Page 122 - 301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview, Second Edition

QUESTIONS FOR HIRING MANAGERS

TEN BEST QUESTIONS TO GET TO THE
NEXT STEP

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Have you already identified staff members who are stars and are in line
for promotion?
If there are internal candidates, it’s fair to have a conversation
about that. Internal candidates are usually advantaged in the hiring
process.

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From all I can see, I’d really like to work here, and I believe I can add
considerable value to the company. What’s the next step in the selec-
tion process?
Express continued interest, ask for the job, and establish a time
frame for the next step. A good follow-up: What is the next course of
action? When should I expect to hear from you or should I contact
you?

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Well, I think it’s pretty clear that I would love to work for you. Please
tell me, what are my next steps?
This is not quite a hard close but more a “feeler” to your interviewer.
What you hope for is an acknowledgment that the interviewer wants
to work with you, too, and is on your side to make it happen. More
likely, what you will get is a tentative “we have a process to go through
and we’ll let you know.” That’s fine. Your point has been made.

8-64
How long do you think it will take to make a decision about me, and is
there anything I can do to help you make it?
This is an attempt to get closure on the process. In most cases, the
company has a process to go through and there’s nothing more you
can contribute. But in some cases, the interviewer will ask for addi-
tional information that flowed out of the interview.

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