Interview Technique

[emmelinemay]

Ok, so once I get a job interview, I seem to do pretty well. I read all about the company on their website beforehand where possible, and I'm smiley and bubbly and professional. I think carefully about their questions and answer them with a mixture of honesty and I'M REALLYGOODness.

I generally get pretty good feedback from interviews, but I'm not actually getting any jobs. I think one of the places I fall down on is asking questions.

They always ask you if you have any questions about the company or the role, and my mind just goes BLANK. I can never think of any good questions to ask.

So. What are good questions to ask? What should I avoid asking?

Comments

[sushidog.livejournal.com]

Good questions are things that allow you to show off the fact that you've done the research, and things which make you sound like a relaly good prospect for them to employ. SO thing like "I noticed your website talks about X, I was wondering if you could tll me a bit more about that as it's something I'm interested in", or asking about the possibility of in-job training, and perhaps eventual potential for moving up within the organisation.

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

eventual potential for moving up within the organisation

I worry about phrasing stuff like this - it might sound like you're looking for something bigger/better and might leave?

[jaketherat.livejournal.com]

I don't think that's as much of a turnoff as you might think. A lot of places will favour people who they think are ambitious, especially if the role isn't set in stone as they'll think of you as someone who can be developed. You could also ask about the potential for development and expansion within the role - if I'm still here in five years will I be doing the same thing, or is there room for growth?

[purplegril.livejournal.com]

WSS

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

Ah - I see. That is a really useful question then, and another honest one. I've been here nearly 3 years and have been doing the same thing pretty much the whole time, only with more and more work being heaped on me for the same pay.

[sushidog.livejournal.com]

I think if you phrase it as a long-term thing, and as looking at other opportunities within the organisation, it's fine. Obviously if it sounds like you're going to want to move on after six months, that's not good, but if you come across simply as wanting to develop your own skills in order to go for a promotion a few years down the line, it suggests you actually do have a commitment, and that you're not jus looking for drone work for a little while before you go off round the world or leave to have a zillion babies! :-)

[kathbad]

I always ask where the role could lead me within the organisation.

Shows that you have ambition and, if you accept based on their response, plan to move within the company.

It gives you a good insight into the structure of the company, and what they think you might be capable of.

Shows them that you are self confidant and thinking ahead too.

[crazymeandave.livejournal.com]

avoid asking them about the companies disciplinary policy regarding animal or child pornography.

avoid asking them about their leniency towards "sickies"

avoid asking them if it'd increase your chances of getting the job by showing them a bit of flesh.

:P

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

avoid asking them if it'd increase your chances of getting the job by showing them a bit of flesh
Damn, that's where I was going wrong!

[yaruar.livejournal.com]

I usually ask what is going on with the company in the next few years, if they have any plans, projects or directions, etc (usually based around what i've found out about them)
I also try to stress i'm loyal and ask what prospects there are for long term work in the company with growing the role available or moving to other roles in the company in the longer term.
I also ask what a typical working day can entail as they seem to like that question.

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

Ooh, good questions! I'd hire you :)

[lalajia.livejournal.com]

Second the "moving up" question - I always make it clear I'll be commited to the organisation, but ambitious, and hoping to develop and get promoted in due course!

Also, consider questions about benefits like gym membership, socialising opportunities (eg Christmas dinners, office lunches) as well, to show you've a life and will be a team player too.

(err, hi, btw, found you via my friend's friends list!)

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

Hello :)

The social aspect is a good question - and an honest one too. I'm tired of working in organisations where it's a HUGE effort to socialise with your colleagues.

[lalajia.livejournal.com]

I used to walk to work, and was always up for a post-5pm Friday pint. Every other bugger drove :(

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

We had loads of redundancies at the end of last year - all the people on the social committee were made redundant. No one wanted to organise an xmas party, so we didn't get one. Not that it mattered, we've always had to pay for our own anyway.

People write it off by saying 'it's a charity' but I've been applying for other roles in charities who have really good pay and benefits.

[mindygoth.livejournal.com]

Aye I was about to echo the whole, "asking about a typical day" question.

We've been interviewing people, and I like that as a question from a potential candidate.

The one that amused me most, and left me feeling like I'd been interviewed instead, was one candidate who asked me what it was that kept me with the company (as I've been here nearly 10 years).

[androktone.livejournal.com]

One you should ask, althoug it probably won't do you any favours, is "How is your company placed to weather the current global financial downturn? Is the company in the black or the red? What strategies have you got in place to ensure sustainability in the face of a credit freeze, increasing oil and food prices, and mounting economic presure from the East?"

And also about their environmental policies. I'm shocked by how much recyclable paper is thrown away, still, in all the places I've worked.

Things you need to know.. although when you're interviewing you're playing a game, and actually quizzing the compnay on whether they're a responsible employer is probably agaisnt the rules.

[publicansdecoy.livejournal.com]

The questions I asked at my recent (successful) interview were:

1. What would my salary be?
2. When will I hear if I've got the job?

Apparently it's also good to ask about training and development opportunities too.

-x-

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

I always thought asking what the salary would be was a no-no!

[jimthegoth.livejournal.com]

If possible I discuss salary at the very last moment. Hiring someone is a time consuming and expensive process. Let them offer you the job if possible before negotiating salary.

[publicansdecoy.livejournal.com]

I obviously managed to compensate for it elsewhere!

-x-

[kathbad]

I would wait until they had offered me the job, and then ask. That is when you are in your strongest negotiating position - in order to make the most of it write down what you would like ideally, what you would be happy with, and what is the lowest you would move for.


Done that?

