Page 193 - 301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview, Second Edition

THE QUESTION LIFE CYCLE

? Memorably Good Question
#22

What immediate problem would I need to solve, and would
you give me the opportunity to come back to you in two days
with my solution?

This project proposal is an example of unconventional thinking
that employers will find hard to resist. Let’s say the candidate
is interviewing with an airline marketing executive. When
asking what problem the exec is facing, the exec might say:
“We’re having trouble attracting the growing market of women
business travelers.”

The candidate offers to return with a brief, concrete
proposal to reach this market. This takes creative research and
thinking, and the candidate brings back good ideas of how he
or she will tackle the problem via public relations, advertising,
and unique perks tailored to women businesspeople, such as
special in-flight phone privileges; healthy menus; discounted
“baby-sitter” fares for women leaving young children at
home; special offers at health clubs and gyms nationwide for
women travelers; promotions to women’s executive, business,
or industry associations; and so on. If the candidate worries
that his or her ideas will be appropriated, the risk is worth it
because the candidate is showing exactly how he or she will
go to work to help the harassed employer.

Ruth Shapiro
Vice President and Founding Member
Career Counselors Consortium
Ruth Shapiro Associates
New York, NY

13-8
Does your company offer any “wow!” benefits? Does it pay for advanced
degrees? Does it offer paid sabbaticals? On-site child care? Relocation
packages? Mentor programs? How are these superior to those of your
competitors? What about job sharing? Flex-time arrangements? Tele-
commuting? Workout facilities?

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