101 Smart Questions to Ask on Your Interview (27 page)

How did this job become available? Was the previous person promoted? What is his or her new title? Was the previous person fired? Why?

How do you see me working with each of the department heads?

How do you see my role evolving in the first two years?

How has this job been performed in the past?

How long has this position been available?

How many hours per week do you expect your star employees to put in?

How many people will be reporting to me?

How much budgetary responsibility would I have?

How much day-to-day autonomy will I have?

How much travel should I expect to do in a typical month?

How will we work together to establish objectives and deadlines in the first months of this job?

How would my performance be measured?

Is a written job description available?

Is relocation an option, a possibility, or a requirement?

Is there no one from within the organization who is qualified for this position?

On what basis are raises and bonuses awarded?

Please tell me a little bit about the people with whom I’ll be working most closely.

Please tell me more about your training programs. Do you offer reimbursement for job-related education? Time off?

What are three specific goals I should set for my first three months on the job?

What are three things that need immediate attention?

What do you think my biggest challenge will be?

What is the first problem I should tackle?

What’s the one thing I can do right at this job to assure my success?

What is the one thing I should do during my first three months on the job?

What kind of training should I expect and for how long?

What kinds of decisions could I make without oversight?

What skills are in short supply here?

What will my days be like?

What would be the most logical areas for me to evolve into?

What would you like to be able to say about your new hire one year from now?

Where will I be working? May I see it?

Would I be able to speak with the person who held this job previously?

About the Process (Including “Closing” Questions)

Are there any specific areas in which you believe my qualifications are lacking?

Before you’re able to reach a hiring decision, how many more interviews should I expect to go through and with whom?

Can I assume that I am a serious candidate for the job?

Can we discuss the details of my package?

Can you tell me where you are in the process?

Do you have any concerns I haven’t adequately addressed?

Do you have any reservations about my ability to do this job?

How am I doing?

How do I compare with the others you’ve interviewed for this position?

How many other candidates have you interviewed? How many more will you be interviewing before you expect to make a decision?

How many other people would you say are also serious candidates for this position?

How much time have you set aside for interviews before you make a final decision?

How will you weigh your subordinates’ input?

Is there anything else I can tell you that would help you make the decision to hire me?

Is there anything that is stopping you from offering me this job right now?

Is there more information I can give you?

Over what period of time will those other interviews take place?

What are the key criteria you’re going to use to decide callbacks?

What are the next steps in the hiring process?

What kind of feedback does your boss expect you to give him?

When can I expect to hear from you?

When can I start?

When do you expect to make a final decision and fill the position?

When may I meet some of my potential colleagues (or subordinates)?

Where do we go from here?

Whom do I need to talk to next?

With whom will I be meeting next (names and job titles)?

About Upcoming Interviewers

How long have they been with the company?

What are their ages and family situations?

What are they like?

What issues are important to each of them?

With whom will I be meeting next (names and job titles)?

About Your Boss’s “Style”

How do you define success?

How do you measure your own success?

How often do you and your team socialize outside of work?

How would you describe your management style?

In your experience, are there particular types of people you seem to work better with than others?

What do you think your responsibility is to develop your people?

What’s your definition of failure?

What kinds of people seem to succeed in this company? In this department? Working for you?

What particular traits do you value most in your subordinates?

What’s your philosophy about “mistakes”?

When’s the last time you got really angry at one of your subordinates? What was the cause? What did you do?

After Every Interview

How badly do you want this job?

How did it go?

How do you stack up to your competition?

How many people did you see?

How much time did you spend with each?

How quickly do they want to make a decision?

What did they say?

What did you say?

What’s the next step according to them?

What is your plan?

What objections did you have to overcome? Do you think you did so successfully?

What role does each person play?

Who else did you meet (secretaries, receptionists, department heads, peers, etc.)?

Who is the decision-maker?

Who is the hiring manager?

Who seemed the most important?

Who seems to most influence the decision?

After Receiving an Offer

Are there any other items we need to discuss to make this offer complete?

Are there any upcoming events occurring before my start date in which I could participate?

If I have further questions, whom should I contact?

Is there any reading I can do to prepare for my first day?

What could I do before I start to jump-start my entry into the department?

When would you like me to get back to you?

When would you like me to start?

Agencies and Recruiters

Could I meet with some of the other people you’ve placed at this company?

Do you foresee any problems with the company meeting my financial needs?

How integral to the company’s success is the department I’d be joining?

How long do you think the interview process for this job will take?

How long has this job been open?

How long have you been working with this company?

How many candidates has the interviewer already seen?

How many people have you placed at this company?

How many people would be reporting to me?

Is a written, detailed job description available?

