Only one in three job applicant asks questions on a job interview, according to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey. Yet, hiring managers expect all applicants to come prepared with them, says career coach Robin Kessler, author of Competency-Based Interviews. “When you don’t ask questions, interviewers assume you’re not that interested in the position. What’s more, questions can show what a great employee you’ll be.” For instance, to demonstrate that you…
* Plan to work hard right from the start, ask: “When you think of the person who did this job the best, can you tell me what impressed you about their first few months at the company?”
* Have great listening skills, ask: “I’d like to learn a little more about [pick a topic that the interviewer mentioned, such as the company’s goals or its current challenges] that you were talking about earlier.”
* Are passionate about the position, ask: “I really like what I’ve heard so far and would like to learn more details about the job. What would a typical work day be like?”
[photo: jeremyfoo]
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Thanks so much for this one. I always get the feeling they want me to ask more questions at interviews, but I usually blank out at the point that they ask!
When I think back to all the job interviews I went on that ended with the interviewer asking, “So, do you have anything you’d like to ask?” and me replying brightly, “Nope. I think you covered it all quite thoroughly!” I shudder with embarrassment.
Ditto!