Page 142 - 301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview, Second Edition

CHAPTER 9

EXPLORING QUESTIONS

SHOW YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE JOB
AND LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD

Exploring questions probe for details about the job, company, man-
agement, and people you would be working with. Even more, these
questions demonstrate that you have invested in researching the
company. This levels the power between you and the interviewer,
who now is uncertain about how much you already know about the
company. As a general rule, approach these questions about prod-
ucts, customers, and processes as a consultant would. You are the
expert engaged in an informational interview so that you can render
an expert opinion.

Of course, no one would ever ask all these questions in one job
interview, but you want to get a good understanding of four aspects:
the job, the people, the management, and the company. Before your
next interview, select four or five of these questions and reword them
to meet the unique requirements of the individual interview.

Susan Cucuzza, founder of Bay Village, Ohio-based Live Forward
LLC (www.liveforward.us.com), provides executive leadership and
coaching. “When I counsel clients who are in transition, I empha-
size the importance of asking great exploring questions on the job
interview. From my experience in HR, I know firsthand how candi-
dates who ask great questions are set apart from those who don’t,”
Cucuzza says.

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