| On a job interview, you know how to answer the | | | | people, or do you prefer a more relaxed and |
| interviewer's questions, but what questions should you | | | | supportive environment? Look for clues in the answers |
| be asking your prospective employer to appear | | | | here. |
| interested and knowledgeable? | | | | What do you like best about working here? |
| You've worked hard to get an interview, and now it | | | | Use the responses as a great tool to compare |
| feels like everything is on the line. What's the best | | | | contrast their answers and your experience to |
| approach to ensure a great interview? Based on my | | | | determine what rings true for you. Don't buy the hype - |
| experience working with professionals with varied | | | | ask follow-up questions too. |
| backgrounds and experience, I'd have to stay that | | | | What changes do you anticipate in the next year or |
| figuring out what to ask on the interview is where | | | | so? |
| many people get stuck. They know they should ask | | | | Is there a merger in the future, or changes in the |
| something, but what? During most (if not all) interviews, | | | | industry? Are there other significant management |
| you will be asked "Do you have any questions?" and I | | | | shifts in store? Be on the lookout for opportunities and |
| say respond with a confident "Absolutely!" | | | | red flags. "Know thyself" too -- if you're not one who |
| Smart candidates know that they are also interviewing | | | | enjoys change, you might not to work for a company |
| the company to figure out whether it's going to be a | | | | that's undergoing significant reorganization. |
| good move for them too. I hate hearing from clients "If | | | | What would you like to be able to say about this |
| I had known "X," I would never have taken the job." Do | | | | position one year from now? |
| your homework up front and you'll lessen the risk of | | | | This might reveal their true expectations, good and |
| making a poor decision. | | | | bad. What are the top five challenges/opportunities |
| I'm assuming you've done your pre-interviewing | | | | that you see this position facing during the first year? |
| homework: researching the company's strategic | | | | How does their answer fit with what else they've |
| direction, vision/mission, latest press/public relations | | | | shared? Do you get the sense that there might be |
| articles, and preparing killer, highly illustrative answers to | | | | unrealistic expectations? Or, if it's a new position, is it |
| the common interview questions. Now you're ready to | | | | being created to solve a particular problem? Ask |
| ask some compelling questions of your own. | | | | follow-up questions here. |
| Here are some of my favorite questions that have | | | | What is the typical career path of this position? |
| come out of my years of coaching professionals | | | | In other words, where do people go when they move |
| through the interview process: | | | | on or leave? Look for clues as to opportunities for |
| In your experience, what do you feel makes someone | | | | advancement, or if this would be an opportunity to gain |
| successful in this position? | | | | experience to meet a long-term career goal. |
| Especially if you've found out that the last person in the | | | | How will the hiring decision be made? |
| position only lasted a short time or was promoted -- | | | | Don't be afraid to ask! This should help you gauge the |
| this will tell you a lot about management styles and the | | | | timeline as well as get a glimpse into the process they |
| organization's culture. | | | | use to make decisions -- e.g. by consensus or by |
| Can you describe your management style? | | | | committee. |
| Ask your potential colleagues to describe the | | | | Above all, listen carefully to the answers. Jot down |
| management style of your new boss too. What kinds | | | | key words or phrases. Ask follow-up questions that |
| of people seem to succeed at this company or in this | | | | flow and make sense. |
| department? Do you like working with driven, ambitious | | | | |