You've spent weeks or even months preparing for this moment. It seems like you completed hundreds of applications. You've incessantly bugged anyone with a heartbeat to read over your cover letters and practice answering interview questions. You're prepped. You're ready.
It's time to shine because today you have a job interview. You put on your most professional getup and you even brush your teeth! Armed with copies of your resume and references, you walk into the employer's office with confidence, shake the hiring manager's hand with the strength of a Titan, and nail the interview questions. The session is wrapping up nicely, but then the interviewer asks, "So, do you have any questions for me?"
A common mistake job seekers make is failing to bring a few good questions of their own to the interview.
"I find it hard to believe that people interview for jobs and don't have questions to ask," says Leslie, an HR manager in Virginia. "[Asking questions] shows that they are interested and want as much information as possible to make an informed decision." Equipping yourself with questions for the employer before you walk into an interview can put you ahead of your competition. Here are some tips for asking questions during a job interview:
- Research the company through their website. Check out company news or even how they are involved in the community so you can form solid questions. This shows employers that you have done your homework and are sincerely interested in the job.
- Ask open-ended questions. Questions that start with "who, what, when, where, and how" are great because they require more than a one-word answer. Avoid "yes" or "no" questions as much as you can.
- Don't ask questions about pay or benefits. Wait until the hiring manager brings up these topics.
- Have about three questions prepared. Here are the ones I usually keep in my back pocket:
- "What does a typical day or week look like in this position?"
- "What would success look like in this position?"
- "What are the biggest challenges someone in this position might face?"
Remember, you are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. Employers want you to be excited to work for them. Check out more interview tips – and good luck!
About Justin Ihara
I am 66 old years and deaf. I would like to work simple clean up hotel , assemble , stock
Walmart or Traget or Giant or clark and work part time . Thank you, Sharon
Hi Sharon, you may want to have a friend help you proofread your applications, spelling and grammar are critical to making a good first impression in a competitive work environment.
How do I handle my personal limitations when applying for a position? I have several physical issues/conditions which limit me. I cannot sit, stand, walk, stoop or bend for extended times; I have an lifting limit of 10 pounds; my hearing is weak, but not bad enough to get a hearing aid; I am prone to episodes of ‘fuzziness’ which victims call “Fibrofog.” I excel at customer service and am comfortable with it, but how do I oversome these limitations? Thank you so much!
Sue I would like to know the answer to that question also.
Sue says: How do I handle my personal limitations when applying for a position? I have several physical issues/conditions which limit me. I cannot sit, stand, walk, stoop or bend for extended times; I have an lifting limit of 10 pounds; my hearing is weak, but not bad enough to get a hearing aid; I am prone to episodes of 'fuzziness' which victims call "Fibrofog." I excel at customer service and am comfortable with it, but how do I oversome these limitations? Thank you so much!
Hi Sue!! I would really love to know the answer to those questions. I found out that all of the things going on with me is Fibro. I have the fog under control right now thankfully. I had to quit a great paying job because of memory issues. The job market here is fierce and I’m so afraid that if they find out I have Fibro among other things and not get hired because of that.
Here’s hoping that someone answers your question soon. I don’t know what I can say and what I can’t say when it comes to interviews.
To all who asked about limitations. Kencrest and Goodwill Industries are good places to start because they hire and train people with these issues.
Hi Im 17 years old looking for a summer job like any fast food restaurants.
Thank you , Ameli
Hi Ameli – You should apply online through our site or through the employer directly. They will probably not see your request here. You can use our keyword search to look for fast food restaurants in your area. Also, is this the email address you are using to apply for jobs? It may be holding you back. Try creating a new email that is simply your name. I think this article can help you: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/why-recruiters-care-about-your-email-address/.
Hi I am 18 years old , and I really need a job because I need money so that I can start saving up so I can move out of my moms house , start taking responsibilities on my own , get me a car and start up with college. But I won’t be able to do these things if I don’t get a job, and it’s been very hard for me to find a job. I really need help , I don’t know what too do anymore. Can you help me?
I am here to help! It sounds like you are very motivated and that can take you far. Here are some tips can that can help with your job search: http://tinyurl.com/76fzuze & http://tinyurl.com/7j8pgkd. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions!
