Questions to ask the Interviewer

How to impress the interviewer with your own questions

Picture yourself in an interview, you feel you've done very well for yourself so far. You shake hands with your interviewer as he asks; "Any questions?" -Not Surprisingly, the most common answer to this question is "no." This is not only the wrong answer, but it's also a missed opportunity to find out information about the company/business.

It is imperative for you to ask questions - But try not to ask questions that can be seen as Self - Centered, as this is your last chance to imply interest in the interview, or ever even. Don't just ask any question however; but those relating to the job, the company or the industry. Imagine two candidates are interviewing for the same job, for say; a sales assistant.

Candidate #1 asks, "I was wondering about benefits, and when they would become effective? Also, what is the yearly vacation allowance? And, does the company match on the 401K plan?" If this is the first interview, it is too early on to ask about benefits. "What's in it for me?" questions like the one above can be interpreted as very self-centered and do not demonstrate your interest in the job. Candidate #2 says, "No, I don't think there's anything else I really want to know. I'm sure I'll have more questions if I get the job."

This type of response may not often be interpreted as self - centered, but it is still a very passive response that doesn't demonstrate any interest or imagination. This could give the interviewer the impression that you weren't motivated or determined when you applied for the job, and just applied for the sake of it. If you get the job; it may be too late to ask questions once you've started.

It is very important to ask questions to learn about the company and the job's challenges, AND to impress the interviewer; this could be a turnaround for you point in the interview. Most of the time, the interviewer will mainly be listening to the types of questions you ask. The best questions will come as a result of your listening to what is asked during the interview.

Here is an example of a good question to ask the interviewer when asked "Any Questions"; "Yes, I do. From the questions you've been using during the interview, it sounds like you have a problem with customer retention. Can you tell me a little more about the current situation, and what the Main challenges would be for the new employee?" This answer shows keen interest in the business and its problems/issues. It also suggests that you are the solution to the problem.

Next:

• Common questions
  Questions frequently asked by the interviewer

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