WHAT SHOULD YOU ASK THE INTERVIEWER?

Unless you ask some high-quality questions of your own, a job interview will soon evolve into an interrogation or monologue. The lifeblood of any successful interview is candidate inquiries since they allow for discussion and help to clarify your understanding of the firm and the responsibilities involved in the position.

In addition, the questions you ask demonstrate your grasp of basic issues, probe beyond the surface, and challenge the employer to reveal his or her depth of knowledge and dedication to the position.

It's also critical to keep your inquiries professional and neutral, not too aggressive or flirty. You want to be able to demonstrate empathy, interest, or understanding for the company's demands since you're interviewing because work has been assigned or a problem has been identified by the employer.

Here are some questions that have proven to be very effective:

• What’s the most important issue facing the company (or department)?

• How can I help you accomplish this objective?

• How long has it been since you first identified this need?

• How long have you been trying to correct it?

• Have you tried using your present staff to get the job done? If so, what was the result?

• Is there any particular skill or attitude you feel is critical to getting the job done?

• Is there a certain aspect of my background you’d like to exploit to help accomplish your objectives?

• What would you like me to do that’s different from what the last person in this job did? What would be the main result you would expect to see if I were successful?

• What are the next steps in this process?

• When can I expect to hear from you again?

Don't monopolize the conversation by asking too many questions or going off on tangents. Instead, focus on a few key topics and try to get as much information as possible about each one. Questions such as these will help you understand the company's goals and demonstrate to the interviewer how much you care about meeting those objectives. And always be sure to thank the interviewer for his or her time.