How to Prepare for an Interview II

Part one covered questions you may be asked in an interview, and now part two will give you some questions you should ask your potential employer at an interview. So often we forget that as the company is interviewing us, we’re also interviewing them. Just as the company wants to know if you will be a good fit for them, you need to know if they will be a good fit for you. Below are some questions you may want to pose at the end of the interview when the inter-viewer asks, "Now, do you have any questions for us?"

• What are the day-to-day responsibilities of the position?
• What are your company’s strengths and weaknesses compared to your competition?
• Can you describe the ideal employee?
• What kind of work can I expect to be doing during the first year?
• Could you describe your company’s management style?
• Have people in this position had opportunities to advance within the organization?
• What is your company’s position on providing professional development opportunities
  for employees to keep up their skills or acquire new ones?
• Does the company plan to expand in the coming year?
• What will be the greatest challenge of this job?
• What are some examples of achievements of others who have held this position?
• What are the traits and skills of employees who have been successful within this organization? Why did you come to work here? What keeps you here?
• What happened to the last person who held this position?
• What can you tell me about the individual to whom I would report?
  (Sources Used: http://www.vt.edu/; http://www.monster.com/; http://www.pohly.com/

Hope Harris-Gayles, M.Ed

How to Prepare for an Interview I

If your resume has done its job, then you should be on your way to an interview. It's important to prepare as best you can for your initial meeting with a potential employer. Here are some of the questions you will likely be asked (these questions were originally submitted by Janna Spencer in the May 2008 edition of the newsletter of the Southern VA Higher Education Center).

• Tell me about yourself
• What do you know about our company?
• Why should we hire you?
• What can you do for us that someone else cannot?
• What do you look for in a job?
• What skills & qualifications are essential for success in the position of ____?
• How does this assignment fit into your overall career plan?
• What are your strengths/weaknesses?
• Why are you looking for a new career? How would your colleagues describe you?
• What are some of the accomplishments in your career so far?
• Can you work well under deadlines or pressure?
• How much do you expect if we offer you this position?
• Why do you want to work for us?
• What other positions are you considering?
• What are your career goals?
• What questions didn't I ask that you expected?

The final question leads us to the next post: Questions you'll want to ask the interviewer. 

Are there other questions you've been asked during an interview? What was the best or worst question you were asked during an interview? Let's get the dialogue started! :)