job interview_ the 5 questions you must ask

So, what questions do you have for us?

Its the inevitable question that comes at the end of nearly every job interview andyet its the one question job seekers rarely have prepared an answer to. And whenpeople do think to prepare for this part of the interview, they often ask bland stockquestions that arent truly important to their job hunt.

People get so hung up on preparing for the question they might get asked that theyoften forget to answer important questions they should have and need answers to.

Unfortunately, in a down economy, job hunters tend to adopt a scarcity mindset. Ifyou need work, you may not be able to afford to be picky about which offer youaccept, but that doesnt mean you have to approach the interview from that frame ofmind.

Rather, if you ask questions as though you are weighing the offer of this job againstother offers (whether you are or not) youll be in a better position to know if the job isa good fit for you and how you can best succeed with the company.

Remember: The power in these situations is with the listener, so you can end on apowerful note by asking thoughtful, insightful questions that not only make theinterviewer think, but give you answers you need to make a choice about whether ornot to accept the job.

Here are my top five:

Which of my skills do you see as most important for the challenges thatcome with the position? You want a job that leverages your key strengths.Answering this question help you understand whether the company isinterested in you because of they key skills you have and want to grow, ormaybe for other skills you see as less important to focus on and grow. It alsohelps you to check whether the challenges they see for the position you areapplying for are the same you were expecting.

How will the company help me develop? You don't want to simply applyyour skills, you also want to improve and learn new things. Make sure there isa plan or a support system to ensure this happens before you accept the job.This can come in form of support for continuous professional development orother support such as coaching or mentoring schemes. Asking this questionalso shows the interviewer that youre interested in self-improvement and

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other support such as coaching or mentoring schemes. Asking this questionalso shows the interviewer that youre interested in self-improvement andgrowing with the company.

Can you tell me a little about the team Ill be working with? This is anexcellent question to address the culture of the company without actuallyasking about the culture of the company. You might find you get a verydifferent answer than whats printed in the companys mission statement or ontheir website. It will help you to understand how well you fit in with thecompany, and psychologically its a great question to ask because it gentlyassumes youll be getting the position.

What constitutes success with this position and company? This is a greatway to demonstrate that youre interested in succeeding (not just punching atime clock) but it also gives you key insights into the expectations of theposition and the culture of the company.

Do you see any gaps in my skills or qualifications that I need to fill? Thisis a bold, gutsy question. Not everyone is going to be confident enough to askit, which is going to set you apart from the competition. To the interviewer, itshows that youre a bold thinker and demonstrates that youre willing to fill anygaps that might exist. For you, the worst-case scenario is that there are gapsthat will preclude you from getting the job, but thats valuable information totake into your next interview. In the best case, the interviewer wont have anyanswer, and hopefully youll be shortlisted for the position!

Some interviewers may consider this portion of the interview a throwaway,answering easy questions about salary, benefits, time off, etc. But for the applicant,its an excellent opportunity to stand out, get important answers you need to know ifyoure a good fit for the job, and demonstrate that youre an individual, not just aresume in a pile.

Of course, you don't have to wait until the end to ask your questions. In fact, it ismuch better (and much more natural) if you cover these questions during theinterview.

As always, I'd love to hear your views. Have you got any other key questions a jobhunter should ask the potential employer in an interview? Share them or any otherthoughts in the comments below. I look forward to reading your responses.

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I really appreciate that you are reading my post. Here, at LinkedIn, I regularly writeabout management and technology issues and trends. If you would like to read myregular posts then please click 'Follow' (at the top of the page) and feel free to alsoconnect via Twitter, Facebook and The Advanced Performance Institute.

Here are some other recent posts I have written:

The One Thing Successful People Never Do

8 Signs of a bad Leader

Job Interview: Why Only 3 Questions Really Matter

The Toughest Interview Question Of All... And How To Answer It

Job Interview Questions You Should Not Answer (Or Ask)

5 Sad Truths About Success And Happiness

The 15 Biggest Body Language Mistakes To Watch Out For

The 25 KPIs Every Manager Needs to Know

About : Bernard Marr is a globally recognizedexpert in strategy, performance management,analytics, KPIs and big data. He helps companiesand executive teams manage, measure andimprove performance. His latest books are 25Need-to-Know Key Performance Indicators and'Doing More with Less'.