Is the interviewer my potential boss?

Is the person with whom I’m interviewing the decision-maker?

Is this a new position? Was it created as part of a new project, division, or strategy?

Tell me about the company.

To whom would I be reporting?

What can you tell me about the culture of the company?

What else do I need to know?

What happened to the person who previously held this position?

Who is your contact at the company?

Why is this job available?

Before You Accept an Offer

Can I really do this job as described? Will I enjoy doing it as described?

Do I like the people with whom I’ll be working or whom I’ll be managing?

Do I really like/respect the person I’ll be working for?

Do I really want this job?

Does the company’s/department’s culture match my strengths? Will I comfortably fit in with the team and/or department?

Does the described “career path” mesh with my own?

Does this job mesh with my long-term career plans, or is it an abrupt detour?

During an Informational Interview

Can you direct me to others at your organization whom you think I should meet?

Do you know anyone at the organizations I’ve targeted?

Given my credentials, where would you see me fitting in at a company such as yours?

How can I learn more about this field?

How can I meet others in this field?

How did you get started at this company (or in your profession)?

How do you spend your day?

What are your duties and responsibilities?

What do you like least about your job?

What do you like most about your job?

What is the best way to get started (in this field or at this company)?

What kind of person do you think is right for this kind of work?

What skills are in short supply here?

Human Resources

Are there any challenges facing this department right now?

Can you tell me more about what I’d be doing on a daily basis?

Do you have a written description of the position?

Do you have any concerns about my abilities?

Does the company have a mission statement or written philosophy?

How quickly are you hoping to fill this position?

How would you characterize the company’s overall management style?

How would you describe the corporate culture?

How would you say I stack up against the other candidates you’ve interviewed?

What are your recruiting plans this year?

What can you tell me about my boss?

What can you tell me about the interviewer?

What can you tell me about the people I’ll be managing?

What can you tell me about the people with whom I’ll be working?

What’s a key thing about your company you’d like potential new hires to know?

What other positions at the company should this job prepare me for?

Where are you in the decision-making process?

Peers (Future Colleagues)

Do you consider this company to be an ideal employer?

Does the company support you with ongoing training and education?

How are your contributions to the organization measured?

How long have you worked for your manager?

How many hours per day do you usually work? Do you have to work weekends?

How would you characterize your manager’s management style?

If you had to do it over again, would you work here?

What can you tell me about working for this company?

What do you consider this company’s (department’s) strengths and weaknesses?

What do you wish you had known before you took your job?

What were your expectations when you started here?

Were they met? How have they changed?

Why did you decide to work here?

Yourself

Am I overqualified for this position?

Am I a good loser or a bad winner?

Am I a risk taker or risk averse?

Am I overly competitive? Do I give up too easily?

Can I live on what this company wants to pay me?

Can I achieve my ultimate career path in my current company?

Can I comfortably afford my current lifestyle?

Describe my personality.

Do I want to do the job?

Do I have the qualities generally associated with the level of responsibility/job title I am seeking?

Do I mind traveling frequently?

Do I rise to a challenge or back away?

Does this job fit in with my long-range plans?

How can I make myself more marketable in today’s competitive job market?

How can I transfer skills I already have to a completely different career?

How do my positive attributes match up with the qualities I believe are necessary for success in the job/career path I’ve chosen?

How does my current job differ from my ideal job?

How does my self-description match that of the culture at the company I’m considering?

How many of my positive qualities do I want to use in my job?

How much time am I willing to devote to a daily commute?

How well do I interact with authority figures?

How would I describe my dream job?

If I had to spend 40 hours per week doing a single activity, what would it be?

If I were to ask a group of friends and acquaintances to describe me, what adjectives would they use?

In what size city do I want to work?

In what size company do I want to work?

Is a formal employee-training program important to me?

Is a tuition reimbursement plan important to me?

What activities do I least like doing?

What activities do I most like doing?

What additional education or training would I need to achieve my dream job?

What are my goals and aspirations?

What are my key values?

What are my long-term goals?

What are my passions?

What are my short-term goals?

What are my strengths?

What benefits do I require?

What can I learn from past bosses?

What games and sports do I enjoy?

What has caused me to break up friendships?

What have I already done to accomplish my short-term goals?

What in my personal life causes me the most stress?

What in my personal life gives me the most pleasure?

What is important to me?

What’s the lowest salary I’ll accept?

What is my current standard of living, and am I happy with it?

What kinds of people do I dislike working with?

What kinds of friends do I tend to have?

What kinds of people do I enjoy spending time with?

What kinds of people do I like working with?

What kinds of products/services/accounts would I prefer to work with?

What salary would I like to receive?

What specific things do I require in the job I’m seeking?