How To Get The Job You Really
Really Want - The Interview - You've Got Questions Too!
I
have talked at some length about some of the questions that can crop
up in an interview. I hope you will find the techniques useful in
your job search. They are proven, and if employed correctly, will
help ensure you make a good impression. However, another sure-fire
way of helping create the right impression, is to make sure you have
questions you can ask the interviewer.
Now, if you think I mean, "Where's the car park?",
then think again! You have to have a series of questions that
relate to the situation you are in. Yes, you do need to know
operational issues like the car parking, when pay-day is and what
the lunch arrangements are. But, what the hell use are the answers
to those questions if you are not going to be offered the job? Good
point.
So, the point here is to make sure you have questions
prepared that are concerned with the job itself. I have
mentioned many times, the interview should be as conversational as
possible, and asking questions of your own is a certain way to make
that happen. So you should have prepared questions about the
company's products, the way the department works, the company's
performance, the programming standards of the IT department, what
sales techniques the Sales Manager prefers. In short, whatever is
important to:-
* The day to day running of the potential
job.
* The company's standards and practises.
It is also worth using questions which further probe
points being discussed during the interview. For example...
"Oh, that's interesting, how exactly does this work
in ABC?" These questions are designed to gain further information,
and should always be asked beginning with;-
-
Who
-
What
-
How
-
Why
-
When
-
Where
These words on the front of questions make them very
powerful. They will be extremely effective in gaining extra
information for you. They will also make the interviewer feel that
you have taken a keen interest in the job on offer, and make you
seem like a person with excellent people skills. At it's most
simple level, people skills are really all about getting others to
talk about themselves and their situations. These techniques are
very powerful, and will be another major advantage for you, over the
competition.
So, to conclude, have your operational and company
information gathering questions prepared, and make use of further
"subsequent" questioning during the interview. The other benefit of
using questions is simple. It will cut down the amount of talking
you have to do during the interview as well!
Next Page -
Types of
Interview
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