of answering your questions instead of the other way around.
If your interviewer had plenty of questions, but your interview
seems to be drawing to a close before the interviewer asks if you
have questions, then ask if it's okay to ask.
Regardless, avoid asking interview questions just to impress your
interviewer or asking frivolous questions just to have some "interview
questions to ask". If you don't have any of significance to
ask, instead of stating only that you don't have any, also thank
your interviewer for doing such a thorough job of anticipating
your questions.
Also avoid asking interview questions that might reveal more about you than
the job. For example, if you ask the interview question
"What happens if I fail to meet a project deadline?" it
has underlying implications, such as "I've often irresponsibly
missed project deadlines."
Unless your interviewer mentions the topics first, it's not a
good idea to ask interview questions about salary
or wages, vacation, sick days, lunch breaks and so on, right
off the bat. Granted, they're part of the whole employment picture.
But from an interviewer's point of view, asking such questions
too early in the interview game might indicate that your priorities
are in the wrong order.
First, tell your interviewer what you can do for the company by
answering his or her questions, then ask interview questions about
what the company can do for you; better yet, wait until you're
reasonably sure that you have the job offer in your pocket.
It's okay to create a "crib sheet" of interview questions
to ask beforehand and then refer to them during interviews. In
this case, it's not cheating; rather it'll show that you're organized
and interested enough in the job, to have prepared in advance.
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