Wish I’d had the sample list of questions with me when I interviewed yesterday. I couldn’t think of anything.
Bookmarking this page.
My question is I have 2 jobs interview and I don’t know which one to pick.. need help
Hi Francisco! You should go to both interviews. You never want to stop applying and interviewing until you have gotten the job offer.
Hi..
Can you help me accounts job.i have 4 years experienced with telecom & electornic sectors..
Hi there! Have you tried using our keyword search tool to find jobs in your area? http://www.snagajob.com/job-search. Good luck and let us know if you have any other questions!
HAI…DEAR SIR/MADA,….. I WOULD LIKE TO ASKING TO U , CAN U HELP ME AM LOOKING FOR THE JOB AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.AND I HAVE EXPERIENCE WORKING AS WAITERS AND AM LEARNING IN BARTENDER AS WELL. SINCE BEEN FOR 4YEAR IN HONGKONG. I WILLING TO LEARN AND DO HARD JOB. PLEASE… ! I BEG TO U TO HELP ME FULLY. COS SOON I WILL GOING BACK TO MY COUNTRY OF INDONESIA. AM READY TO INTERVIEW. MANY THANK AND GOODNESS. I WAITING ALWAYS FROM UR INFO .
Hi there! Snagajob lists job openings in the United States. Good luck with your job search! These tips can help: http://tinyurl.com/76fzuze & http://tinyurl.com/7j8pgkd.
Justin — Thanks for the sample questions. Finally had an interview last week and asked a few questions, but your variety was great. Still looking for work as an editor/writer in the journalism/entermainment fields where I have previously worked. Again, thanks.
I have a interview coming up for apprentice. I was wondering on how do i let them know that i am wanting this for me and that i can do this? I am not just no female.
Hi Andrea – Congratulations on being called in for the interview! I think these articles can help you: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/interview-mistakes/ and http://www.snagajob.com/resources/the-4-rules-to-rock-your-interview/. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
I am currently looking for other part time job. I’ve filled out applications through snagajob, but nothing
I do not know what to do. Help, I need another job.
Hi Erika! There are a few reasons why you may not be hearing back from employers. We just put together a video that explains more: http://youtu.be/JPDZF9ot0Kw. You may have made a spelling mistake on your resume. Employers tell us that this is their biggest frustration when reviewing resumes. Also, are you following up on your applications? Follow up is a very important step in the job search process, but is often overlooked. We hear from members who say they got hired BECAUSE they followed up. Let me know what you think and contact us if you have any questions!
What if I have 2 interviews and when I go to the first one, they offer me the job? help please! thanks!
Hi Rigo! That wouldn’t be such a terrible problem to have! If you are offered the position on the spot, ask them when they would need an answer by. It is okay to say you need a few days to think it over. If your second interview isn’t until a week or two later, then go with your gut. If you are absolutely certain that the first job would make a great fit, then cancel your second interview. I wouldn’t recommend turning down the job because you are waiting to see how the second interview goes.
You are ABSOLUTELY sure that questions # 1 & # 2 are acceptable across the board? Really? If I ever had the nerve to ask such an impudent question when interviewing for a
teaching position I could imagine being escorted out of the interview pretty quickly!! Wouldn’t
better advice be to offer a broad range of model questions that can be tapered and modified to the industry/indterview situations? Interviewers get intimidated pretty quickly, I’ve noticed, since most of them are looking for a quick way to process the highest number of jobseekers in the least amount of time. Is it for the interviewers benefit or ours to ask such an incisive pair of questions? These don’t seem to reflect all that positively as” Can you tell me what part of the job description you emphasize the most?” or other task related specifics. Thanks, though.
hi im sharise how are you today i would like to know is it any jobs hireing
Hi Sharise! Your best bet would be to get in contact with the employer directly, or to apply online. They will probably not see your blog comment. Also, you have a few spelling mistakes in your post. Be sure to double and triple check anything you send to a potential employer for mistakes. It is always a good idea to have someone you trust look over your applications. They may find something you missed!
What If you freeze up during the interview? What do do? I get nervous and start talking real fast
Hi Candace, great question. I think this article can help you: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/how-to-overcome-shyness-in-a-job-interview/. Let me know what you think!