Now. Make absolutely sure that you do not accept less than the middle number - we all undervalue ourselves, and if you ask for the middle number you are very likely to get it.

Worst case scenario, they know that you value yourself at the middle number and will know that they have a valuable asset on board.

[juliet]

I'm really interested in (X), how much would I be able to be involved in that? (obv this only works if the job you're applying for isn't "organiser of X"...)

[hsb.livejournal.com]

I like "what do you like about working here?". Extremely useful if you have multiple interviews, as you can ask the practical stuff in the first round, but at second round (or in the case of my current job, at third try of getting into the company), I often get stumped. This gives you a simple easy question that can be quite revealing. I chose not to take the job where they side-stepped the question.

Also, do not turn up with a list of questions on paper and pull it out when they ask you, the interviewer will have The Fear that the interview is about to overrun massively. But it is ok to ask questions by email if you think of something afterwards, as long as it's straightforward and factual. Shows you are still thinking of them

H

[jimthegoth.livejournal.com]

I ask about a typical working day too, also if you ask what the company atmosphere is like it lets them show off that they are very friendly and nice.

Once I had someone tell me that their company was great....

'We are pretty blokey here, we talk about football and women, we also usally all go drinking with each other. It's great!'

I think that my face went into spasms of disgust here was a contributing factor to me not getting that job. :)

[purplegril.livejournal.com]

He he he, I probably would've cried and run out of the room right then!

[purplegril.livejournal.com]

Seconding all the suggestions that you ask about progression. You can phrase it about looking for a long term career in (whatever they do) and that you're interested to know what develpment and training opportunities they have. That gives them loads to talk about if they're a decent place too, and if they don't have much to say, probably not a very good job. I went on and on about career progression in my interview here cos I was in such a sucky dead-end job the one before this :D

Socialising question gets very varies responses and I've sometimes regretted asking.

I like to ask really boring things - dress code and that kind of thing. Gives you a bit of an idea of the company and how it works without being any kind of dodgy question (I wouldn't specifically ask if a piercing was OK or anything, just what their general policy is). I tend to ask what hours people work (as opposed to what the contracted hours are) because I find that really helpful. Whether this helps you get the job or not and whether they'll answer truthfully are completely different matters!

I love the idea of asking the interviewer what they like about working there, that's definitely a goodun.

I might ask about how easy it is to get involved in projects outside of the scope of the job (using info off the site for what they actually do) and so on.

[jez-alone.livejournal.com]

Second everyone...
I also ask about the client, the good/the bad (but that could relevant to my line of work and not what you are applying for)

I also ask if they feel there is any reason they wouldn't hire me. I know it sounds like an odd one, but it gives you the chance to address any weaknesses/issues they may have with you or your experience.

I also ask about the ethos of the company. If they company stands for something (like at TEQUILA\ it was Disruption) how does that come alive in the way that they treat their people, do business, etc.

I have also looked at direct competitor sites (of clients usually) and ask about how they feel about what their competitors are doing. It can make them feel that you are not only interested in getting a job, but that you are interested in the field as a whole. It's proactive.

[ephemera.livejournal.com]

from a recent post to a mailing list that I saved because it seemed to contain Good Information:

Is this a newly created position or will I be taking over from someone else?
What does your orientation/training involve?
What kinds of personalities will you be working with; coworkers, people who
report to you, clients (as applicable).
If you are being considered for the position, can you meet the people you'd
be working before making your decision?

Are there any issues in the workplace to be aware of? I use this one. It
has been a very useful question to me and I've gotten some surprisingly
honest answers. Best to communicate it in a way that you say existence of
issues in the workplace won't necessarily dissuade you from taking the job;
you simply prefer to be aware of them in advance.

[sera-squeak.livejournal.com]

In the same vein as this:

Is this a newly created position or will I be taking over from someone else?

you could ask whether there will be a handover period (if you're replacing someone else).

[missfrost.livejournal.com]

As a couple of people have already mentioned, I often ask the interviewer/s how long they've been there and whether they like the company. And/or whether most people in the department have been there a long time.
Also how the vacancy arose, unless they've covered that. Are you replacing someone who's left or been promoted, or is it a newly created role?
It's useful to remember an interview is a two way thing - you have to know if you want to work there too!

[flywingedmonkey.livejournal.com]

A good, if slightly risky, question to ask is

"From everything I've said so far do you think there are any gaps in my skills that we could address?"

Its a bit blunt but (particularly in competancy based interviews which are pretty inflexible) it does give you a chance to put worries to rest.

Also

"What do YOU think the best thing about working for the company are?"

"I've read the job speck but what do you consider the immediate key priorities in the post?"

Plus what a lot of people have said above.

JmC
Asking the big questions

[annomalley.livejournal.com]

After my recent interview, I was told that my downfall was answers being "scattered", and while I thought I'd shown I could think on my feet it apparently made me look more nervous than I was because they expected me to reel out pre-prepared answers to most questions. I haven't had much experience with interview so didn't prepare for it to that "by rote" degree. I imagine the same goes for questions, don't expect to come up with them on the day, prepare them. I read somewhere you should prepare 15 questions (because a lot of them are likely to be answered in the course of the interview) - 5 about the job, 5 about the company and 5 about the interviewer.

[miss_squiddy]

I always take a portfolio in a slimline A4 folder with me so I can show them what I've done when they ask - copies of adverts I've put together, published editorials, leaflets we've produced, certificates for in-house training (it might be awful, but it looks impressive when it's all together), newsletters and all that stuff. You should do one with the articles about brownies and the photos from the play you were in, the rollergirls sponsorship deal etc, etc - it shows that you really do get this stuff done!