The Best Questions to Ask During An Interview -TheJobNetwork

The Best Questions to Ask During An Interview -TheJobNetworkThe bewerberinterview has gone really well so far you were exactly five minutes early, you hit all of your talking points in a confident and conversational way, and it turns out that both you and the interviewer went to Camp Mohegan (and you both remembered the secret handshake). Now things are winding down, and you can practically smell the new-folder scent of your employee orientation packet. Before you can collect your bag and use your superb (non-secret) interview handshake to close things out, though, theres one more question Do you have any questions for me? Heres why questions to ask during an interview are really important. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) If youre not prepared, this is a gunst der stunde for that unappealing deer-in-headlights moment. It may not be a total dealbreaker, but it can definitely undermine all the highlights of your interview up to this point. 1. Why Do You Need to Ask Questions?2. How to Prep Your Questions for the Interview3. What to Ask During the Interview4. What Not to Ask During the InterviewWhy Do You Need to Ask Questions?Basically, interviewers are asking you if you have any questions for them for a few reasonsIts polite.Theyre out of questions themselves.They want to see how you interact.They want to gauge your interest in the job.Okay, so 1 isnt necessarily the most important reason. The ghost of Emily Post doesnt haunt job interviews to make sure everyones behaving with impeccable manners. 2 and 3, however, make a difference to you. If, as in 2, the interviewer has just run out of topics for whatever reason, its a chance for you to step in and keep the dialogue open. You can re-emphasize points that you want to make sure the interviewer comes away remembering, and you can use this as an avenue to introduce skills or experience that you hadnt previously discussed.If youve had a pretty exhaustive interview where you covered your resume comprehensively, its likely that 3 is the reason. These days, just about everyone is busy at work due to understaffing and increased workloads. When companies hire someone new to join the team, they want to know that this partie will be able to hit the ground running. So the any questions for me? question is really a gambit to see if you can follow up quickly, and request information that you want or need. If you just sit there with a leer expression, thats a potential red flag. If you have the social skills to interact with the interviewer rather than just answer questions with a set of talking points, that shows you could be a proactive employee with good listening and communication skills.Responding with smart, insightful questions can tell the interviewer a lot about you (or reinforce the overall perception of you as a great, detail-oriented candidate). When you have good questions (throughout the interview or at the end when theres an official call for questions), it shows the following qualities to the interviewerEngagement You are actively interested in the opportunity.Intelligence You get what the job entails, and how you could fit into it.Confidence You know you can do the job well and be an asset to the company.Social intelligence You understand the give-and-take interactions, and present yourself well.And in addition to using questions to present your best self to the interviewer, its also a chance to do some final information-gathering on the job itself. Sure, youve read every line of the job description, have combed the internet and your social networks for intel on the company, and have checked to see what similar jobs at other companies entail. (If you havent done those things, definitely do them before interview day.) The interview is a chance for the company to evaluate you, but its also your chance to evaluate the job. After the interview, the next big step is either an offer (or a non-offer)the grace period for follo w-up questions closes around the same time you send your thank-you emaille to the interviewer. So it makes total sense to use the interview to get as much information as you can on the day-to-day life of the job, or the colleagues with whom youd be working. Seize the opportunityHow to Prep Your Questions for the InterviewInterview prep is usually about how to frame yourself for maximum interview success the resume points you want to emphasize, the specific anecdotes that show your leadership skills or your problem solving skills, and body language (posture, handshake, a hire-me smile that doesnt scare anyone). But while youre planning and practicing those things, also think about what you can ask the interviewer.According to The Interview Guys, the questions arent so much asking any old question as they are about asking the right ones, intelligently. This means focusing on the job itself, not generic things like how many people are in the company? or whats the current stock price?To help you prep, you can break down questions into unterstellung different areasThe Job What do you want to know about the nitty-gritty of life in this role?The Requirements Are you equipped to take over this role? Or is there anything you can do to prepare?The Expectations How does the company see this role, and what do they expect from the person who steps into it?The Company What is this company really like?The People What qualities do your possible future coworkers have? What do they value?The Follow-up When is the company planning to fill this position? (This can help manage your expectations.)Prepping for this can be difficult, because you dont know what youll be asked in the interview. You might cover any combination of these areas during the course of the interview, so you dont want to ask questions that would directly repeat information that youve already been given. So the best way to account for this is to come up with a broad list of questions you can ask. Try to remember at least two in each of the categories above, so that youre covered. You Can Bring a Cheat SheetNotes are fine to bring into an interview. There will be no Teleprompter, and you dont get bonus points for memorizing and repeating canned responses. If you do decide to bring in notes with you, keep them limited to bullet points on an index card or small notebook. You dont want to spend your time looking down at your novelized questions instead of making eye contact and engaging with the interviewer. Basically, you should come up with your list of