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Nidhi AroraNidhi AroraSr. Manager at Cairn IndiaSr. Manager at Cairn India

This is one of best linked in posts one has read in some time.This is one of best linked in posts one has read in some time.

LikeLike(1)(1) ReplyReply 7 minutes ago7 minutes ago

Ivo BiancucciIvo Biancucci

Evelina BaziukEvelina BaziukInternational Administrator at Cambridge Regional CollegeInternational Administrator at Cambridge Regional College

Fantastic article, Bernard. Thank you for your tips and advice, as I always struggledFantastic article, Bernard. Thank you for your tips and advice, as I always struggledwith asking questions at the interviewwith asking questions at the interview

LikeLike ReplyReply 11 minutes ago11 minutes ago

Quentin RukingamaQuentin RukingamaClub Diallo Telli - Vice President AfricaClub Diallo Telli - Vice President Africa

Very interesting!Very interesting!Additional questions:Additional questions:To ask interviewers what did they motivate them to join the organization?To ask interviewers what did they motivate them to join the organization?


Ngala Joshua, MPRSKNgala Joshua, MPRSKCommunications Officer at Office of the Registrar of Political PartiesCommunications Officer at Office of the Registrar of Political Parties

very insightful creativity by very insightful creativity by Bernard MarrBernard Marr. however, in most cases questions 1,3, and. however, in most cases questions 1,3, and4 usually are usually answered by the floated adverts-newspapers or online. with my4 usually are usually answered by the floated adverts-newspapers or online. with myexperience in interviews, employers/ panels usually avoid question 5 with "well revertexperience in interviews, employers/ panels usually avoid question 5 with "well revertin case you qualify" answer.in case you qualify" answer.


Nik HandsonNik HandsonGraphic DesignerGraphic Designer

One of the best questions I was asked as an interviewer was "What are yourOne of the best questions I was asked as an interviewer was "What are yourreservations [about me for the role]?" ... which gave us the opportunity to be frankreservations [about me for the role]?" ... which gave us the opportunity to be frank(we felt she would use getting the job as a stepping stone to move to London and(we felt she would use getting the job as a stepping stone to move to London andthen leave when a better job came along, among other things), but it was a boldthen leave when a better job came along, among other things), but it was a boldmove and gave her a way to fight her corner. I was impressed, and in the end shemove and gave her a way to fight her corner. I was impressed, and in the end sheonly lost out due to us feeling another candidate would be a better fit for the team,only lost out due to us feeling another candidate would be a better fit for the team,personality-wise.personality-wise.


Rebecca LomaxRebecca Lomax


4 of 7 11/25/2014 1:20 PM


Rebecca LomaxRebecca Lomax

Sanne SteersSanne Steersowner at Sanne Steers, de Troubadourowner at Sanne Steers, de Troubadour

Ask (yourself) "what do I really want to know about this job / firm I couldn't researchAsk (yourself) "what do I really want to know about this job / firm I couldn't researchbeforehand nor didn't hear in this conversation?" If there is anything, be prepared itbeforehand nor didn't hear in this conversation?" If there is anything, be prepared itcan be something the interviewer doesn't want to talk about, even doesn't want to becan be something the interviewer doesn't want to talk about, even doesn't want to beasked about. Then for sure you have to ask it because you won't want to find it outasked about. Then for sure you have to ask it because you won't want to find it outafter being hired. So the good and bad thing will be you know if 1) you want the jobafter being hired. So the good and bad thing will be you know if 1) you want the job(or not) and 2) the interviewer wants you for the job (or not) straight away. And no(or not) and 2) the interviewer wants you for the job (or not) straight away. And nohurt done.hurt done.

