· Questions to illustrate the candidate's interest and intelligence
· Questions to uncover the interviewer's unspoken concerns
1. Questions to uncover the interviewer's top hiring
motives
You'll answer the interviewer's questions better once you know his/her
particular hiring concerns. Here are examples of questions that will
help you "get inside the head" of the interviewer:
· What do you see as the toughest challenge of this position?
· What qualities do you see as most important for this position?
· Why have others failed in this position?
Once you've asked any or all of the above questions, listen very closely.
The first thing the interviewer says reveals his/her truest feelings.
Use this information as insight for answering his/her questions to
you. After all, what is an interview but a sales presentation? Any
salesperson will tell you that you cannot sell until you know what
the buyer wants.
Effective online ads.  |
2. Questions that illustrate your interest and intelligence
Did you know that an intelligent question can impress an interviewer
even more than a snap answer?
The best types of questions to showcase your intelligence and interest
come out of your research of the company and industry. You may want
to ask questions concerning:
· Strategy for reaching a specific niche market
· The company's long-range goals
· Territorial expansion plans
Granted, some information may be deemed confidential. If you begin
your inquiry with, "Can you tell me..." you give the interviewer an
out if he/she cannot speak on the subject. Either way, you get the
opportunity to impress the interviewer with your intelligent curiosity
about corporate goals and plans.
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Effective
online ads. |
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Remember, pre-interview research is the key to forming insightful
questions. Never try to "wing your way" through an interview without
finding out facts ahead of time. Some good sources for research include:
· Online searches using search engines such as Google or Yahoo
· Public library reference materials
· Company website
· Press releases
If you've been out-performed in interviews lately, try this strategy
and see if you don't get called back for second interviews more often.
3. Question to uncover the interviewer's unspoken
concerns.
As you sense your interview winding down, don't forget to find out
what issues or concerns the interviewer has concerning you as a good
candidate fit. Don't make the assumption that the interviewer will
volunteer his/her concern. Nine times out of ten they won't. If you
don't ask, the interviewer won't tell you his negative perceptions
of you. The most straightforward way to find out is just to ask:
· "What concerns do you have that prevent you from asking me back
for the second interview?"
· "What concerns ... that prevent you from offering me the position?"
Once you've asked this question, be still and listen closely to how
the interviewer responds. Pay attention to body language as well.
If the interviewer says "I have no concerns," while averting his eyes,
or touching his face, it's a sure sign the interviewer DOES have concerns
but is reluctant to state them. If so, a little gentle prying is in
order as long as you don't make the interviewer too uncomfortable.
Once the interviewer has stated his concerns, use the opportunity
to answer with one of your previously thought out success stories
that illustrate your ability to meet or exceed his expectations.
If you've done your pre-interview homework and conducted a little
role-play practice, using these three types of questions in your next
interview will help you reach your career objective faster. Here's
hoping you get a chance very soon to try out all three of these types
of questions in an interview.
About the Author:
Deborah Walker, CCMC
Resume Writer ~ Career Coach
For more tips on resumes, job-search strategy and interview skills,
check out the article archive at my website: www.AlphaAdvantage.com
Email: Deb@AlphaAdvantage.com
Toll-free phone: 888-828-0814
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| From
the Forum: |
| Mac
Design Conference |
| Anyone here going to the Mac Design Conference
in Chicago? It goes from June 2-4 with pre-conference meetings
on June 1. Last year was the first year, and it was fantastic.
If you attend, let me know and maybe wou could get together
for a lunch....
|
|
By
Deborah Walker, CCMC