Questions to Ask the Interviewer
Do you need to brush up on your interview skills? Ford shares some great questions to ask the interviewer in this month’s blog.
Here are some great questions to ask the interviewer.
Tracy Davidson:
Ford is going to share some great questions to ask the interviewer. One of the biggest and perhaps most important steps in the job process is the interview. Although you might think that the employer is the one asking all the questions, that’s actually anything but. Joining me now is Ford R. Myers. He’s a career coach and author of “Get The Job You Want, Even When No One Is Hiring.”
Ford R. Myers:
That’s right.
Tracy Davidson:
People are starting to hire now, but some are struggling to get hired. Tell me about the one mistake you say people make.
Ford R. Myers:
The biggest mistake, Tracy, is that they don’t prepare. They don’t get ready. They don’t do their homework. Consequently, they don’t show-up ready to ask great questions.
Tracy Davidson:
You say you have to ask questions.
Ford R. Myers:
Yes, you have to. The worst possible thing you can do is when the interviewer says, “So, do you have any questions for us?” … and you say, “Nope.” That’s the worst possible thing you could do.
Tracy Davidson:
You’re out the door.
Ford R. Myers:
Exactly. They won’t even consider you if that’s your response, when they’re looking for you to ask intelligent questions.
Tracy Davidson:
Let’s talk about the 10 questions that you say we should ask. First, “Can you give me more detail about the position’s responsibilities?
Ford R. Myers:
Yes, exactly. Look, you’re there to learn. The first interview is about gathering information and finding out if you’re a good fit. So you need to ask about the responsibilities; the duties of the position.
Tracy Davidson:
And where the position is going to go in the next few years and, and how you can quickly become a strong contributor?
Ford R. Myers:
Yes, that’s really big. You see, you want to find out how you can hit the ground running. How can you really be a strong contributor to this organization? How can you add value? This is what the interviewer really wants to know.
Tracy Davidson:
Right, because they want you to come and help them. It’s not about you. It’s about helping them, right?
Ford R. Myers:
Exactly right.
Tracy Davidson:
Another question could be, “What are the most challenging aspects of the job for which I am being considered?”
Ford R. Myers:
Yes, you want to get right to the heart of it. What are really going to be the biggest challenges? What has the company struggled with? Having these answers allows you to start to formulate how you can make the greatest contributions.
Tracy Davidson:
You also want to ask about how you’ll be evaluated. Then you say that you should ask, “What aspects about my background and experience interested you.” Because you want to know what has piqued their interest to get you there in the first place, right?
Ford R. Myers:
Exactly. This gives a sort of permission for the interviewer to speak about you positively, to start nodding their head and feeling like, “Yes, this really is a good candidate.” So we get the employer to articulate what your value is, and then you practically have the offer.
Tracy Davidson:
Right, because you also get them to talk about how you could be successful there. So it’s coming out of their mouth already, right?
Ford R. Myers:
Exactly.
Tracy Davidson:
Other questions you recommend include, “How do I measure-up to other candidates?” Then, “Where are you in the hiring process?” I know everyone says never leave without asking, “What’s the next step?”
Ford R. Myers:
People make the mistake of saying, “Well, I hope to hear from you. Thanks for having me.” No! It has to be, “Where are we in the process? What’s the next step? When may I get back in touch with you to move the ball forward?”
Tracy Davidson:
These are great questions, but what should a person who is going in for the interview do with these questions? Should they write them all down or should they just try to remember the concepts?
Ford R. Myers:
That’s a great question. I think that it’s good to write them down in advance, maybe take a little cheat sheet with you into the interview. But you certainly don’t want to sit at the interview reading the questions! The questions have to seem like “second nature.” Preparation is key. If you prepare and memorize those questions, then you’ll be very comfortable when the interview actually happens.
Tracy Davidson:
Excellent. Thanks for coming in. This is a great book and we loved learning about great questions to ask the interviewer.
Ford R. Myers:
It’s my pleasure! Thanks, Tracy.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN REINVENTING YOUR CAREER
Learn more at https://www.CareerPotential.com, or contact Ford directly at 1-610-649-4343 or contact@careerpotential.com.
Click here for your complimentary career consultation: https://careerpotential.com/free-career-breakthrough-session/
Click here to subscribe to the Career Potential YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFTi0JQltxlKD6_YFAUhwYQ?sub_confirmation=1
About Ford Myers
Ford R. Myers is an award-winning career coach and President of Career Potential, LLC. He is author of the best-seller, Get The Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring. Ford’s firm helps clients take charge of their careers, create the work they love, and earn what they deserve! He has held senior consulting positions at three of the nation’s largest career service firms. Ford’s articles have appeared in thousands of publications and web sites, and he has been interviewed on every major television and radio network. Ford has also conducted presentations at hundreds of companies, associations and universities. Learn more at https://careerpotential.com.
Your e-mail address is safe with us! We will not share it with anyone else. See our detailed Privacy Policy.