Sharon,
I have to agree with Amy as far as grammer is concerned. It would look and sound better if you were to use commas in place of the repeated use of the word “or” between the names of your company prefrences. Now, with that being said, I would not recomend employment with Walmart. I was with that company for 3 1/2 years and they are not even close to being the respectable company they portrait to be to the public. They are very disrespectful, inconsiderate and sometimes flat out cruel to employees. The discriminate severely against women, they violate laws and safety regulations daily. I used to say that the devil signd my paycheck. I could go on and on but I will sum it up real quick. The short story of why I no longer work there is due to my department manager (supervisor) chase me with the forklift, yelling and cussing at me, with the forks scraping the ground. He came out of the fertilizer fence toward me, across the street in the parking lot, up and over the sidewalk, and into the fence where customers were shopping for flowers. Then he got off of the forklift and chased me through the outdoor flower area yelling and cussing the whole way until we came upon 2 other employees, then he turned and walked away quietly. I had 2 witnesses plus the door greeter saw or heard everything and were going to back me up when I went to report the incident. At the end of the day management called me to the back, said I was insubordinate and let me go. They would not even hear my side of what happened or my 3 eye witnesses either. So he acted as a criminal with a list of serious felonies toward me, I was fired and he still has a job. Anyway, I just thought I would share that with you before you end up in a bad kind of way. Just something to think about. Good luck to you in your search for work.
Here is my question. I have worked for the same company for the past 8 and a half years and just was recently terminated. However the conditions for me leaving the company were kinda bad. How do i deal with that in a an interview? I dont want to talk bad about the previous company.
Hi Sharon! You are correct, you do not want to bad-mouth your former employer. Check out this article, I think it can help: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/how-to-explain-being-fired/. Be sure to look at all the comments at the bottom, you may find a situation similar to yours. Good luck!
I had 17 yrs of extensive background in customer service in retail plus 5 yrs as medical receptionist. I relocated from NJ to FL & spent 3 more yrs as medical receptionist so I am very seasoned in this field. Having no problems brought to my attention & impecable attendance I was let go being told “business was slow & downsizing”> I quickly learned they had hired a replacement a wk b4 letting me go. That person stayed 3 months & left. This company has rehired people several times after letting them go. I saw an ad online for the company & applied with no response. Several months later they again advertised for another position & again I applied in person handing a resume to the same manager with no response. That manager wrote me an excellent reference letter & brought it to my house a week after I was terminated. Is there any labor laws in my defense? I have been actively looking for 12 months & going on interviews with no results. I have 4 reference letters with my resume including this last position & no results!! Getting very frustrated. I am a young 56 yr old. Is my age preventing me?
Hi Linda!
I am 57 with long list of work experience. The longer you stay most places the more you get paid. If the company is suffering because of the economy, they will most likely want to hire younger, more inexperienced people to pay less and save themselves money. I am having a horrible time finding a job!!! When you have made a decent salary in the past, they feel you won’t be happy at the salary they have to offer. I really feel that it is age and what I used to make that is the reason for my not finding a job. I also am a very young 57, I consider myself to be attractive and provide a very professional demeanor. I have a very strong work ethic (old school) and am a very honest and dedicated employee. My attendance record is outstanding (I don’t call in sick for a hangnail) and at this point, I am willing to take anything. I don’t get it!!
I have done all of the tips above prior to an interview: shutting off my cell, being 15 minutes early for interview; not chewing gum; dressing professionally; prepared with 3 copies of cover letter,resume & reference letters; mapping out directions in advance so I don’t get lost; asking questions; completely flexible in days & hours for a position. What is the problem? I have 17 yrs in a retail setting & 8 yrs as medical front desk. I am registered on several web sites, look on CL everyday (although some of them are scams!!) and have sent my resume blind to medical offices in my area in case they are looking to hire. What else can I do????
I worked for a hotel for over 12yrs and now i have no job. I worked as a Bellman/driver/valet. I am asking any body out there who would help me out because i am not good in computers at all.I have a family back in africa and its very hard for me to keep up.I would just need a job.
Hello, do you have an updated resume or multiples resume? There’s something in your resume that you might wanna changes. Hire a professional resume writter, is been working for me so far since I’ve decide to have 2 resume, 1 just sales associate job and the other is for Assistant Manager position.