Page 162 - 301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview, Second Edition

DEFENSIVE QUESTIONS

From the Field

Eight Great Defensive Questions from Diane Asyre

Diane Asyre, owner of Asyre Communications, an employee
communications consultancy in St. Louis, Missouri, has lots
of experience with hiring. Over the years she has collected a
number of great defensive interview questions. Here’s what
Diane says about these questions.

Keeping in mind the current business climate, the fol-
lowing are questions that I think employees should con-
sider asking during an interview. These are the type of
questions that can make the person asking them, as well
as the person answering them, a bit uncomfortable. Yet
doing some homework about the job in advance of the
interview, along with a sincere tone and friendly phras-
ing, is essential. The point is that failing to ask one or
more of these questions may put a job seeker in an even
more uncomfortable situation after he or she becomes
an employee.

1. Are any current or previous employees being con-
sidered for the job that I’m interviewing for?

2. Are there any areas of your business that appear to
be safe, or that might even benefit, from the state
of the economy?

3. Are there any legal issues that I, or the company
overall, will need to deal with in the near or distant
future that you can tell me about?

4. How often does the company make changes to its
benefits plan? Do you know how the benefits plan
might change in the next twelve months?

5. Are any large-scale changes planned for the com-
pany such as an acquisition, a merger, or the elimi-
nation of a location or certain jobs?

6. Are there any requirements for this job that might
include education or travel at my own expense?

continued

141