7 Questions to Ask in Your Next Job Interview

7 Questions to Ask in Your Next Job Interview 7 Questions to Ask in Your Next Job Interview     Ok, you landed  an  interview  at one of your top companies to work for! Great job.  Now,  I’d like to share  one of my  tried and true  interview  tips  before you get to the meetingâ€"ask  strong questions  in the interview.  Believe it or not, the questions  you  ask in an interview can help you OR knock you out of the running  for the job.       Before he became my client,  Joseph had an interview with the hiring manager  for a position he really wanted. He researched  the company, reread the job description, and brushed up on his top strengths and weaknesses. He was on time and did well during the interview…until the last 15 minutes. When  the manager  asked, “Joseph, what questions do you have for me?” he  wasn’t prepared to answer  this question and he  sabotaged his odds of winning this job.     When  I started working with  Joseph,  I developed  scenarios to  get him thinking differently.  These apply to anyone headed into a job interview.       Scenario #1:  Joseph  didn’t have any questions prepared. Mistake! Solution #1: Prepare your questions, write them down, and bring  them  with you to the interview.  As a matter of fact, show your interviewer that you have them written down and they will be impressed with your preparation.     Scenario #2:  Joseph asked, “What is the starting salary?” Mistake!  Solution #2:  Never  talk salary, even in ranges.  As a matter of fact, don’t ask anything financial in nature, such as benefits.  Your mission is to get an offer in hand. Once you do, you can ask questions and possibly negotiate, but not before.     Scenario #3: Joseph asked, “Is there a training program or structured on-boarding process?” Mistake!  Solution #3:  Think about the perception  you are  creating with your questions. In this case,  the interviewer  may  think:  â€œHe needs hand-holding and may be too high  maintenance for me. I need someone who knows how to do this.” If a training program is mentioned in the job description or on the company website, then it is appropriate to ask for more insights about the structure, length, etc.     Scenario #4:  Joseph asked, “What does your division or company do?” Really big mistake!  Solution #4:  It is still shocking how many job seekers ask this question. With the web, calling people you know, social media, and many other resources, there is no excuse  for not knowing what a company does.  Research what their department or division does, as well.  Tip: One of my  favorite resources is your local city’s Business Journal, both their online resources and the printed publication.  Find your city’s resource  here.       Ok, so what  are good questions  to ask in an interview?  Below  are my  top 7  questions  for you to ask in your next  interview. You won’t get to all  seven,  and you need to pick the right questions for the right audience,  so read carefully and choose the ones that are right for you.     I’m very self-motivated. How will you measure my success in this position after one full year?     The first 30 days are very important for me to meet as many team members as possible. How will you recommend I do that?     What are the top  three  skills or experiences you are looking for that may not be mentioned in the job description?     Of all the people who have worked for you, what are the characteristics of those who have stood out as great performers?   I have to admit I’m a perfectionist in some areas. What are the aspects of this position that absolutely require precision and attention to detail?   Of all  the criteria you have outlined for this position, what are the top  three  in stack rank order?     The position we are discussing is something I am very excited about.  Do I have your support to  proceed to the next level of the hiring process? (This is called “going for the close” or “asking for the order” in sales.)     As an experienced hiring manager and interviewer, I am impressed when a candidate brings out a piece of paper with their questions written out. It means they are prepared, thoughtful and thorough. It’s even better when they write down the answers I gave under each question! I know that’s the type of employee I want on my team and most hiring managers would feel the same.     Join Dana  Manciagli’s  Job Search Master Class ®  now  and get the most comprehensive job search system available!