Question: “What questions should I ask when interviewing for a job, and even more important, what questions should I not ask?” — Vicki
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
At interviews with the direct supervisor, I always ask “What causes you stress”? Responses help to see if a good fit will be made with that person.
I follow that up with a smile and then ask, “What causes YOUR staff stress?”
I want add something to Anon3′s response, specifically #2, “Always be prepared to fill out an application.” That is SO true. A resume has basics, but applications go into so much more detail such as pay, reasons for leaving, etc. We always have applicants fill out an application even if they have a resume.
You would be shocked at the some of the responses. “I don’t need to do that, I gave you a resume. That should be good enough.” “What? You expect me to sit down and fill that four page thing out even though you have my resume?” “That takes too much time. Can’t you just read this?”
Someone is coming to us, wanting us to hire them, and they can’t even be expected to do something as minor as this without complaint? We figure that if they will whine and complain about something as small as this, they will probably be regular complainers. Their resume and application (if they eventually did one) are placed firmly in the “no call back” pile.
Some other tips:
1. Listen to the questions you are being asked carefully.
2. If you don’t understand the question ask for clarification.
3. Most importantly make sure you answer the question being asked and address each part of the question. I’ve conducted many interviews where the candidate starts off talking and seems to have their own agenda. They never actually answer the questions being asked.
4. Defintely have a copy of your resume, any referral letters, samples of work you have done, etc. Shows you come prepared.
5. Do your research about the company. Read the job description thoroughly.
6. Do ask a few questions. Ask the interviewer how long they have been with the company. What do they like about working for the company? What is the culture? What are the key attributes they are looking for in a candidate? How soon are they looking to fill the position? Definitely ask what are the next steps or when you can expect to start – then reply you are very much looking forward to moving to the next step in the process and look forward to hearing back from them.
7. Rehearse some responses to the typical questions with a friend. You want to seem enthusiastic but you also don’t want to talk so much the interviewer doesn’t get to ask you all of their questions.
8. Always ask for the interviewers business card. Then follow up immediately with a thank you card thanking them for interviewing you and that you look forward to hearing back from them soon.
Good luck!
These should be a given, but I have had many interviewee’s who do not follow these few simple instructions. They may not answer exactly answer your questions, but it is interviewing basics 101.
1. Always bring at least one copy of your resume to the interview.
2. Always be prepared to fill out an application.
3. Always dress appropriately. Do not dress in casual clothes, do not wear jeans & t-shirts, do not dress provocatively. I am amazed by how many people think that this is okay. Our office is very casual, but we like to be impressed in an interview.
4. Always ask a question, even if the information has been supplied by the interviewer. Ask for further information, etc.
5. Ask some questions but not too many. I once had an interviewee ask so many questions (while taking notes) that I was not able to conduct an effective interview. It was very off-putting and needless to say, he did not get the job. I couldn’t get a word in edgewise.
6. Never give just a “yes” or “no” answer. Always elaborate on what you mean.
As someone who has conducted a lot of interviews, it constantly amazes me how many people don’t seem to realize the bad impression they are making. For further information on what not to do in an interview, About.com just had a great article on this. The URL is:
http://humanresources.about.com/od/selectemployees/a/employers_hate.htm
In the past, I have asked the Supervisor who I would be under during the interview process what her staff would say to me about her and her work style. I always feel its important to ask what a typical day and non typical day would be like. These two questions have always benefited me when deciding if the company was going to be the right fit for me also.
Always after the interview send a thank you note.
Asking the interviewer what is the most important quality (qualities) for the person to have in this position will also tell you a lot about the job and the climate at the office. It can be a warning or an opportunity for you to add why you would be a great fit.
These are all great suggestions. I agree with getting a feel for the emotional environment. That is so important. Even though a job sounds wonderful, it could be masked if you cannot actually walk in and observe the mood of the employees on some level.
Aside from what Mark and Kris advised… Start with a firm hand shake – nothing limp – and make eye contact with a smile. Ask what the emotional environment is like. Take a look around. Do people seem fairly happy or tense? Make sure who ever is interviewing you has the courtesy to give you eye contact and appropriate one-on-one time. If appropriate one-on-one time is not extended to you during an interview it will not be there if you are hired either. If hired, will there be someone to guide and train you? or did the last person leave a desk manual? Ask how have they been able to thrive in the current economy. The best question anyone ever asked me was, “what are the 3 most important things in my life.” Try it, see what the response is to help you guage the kind of climate this person would create for you to work in – this answer could determine if they are going to treat you like a work horse or a person. Ask yourself the same question and see if both of your answers would be a good fit. Good luck.
Vicki, if I understand the question correctly, I’m assuming YOU are interviewing for a position yourself, and not interviewing others to fill an open position.
Mark has some great suggestions if you are interviewing for a position for yourself.
Expanding on Mark’s last paragraph, I would also ask about turnover at the company. Then follow up and ask about the turnover in that particular department in which you would be working in. If there are big gaps between the company turn over and the department turn over, you may want to proceed with caution.
Ask to see a job description if it wasn’t clearly spelled out in the job advertisement. Ask if it would be possible to meet with the person who you are replacing, assuming they are still with the company and accepted a promotion or a transfer.
Best of luck to you!
Don’t ask about salary and benefits in a first interview. Save those for the second interview or wait until they bring it up. (It can be taken by others that pay is the most important factor.)
Don’t ask how many times a year it is okay to be late or sick. (I’ve been asked this. It will make the interviewer think you are going to be doing both, a lot.)
Do ask questions about their company. Research them ahead of time either online or by talking to friends and relatives who work there, and base those questions on what came up during your research.
Do ask about parking, if it’s applicable. (I worked at a place once that had a company parking lot in downtown Chicago, but nobody told me that only the higher paid employees were allowed to park there. I was almost late for work on day 1 because I had to find a public lot, having assumed I could park in the company lot.)
Do ask as many questions about the specific job duties as you need to in order to make sure you have a good handle on what you would be doing.
Do ask who your supervisor would be, and whether you will be interviewing with them in a subsequent interview. (Interviewing with your actual supervisor helps a lot, since you can meet and get a feel for them before you accept the job.)
Do ask about travel requirements if that might be a problem with you (such as if you are a single parent and finding someone to watch your kids will be a problem, or if you are prone to travel sickness). I have that second problem, and almost took a job that would have been a disaster for me if the topic of travel didn’t come up.
Do ask if this is a brand new position or if you are replacing someone. If replacing someone, ask what happened with the person preceding you. If they were promoted or transferred, it could give you an idea what your career path there might be. If they were fired, find out why so you know what to avoid doing.