tentative questions ahead of time, and know them pretty well, bringing notes only as a cheat sheet if you need them. Nothing stops the momentum of a good interview like pausing to shuffle through your notes in a moment of awkward silence.What to Ask During the InterviewAs you think about what questions to ask the interviewer, here are some examples in the categories we outlined above. Again, make sure these are as specific as possible to the job for which youre applying, so that it sounds like youre engaged and enthusiastic to learn more.The JobCan you describe what a typical day is like as an insert job title?What do you see as the biggest challenge for someone in this position?RELATED7 Interview Questions That Will Make You Stand OutThe RequirementsWhat kind of training can I expect if Im hired for this job?Is there any training you would recommend in the meantime?The ExpectationsCan you tell me about the performance expectations for this role?Thinking about the long term, can you give a quick outline of the path for advancement in this department?What are the employee review processes for this role?The CompanyWhat would you say is the overall mission of this company?How would you say the company fits into the industry as a whole?Whats your favorite part of working here?Whats your least favorite part of working here?How does the company approach work-life balance?The PeopleHow big is the team Id be working with?Which other departments would I be working with as a insert job title?Can you give a brief description of the team members Id be working with?If you could describe the team here in one word, what would it be?How would you describe the working environment here?Can you tell me about my direct manager? (Note This one really only works if youre being interviewed by a recruiter or HR person.)Can you describe your management style? (This is the equivalent if youre being interviewed by the person to whom youd be reporting.)The Follow-UpCan I email you with any additional questions if I think of any later?Do you know what the approximate timeline is for filling this position?What are the next steps?Is there anything else I can provide?We talked a little bit about my experience with example based on job description. Is there any other info I can provide on that front?Tips for Framing QuestionsAsk open-ended questions. Basic yes-or-no questions can shut down the conversation, and then youll be on t he hook for another question even faster.Make sure youre framing it as a question, and not just trailing off. Is this position subject to an annual review, orDont ask leading or loaded questions, which make it look like youre fishing for a specific answer. You want to seem like you genuinely want information, and arent just looking to confirm something you already know. Isnt it true thatIf you can, weave your questions throughout the interview. It demonstrates that youre paying attention, and engaged in the process. If you find you cant really do that with the conversational flow, save them until the end or until youre asked if you have questions.Keep the tone light and professional. Dont try to trap the interviewer in a mistake or misstatement, or use the questions aggressively to pin down an answer. You want to seem involved and relatable, not intense and overbearing.What NOT to Ask During the InterviewThere are some areas where you just shouldnt go with your table-turning questio ns.Anything about salaryThis isnt the time or the placeand the person whos interviewing you may not have much insight into compensation. Also, if you jump the gun on salary discussions now, you could put yourself at a disadvantage later during the offer and negotiation phase.How soon you can take vacation timeThis is not only presumptuous, but also a part of later benefit discussions, like salary.Multi-part questionsIf you have a complicated question, ask it in pieces, in a conversational way.If the rumors are trueAny rumors. Whatever youve heard about the company, now is not the time to bring it up, even with your new Camp Mohegan buddy.Personal questions about the interviewerYoull have plenty of time to get to know your (hopefully) new colleague later.Once you have a feel for the general topics for these questions, you can start bending them to fit the job you want, and practicing the questions in a confident, conversational way. The more you come up with ahead of time, the less l ikely you are to be that deer in the headlights. You want to finish the interview strong, so get ready to have interview questions cut both ways.RELATED5 Unique Questions to Ask in a Job Interview

11 Steps to Writing the Perfect Resume

11 Steps to Writing the Perfect Resume 11 Steps to Writing the Perfect ResumeYour resume is only as good as the information you provide. Make aya youre prepared with this list.Are you struggling with writing the perfect resume? If the answer is yes, youre not alone. According to a recent TopResume study, only 24 percent of professionals described themselves asconfident in their resume-writing ability. This means that 76 percent of professionals are insecure about their resume and resume-writing skills as a whole.With that said, whether youre planning to use a professional resume-writing service or give it a go on your own, its important to take some time to prepare for your resume rewrite. Your resume will only be as good as the information you or your writer has towork with. Gather the following details ahead of time to craft a powerful document that effectively tells your story and markets your qualifications to help you land your dream job.Contact informationWhile this section may seem obvious, there are a few factors to consider. For instance, how will you display your personenname? Are you planning to use a nickname, such as Bob, or will you use your full name for the job search? Whichever you choose, make sure you consistently represent your name on all your personal branding materials such as your business cards, LinkedIn profile, and ansprechbar portfolio or blog.Select one email address and one phone number to include on your resume. I recommend setting up an email address thats dedicated to your job-search activities and using your cell phone number on your resume, as this gives you the ability to control the voicemail message, who answers the phone, and when.Online presenceA Jobvite social recruiting survey found that 93 percent of recruiters will search for your online profiles before they decide to interview you. Save them some time by including the