The Top Blogger

So the interview is progressing well, when your prospective employer asks you whether you have any questions. Although this sounds like a fairly simple question, if unprepared it’s possible for an interviewee to totally blank out and miss a great opportunity in distinguishing himself from other candidates.
This part of the interview should in fact be seen as an opportunity to stand out and leave a memorable impression on your interviewer.  Why? Because if handled professionally, the type of questions you ask will determine your level of enthusiasm for the job, your commitment and also your willingness to integrate quickly with the rest of the current workforce.

Studies indicate that interviewers often end up hiring a person when they are highly impressed with the type of questions he or she asked during the interview. It stands to reason then to give this part of the interview your best shot and be prepared well in advance for it.

Much has been said about the importance of preparing yourself thoroughly for an interview. This goes for the questions you’re going to ask as well.

Make the questions as original and memorable as possible. Open-ended questions are the best. This will give you the chance to really get to know your prospective employer as well as interact with the interviewer as much as possible. This in return shows confidence, interest and enthusiasm.

To get ideas about what questions you should ask, start out with a little bit of research on the history of the company and its activities.  Are their any gaps in the information you’ve gathered that you’d like your prospective employer to clarify? Why not mention a particular campaign that you liked and discuss this further?

It’s possible that some of the questions you had thought about will be answered by the interviewer in the first part of the interview. Be prepared to have at least 2 or 3 extra questions, just in case this happens. Never go to an interview and not ask questions. You will be perceived as introverted and lacking in enthusiasm to get the job.

If you’re unclear about the team that you’d be working with, probe further on this issue.  Asking the interviewer about future growth plans of the company indicates that you have vision and would potentially make a good employee. Most employers love talking about the future direction they want their company to take. This will also help you decide whether this job and company is really the right choice for you.  Why not discuss with the interviewer the greatest opportunities and threats that the company is facing?  

The secret with these questions is to show that you’ve really done your homework and that you’re enthusiastic to start working with the company.