Are You Asking the Right Questions?

Many candidates make the mistake of focusing on how they should answer the questions posed by interviewers. Giving the right answers is important, but you should also spend time preparing some questions to ask your interviewer. Asking the right interview questions shows you are interested in the job and willing to spend a little time researching the company. For best results, follow these interview tips next time you meet with a hiring manager.

One of the most important interview questions you should ask is, "How do you expect this position to change over the next three to five years?" Asking this question reaffirms your interest in the position and shows the hiring manager you have the ability to look beyond the next few months. Employers need forward-thinking candidates with good planning skills, so asking this interview question can distinguish you from other applicants.

Ask an interview question about the company's culture to determine if the company is a good fit for your personality and values. When you ask the question, the hiring manager should be able to tell you several positive things about the company. If the manager dodges this interview question, or she isn't able to tell you anything positive, you might want to consider other opportunities.

It is important to ask interview questions that show you spent some time researching the company. Asking surface-level questions about work hours or benefits is not enough to impress hiring managers and might even hurt your chances of receiving an offer. Instead of asking basic interview questions, ask the hiring manager about some of the biggest problems she faces on a daily basis. This opens up an opportunity for you to offer solutions based on your knowledge and work experience. If the interviewer isn't open to discussing the company's current challenges, ask her how she got her start in the industry. This type of interview question helps build rapport and ease some of the tension associated with meeting a hiring manager for the first time.

Asking the interviewer to name any reservations she has about you might seem counterproductive, but this is actually a good way to find out what a hiring manager is thinking. If the interviewer has concerns about your skills in a particular area, for example, you'll have a chance to ease those concerns before the interview ends. If the interviewer has concerns about a lack of high-level responsibilities at your previous job, you can explain the steps you took to take on additional responsibilities and learn new skills.

Following basic interview tips is a great way to improve your chances of getting a job, but you should always go the extra mile. In addition to reviewing your resume and participating in mock interviews, you should come up with interview questions that demonstrate your intelligence, professionalism and ability to handle the duties of the advertised position.

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