Ask Effective Questions in Your Interview
You've rehearsed answers to tough interview questions. You have ideas about selling your age. You've studied up on the most common interview styles.
There's one more thing to prepare - some questions you want to ask in your interview. The questions you ask in a job interview help show what you can contribute to the employer. They also help you figure out if you want this job. Older workers can use questions to show the benefits of their experience.
Here are the best kinds of questions to ask, and why.
| Kind of question: | Questions to ask: | These questions show that: |
| Ask for details about priorities and problems that need to be solved. |
What are this job's priorities for the first few
months? What would you like to see the person in this job achieve first? What are the most important problems that you'd like the person in this job to solve? What is your ideal job candidate like? |
You'll ask the questions you need to figure out how to do
your job. You're a team player. You know how to prioritize. |
| Clarify questions your interviewer asks before answering. |
Before I answer, can you give me more details about
that? What else can you tell me about -----, so I can understand all the angles? |
You are thoughtful and thorough. You take the time to understand a problem before acting. You want to match your skills with the employer's needs. |
| Ask about any concerns that haven't come up yet. |
Can I clarify anything about my experience or
background? Do you have any concerns about my abilities that I can address now? |
You're straightforward and not afraid to get to the root
of problems. You are confident and take the initiative. You know how to use the experience that comes with age. |
| Ask what it's like to work there. |
What is a typical week (or day) like here? What's the work atmosphere like? |
You want to know if you'd fit in here. You're actively evaluating your fit with this job. |
| Ask about next steps. |
What are the next steps? I'm sure I'll think of other questions later; could we set a phone appointment [on Tuesday morning] to discuss them? Can you tell me where you are in the process of making a hiring decision? |
You get tasks done. You tie up loose ends. You have good follow-up skills. You're serious about this job. |
Use these tips in asking questions:
- Ask questions when it feels natural. Don't wait to ask everything at the end of the interview.
- Always have at least one question ready when the interviewer asks if you have any questions.
- Use clarifying questions to give yourself time to think.
- Ask for details so you can show how you can meet the employer's needs.
- Try asking a question right after giving an answer.
- Use questions that will lead to talking about your skills.
- Ask questions to learn about the work atmosphere.
- Save questions about benefits for Human Resources. Or ask after you have a job offer.
- Save more detailed questions for second interviews.
Books
Find these books online at Barnes and Noble.com
101 Dynamite Questions to Ask at Your Job Interview, Richard Fein, Impact Publications, 2000. Much more than a list of questions. Shows what your interviewer can learn about you from the questions you ask.
201 Best Questions to Ask On Your Interview, John Kador, McGraw-Hill, 2002. Explains why, how, and when you need to ask questions. Gives sample questions to ask of various interviewers - and ones not to ask.
