Ask the Right Questions

If you do not ask questions, it will appear as if the opportunity is not important to you. Prepare at least ten questions, and try to ask about five of them. Usually, some of your questions will be answered as you talk.

Monster.com suggests these six must-ask questions:

• What happened to the person who previously did this job? (If a new position: How has this job been performed in the past?)

• Why did you choose to work here?  What keeps you here?

• What is the first problem the person you hire must attend to?

• What can you tell me about the individual to whom I would report?

• What are the company's five-year sales and profit projections?

• What's our next step?

Anticipating Questions

There are some questions that almost always pop up during interviews. Learn about some of the most common, then prepare for them.

Typical interview questions:

• What are your long-range goals and objectives?

• What are your short-range goals and objectives?

• How do you plan to achieve your career goals?

Some questions are designed to access your strengths and weaknesses. Other than asking you that directly, the interviewer may ask:

• How do you think a friend or professor who knows you well would describe you?

Other questions are designed to gain a better understanding of your past experiences.

For example:

• Describe a situation in which you had to work with a difficult person (another student, co-worker, customer, supervisor, etc.). How did you handle the situation? Is there anything you would have done differently in hindsight?

• In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?

• How do you work under pressure?

• Describe a situation in which you worked as part of a team. What role did you take on? What went well and what didn't?

Some questions do not have right or wrong answers—they are designed to assess your critical thinking skills. Throw in sizzle phrases when you can, including being a team player, finishing projects, being creative, cost savings, creating revenue and having a positive attitude.

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