LikeLike ReplyReply 1 hour ago1 hour ago

Anne Wrinn, Administrative ProfessionalAnne Wrinn, Administrative ProfessionalData Entry|Access|Word|Excel|PowerPointData Entry|Access|Word|Excel|PowerPoint

1. Where do you see this company being in 5 years?1. Where do you see this company being in 5 years?

2. If we imagine you hire me and we are talking about my outstanding2. If we imagine you hire me and we are talking about my outstandingaccomplishments for the past year, could you share with me what I have done?accomplishments for the past year, could you share with me what I have done?


Job KuyvenhovenJob KuyvenhovenDirecteur at Move to CatchDirecteur at Move to Catch

Great Advice.Great Advice.


NIDHI ASTHANANIDHI ASTHANAOPERATION MANAGER at Bajaj Capital LtdOPERATION MANAGER at Bajaj Capital Ltd

goodgood


ajayi omobolaji oajayi omobolaji o----

awsomeawsome


Jerry PhamJerry PhamSenior PHP Developer at EpinionSenior PHP Developer at Epinion

Great!!!Great!!!


Joyanta MondalJoyanta MondalStudent at Daffodil International UniversityStudent at Daffodil International University

need for every personneed for every person



5 of 7 11/25/2014 1:20 PM

yneed for every personneed for every person


Chanda NaliChanda NaliIT Officer at DCS ZambiaIT Officer at DCS Zambia

Great postGreat post


Fen LeeFen LeeSale representativeSale representative

Yes, it is great, almost at the end of every interview, they will give opportunity toYes, it is great, almost at the end of every interview, they will give opportunity todisplay our own minds, for me, sometime, pay more attention on alary, benefits, timedisplay our own minds, for me, sometime, pay more attention on alary, benefits, timeoff, etc, this article give me another viewpoint that interviewee also can haveoff, etc, this article give me another viewpoint that interviewee also can haveinitiativeinitiative


Liliana TomescuLiliana TomescuOwner - Senior Specialist Technical Consultant @ LPT Personnel ConsultingOwner - Senior Specialist Technical Consultant @ LPT Personnel Consulting

Good questions...Good questions...


John A. SheehanJohn A. SheehanUnplugged human at The "Red pill"Unplugged human at The "Red pill"

You forgot the #6 question: "HOW MUCH?"You forgot the #6 question: "HOW MUCH?"


Manoj KumarManoj KumarFounder & CEOFounder & CEO

I never ask any of question in an interview, thanks for sharing about it i am surelyI never ask any of question in an interview, thanks for sharing about it i am surelygoing to have ask next time.going to have ask next time.


Jay SchimmingJay SchimmingStudentStudent

Here is a question: How the **** am I supposed to get experience if I can't get a job?Here is a question: How the **** am I supposed to get experience if I can't get a job?Let's see what ridiculous answers you have for me.Let's see what ridiculous answers you have for me.

LikeLike ReplyReply 2 hours ago2 hours ago

PHILLA KATENDEPHILLA KATENDE 22Human Resource Officer at Eskom Uganda LimitedHuman Resource Officer at Eskom Uganda Limited

Thank you for the post and looking forward to test my next panel if an interviewThank you for the post and looking forward to test my next panel if an interviewopportunity shows up.opportunity shows up.

LikeLike ReplyReply 2 hours ago2 hours ago

ndnd

Christine KerverdoChristine Kerverdo


6 of 7 11/25/2014 1:20 PM

Like Replyp y 2 hours agog

Christine KerverdoChristine KerverdoSince 2005, a professional sworn translatorSince 2005, a professional sworn translator

In order to ask these questions, one must feel bold enough at the end of theIn order to ask these questions, one must feel bold enough at the end of theinterview. Would it be a good idea to have checked in open sources if some newsinterview. Would it be a good idea to have checked in open sources if some newsabout the company filtered, and in that case, to refer to this news to show interest inabout the company filtered, and in that case, to refer to this news to show interest inthe company's future, according to you?the company's future, according to you?


7 of 7 11/25/2014 1:20 PM

job interview_ the 5 questions you must ask

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