Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Questions to Ask During a Job Interview.

By Ray James


There are a number of important factors that are vital for a successful interview. One of these is being aware of the right questions to ask of the interviewer. At the conclusion of an interview, you may be asked, "Do you have any questions for us?" You may think that the obvious answer to this question is "No, thank you", but this is not the expected answer at all. By answering negatively, you may have just lost the opportunity to ask some vital questions that could make a difference in interviewer's opinion of you as a candidate. Asking questions in return demonstrates that you are interested in obtaining this job and you are aware of the company issues, which in turn makes a good impression of you as a potential employee.

You must ask the important relevant and specific questions. Indeed, to be able to ask such questions you must obtain all relevant background information about the job and the company. Excellent preparation is required for such a task. To begin with, you must collect all data from company web sites, magazines and brochures. Complete and thorough research is vital to asking good questions of the interviewer. Make a request for a copy of the company policy, trading and business strategies and other issues to enable you to highlight important points. From these points, you can ask some sensible and relevant questions, allowing the interviewer to recognize that you have made a great deal of research and preparation for the offered job. You should analyze any employment terms and conditions and ask for answers to any doubts you may have regarding this as it shows that you are concerned about the job position and related issues.

Some relevant questions you could ask are as follows: "There are a number of companies in this business. How then has this organization been able to maintain the current growth rate and continue appointing new staff members?" The response to this should be very positive and should the interviewer explain to you the strategy the company is following in such situations it will give you an insider's perspective.

You may enquire about your particular job with questions such as: "Could you explain how this particular job has been performed in the past?" or "What are the enhancements you would like to see take place?" To this interviewer will likely tell you about the expertise involved in that job and provide you with some particular examples. You should then convince the interviewer that you have what the company is looking for.

It is appropriate for you to ascertain whether or not you will fit this particular position by asking questions such as: "What are the difficulties or challenges I may encounter in this job over the next three to six months?" Such a question should impress an interviewer and allow them the opportunity to inform you as to what is expected of you in the position. The interviewer should then explain any difficulties associated with the job.

From these questions an interviewer should obtain a clear perception of how prepared and alert you are. If the interviewer is impressed you will gain credence, therefore asking the right kinds of questions is a strategy that should ensure success.

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