URL to your LinkedIn profile.Related10 Ways to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stand OutIn addition to yo ur LinkedIn account, the perfect resume should include any links that are relevant to your work, such as a personal website, portfolio, or blog. If your work involves social media, you may include the links to other social media accounts such as Twitter, Instagram, and so forth.Sample job descriptionsWhen youre writing the perfect resume, it should be tailored to support a specific job goal. One of the best ways to ensure your resume is properly positioned is to identify sample job descriptions that youre interested in and qualified to perform.Search online and gather a few job postings that represent the type of position youre targeting. It doesnt matter if the location is ideal for this purpose, you should only be concerned with the job description and its requirements.Copy and paste the text of the description itself into a Word or Google document and then highlight or bold any requirements or desirable skills from the posting you possess. This will help you or your writer identi fy which of your qualifications should be showcased throughout the resume.Technical skills and proficienciesWhat technical platforms and tools are you proficient? List all that apply to your work. Be specific and as comprehensive as possible. This list can include anything from social media platforms to project management systems and computer languages. If youve worked with proprietary platforms, list those as well.Need to brush up on a skill or tool thats routinely popping up in the job descriptions youre targeting?Check out edX, Coursera, and SkillShare for free or low-cost online courses.Your professional experiencedeparture with your most recent job and work your way backward. The perfect resume should detail out all your professional positions within the past 15 years. If you served in the military or held a board position, list this experience as you would any other role in your work history. If you recently graduated from college, include your internships and any work experie nce that took place since you entered college.For each role, list the following informationCompany Name and URLJob Title If your title is very specific to your organization, you can include a translation of sorts in parenunterstellungs next to your official job title.Start and End Dates Include the month and year for each of these dates.Job Description Think about your roles and responsibilities as they relate to your target role. This is especially important if youd like to change careers. Include details such as how many people you managed or supervised, the territories you covered, etc.Achievements Brainstorm a list of your accomplishments and major contributions that benefited the organization during your tenure. The number of achievements you provide will depend upon how long you remained in that role and how relevant it is to your current job goals. Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible for instance, how did you help save the company money, generate revenue, improve customer satisfaction, increase productivity, and so forth?If you have an existing resume, only include new details in this section. Theres no reason to repeat anything that already appears in your current resume.Early career historyIf youve been in the workforce for over 15 years, chances are you have a few positions that got left out of the previous section. Before you get started writing the perfect resume, make a list of the job titles you held, the names of each employer, the locations where you worked, and your dates of employment for these roles. While the dates will likely not get used in your resume, its good to have a clear record of your earlier experiences for the writer.Volunteer workHave you been actively volunteering with a non-profit organization? Skills-based volunteering (SBV) is a great way to fill an employment gap or supplement your work history when youre trying to change careers. Please list any volunteer work youve done thats relevant to your current job goal s in chronological order, beginning with your most recent work.If youre new to the workforce, include any campus activities or clubs in which you were active.A perfect resume should include the name of the organization and its website URL, the positions you held, your years of involvement, and your responsibilities and contributions to the non-profit. Looking for new volunteer opportunities?Visit sites such as Catchafire and VolunteerMatch.Professional affiliationsList any relevant professional organizations or affiliations youre a member of that arent listed on your resume. For each group, please list its name and URL, when you became a member, and what positions you held. If you took an active role in the organization, describe your responsibilities and any notable achievements.Interested in joining a new membership group? Check out this directory of professional associations for suggestions or research which groups your peers and managers belong to. You can often find this inform ation on their LinkedIn profiles.Language skillsLanguage skills can be a great selling point on your resume. If youre multilingual, be sure to list each language you speak and your proficiency level.Education and professional developmentCreate a record of all your education, beginning with your most recent degree. List the institution, its location, the name of your degree, your major and minor, your graduation year, and any honors associated with the degree, such as summa or magna cum laude. Do the same for any relevant certifications youve obtained or additional training opportunities or workshops youve attended.Third-party feedbackHave you received positive customer testimonials or a great performance review? Include this information in your preparation materials. You or your professional resume writer may be able to work some of this information into your resume to demonstrate your hard and soft skills in the workplace.While this may feel like a lot of work, by taking the time t o examine your career now, youll see the benefits on your future resume. A perfect resume is within reachClick on the following link for more resume-writing advice.Need help with your resume? Our TopResume professional resume writers can assist youRecommended ReadingHow to Use Sample Job Descriptions to Enhance Your ResumeWhy Soft and Hard Skills Are So Important for Your Resume5 Signs Its Time to Hire a Professional Resume WriterRelated Articles