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Job Interview Questions to Ask

karmicchristian by karmicchristian

Questions to ask at an Interview


Have you ever drawn a blank when the interviewer asked, "Any questions?" Interviewers typically expect you to ask questions nearing the end of an interview. After all, employment is a two-way street. So, what questions do you ask the interviewer? Preparing interview questions to ask in advance, shows that you have done your homework and are truly interested in the job. In fact, some interviewers might be more impressed with your questions than your answers.

Interviewers normally allow you ask questions towards the end of an interview or closer to the end of each phase. Of course, it is alright to ask a few questions during the interview, just to clarify certain questions. But please do wait till it is your turn before you start off. On the other hand, if the interview seems to be drawing to a close, before the interviewer asks if you have questions, ask if it is okay to ask, a few questions.



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"Everything has changed. An interview has become such a confrontational thing. It makes you very defensive."

- Francesca Annis

Interview Tips from Experts:

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Avoid asking questions just to impress the interviewer. Also avoid asking questions that might reveal more about you than the job. For instance, a question like "What happens if I fail to meet a project deadline?" has underlying implications such as "I have been irresponsible and often missed project deadlines!"

Unless the interviewer mentions the topics first, it is not a good idea to ask questions about vacation, sick leaves, lunch breaks and so on, right off the hook. Granted, they are a 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. Ask about what the company can do for you and lesser matters of importance during follow-up interviews. Better yet, wait until you're reasonably sure you have the job offer in your pocket.

It is okay to write down your interview questions to ask beforehand and then refer to them during interviews. It shows that you're organized and interested enough in the job to have prepared in advance.

Researching about the company before an interview will also help ensure that the questions you ask don't backfire. For example, if you wait until the end of the interview to ask what the company's products or services are, it indicates that you were not interested enough about the job, in the first place.

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Sample Interview Questions to Ask about the Job

+ Which specific skills are necessary to succeed in this job?
+ Would you please describe the ideal candidate for this job?
+ What are the day-to-day duties of this job?
+ Does this job have any special demands?
+ How much travel does this job require?
+ How many hours are in a typical workweek?
+ What is a typical workday like in this position?
+ How would you describe the working environment?
+ Are there specific problems or challenges an employee would face in this position?
+ If you hire me, which duties would you like for me to accomplish first?
+ Which projects would you like for me to complete in the next six months?
+ What are the long-term objectives of this job?
+ Would you please describe your management style?
+ What are my potential coworkers like and how many are there?
+ How much autonomy would I have in making decisions?
+ What would be my operational budget and spending authority and responsibilities?
+ What level of input would I have in determining my objectives and deadlines?
+ How many projects must an employee in this position multi-task at once?
+ Are there opportunities for pay raises and advancement in this position?
+ Is this a new position or am I replacing someone?
+ May I seek success tips from the employee who was promoted out of this position?
+ Has anyone ever performed poorly in this position? What were the typical mistakes made?
+ How do you measure an employee's performance and provide feedback?
+ How does an employee know he or she is performing this job to expectations before annual merit reviews?

Please add a touch of sincerety to the tone of your voice when you ask your questions. It will help form the right kind of impressions about you. All the best!

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Sample Interview Questions to Ask in Summary

  • 1Is there anything else that I should know?
  • 2Is there anything else you would like to know?
  • 3Is there anything that would prevent you from offering this job to me?
  • 4Do you have any feedback?
  • 5Do you have any concerns? What can I do to address them?
  • 6When can I expect to hear from you again?
  • 7When could I follow up with you by phone or email?
  • 8What could I expect in the next round of the interviews?
  • 9If you decide to extend an offer, when would you like for me start?
  • 10What is the next step?

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Your questions or suggestions please:

  • pawpaw911 May 27, 2012 @ 4:36 pm | delete
    Very important part of the interview process. Just glad I don't have to go on them.
  • TheCureForYouthMinistry May 6, 2012 @ 7:57 am | delete
    Really good material. Well done.
  • scoyne2 Apr 26, 2012 @ 6:51 pm | delete
    Great advice in this article, I prefer more specific questions and not questions such as "do you have any feedback", but overall loved the article!
  • GenesisLabs Nov 28, 2011 @ 9:45 pm | delete
    Another great lens Charles full of great content.
  • classiercorn Sep 30, 2011 @ 1:08 pm | delete
    Great tips for a successful job interview! I´ve set up a useful website with many tips on the subject Job Interview. For more information see http://www.jobinterview.n.nu.
  • cruiser123 Sep 27, 2011 @ 4:56 am | delete
    great attempt ,very impressive.These questions are very helpful for job seekers in order to get a job.I have lenses on resume skills and
    business letter format<./a>.
  • anilsaini Sep 12, 2011 @ 1:38 am | delete
    nice one
  • hamshi5433 Aug 29, 2011 @ 12:28 pm | delete
    Nice tips, Il keep them in mind for my interviews ha :D
  • laki2lav Aug 21, 2011 @ 9:48 am | delete
    Good suggestions - nice to prepare and think what to ask before you go face to face
  • goo2eyes Aug 17, 2011 @ 4:08 pm | delete
    how about, what are the incentives being provided around this job? is this acceptable or is this too pushy?
  • fireblazzer Aug 15, 2011 @ 9:47 pm | delete
    a good page with good info..
    questions are importaint to ask on an interview.. even if its just simple things to show your smart and you think things through. "will my work schedule rotate?, or will it stay the same ever week?"
  • TeamSTM Aug 12, 2011 @ 1:24 pm | delete
    Thanks for this one and I use some of these when I have interviews from time to time.
  • sherridan Jul 1, 2011 @ 3:36 am | delete
    Great lens....lots of helpful tips. The interviewer remembers the beginning and end of an interview, so it is vital to make a good entrance and to finish well - well thought out questions like this help you to end positively and leave a good impression.
  • Gerald_McConway Jun 26, 2011 @ 7:36 am | delete
    Nice lens with a lot of helpful information on here. As a former manager and an individual who has hired and fired hundreds of people, I can tell you the more frustrating thing during an interview is someone who asks no questions at the conclusion.

    My best tip for anyone interviewing would be to get a legal pad and write down every question you need to have answered during the interview. Take notes while the interviewer is speaking and when they give you the floor, take it. Tick off the questions not already answered and believe me, you will get some points with the person doing the interviewing. It shows you are not only interested, but that you are also prepared.
  • MisterJeremy Jun 12, 2011 @ 5:47 pm | delete
    Great questions. Here are a few more that I thought of. If there is a long commute, the interview might be a good time to ask about flex time, telecommuting, or if any employees carpool.
  • karmicchristian Jun 12, 2011 @ 9:59 pm | delete
    Thank you MisterJeremy, your additional inputs are really appreciated.
  • ChrisDay May 25, 2011 @ 11:53 pm | delete
    Invaluable support to those in the job market.
  • WritingJobs May 23, 2011 @ 7:13 am | delete
    Very helpful information indeed.
  • reasonablerobinson May 22, 2011 @ 7:25 am | delete
    Very helpful for new job seekers and anyone who is looking to restart their career. I would suggest that the interview is as much for you to find out about the organisation, e.g. key values, key measures, attitude to innovation etc too.
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karmicchristian

Hi, My name is Charles - author of the book Karma in Christianity. I write on theology, theophilosophy, personal development & healthy living. I welcome... more »

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