Page 17 - 301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview, Second Edition

I N T RO DUC T ION

alert, and engaged—in other words, that you are the ideal solution to
the employer’s problem. This book will arm you with new interview
questions and techniques for selling yourself and getting the job you
want.

Welcome to 301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview. In rec-
ognition of the increasingly competitive job market, this book is
expanded with 100 brand-new questions designed to give you the
edge. A number of questions from the previous edition have been
retired. All the remaining questions have been polished and given
new power to make your candidacy shine.

A NEW DEFINITION OF QUESTION

First, let go of the conventional notion of what is considered a ques-
tion. In this book, I’m not talking about the dictionary definition of
the word: “An interrogative sentence, phrase, or gesture that calls for
a factual reply.”

In the context of job interviews, let me suggest this working defini-
tion of question:

An expression of inquiry that communicates your focused curi-
osity regarding the problem to be solved, confidence, practical
intelligence, coachability, and positive attitude that increases the
likelihood that you will be offered a job.

Notice the difference? It’s no longer about receiving information; it’s
about providing information.

It’s just a waste of time and opportunity for you to ask ques-
tions that have easily researched answers. Asking a question such
as “When was the company founded?” or “Who is the company’s
main competitor?” suggests to the interviewer that you may be curi-
ous, which is good, but proves that you are lazy, which will cost you
an opportunity to stand apart from other candidates. A visit to the
company’s website and an Internet search on the company’s name
would quickly have revealed the answers to both questions. Besides,
how does asking those two questions help you evaluate the job?

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