Page 20 - 301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview, Second Edition

I N T RO DUC T ION

HOW THIS BOOK IS ORGANIZED

The book has three sections. Part I discusses the rules for asking the
best questions. Chapter 1, “Why You Have to Question,” reviews
why it is imperative to have questions and offers some guidelines for
asking questions in the strongest way possible. Chapter 2, “Questions
You Should Never Initiate,” tells you what subject areas to avoid.
Chapters 3, 4, and 5, “When to Question,” “Do Your Homework,”
and “Do You Mind if I Take Notes?” deal with the issues of timing,
research, and note taking, respectively.

Part II lists most of the 301 best questions promised in the title.
These are the questions you will use to form the basis of the ques-
tions you ask in your next job interview. Some questions are most
appropriate for different types of interview situations. Chapter 6
lists questions to ask headhunters, recruiters, and staffing agencies.
Chapter 7 has questions for human resources personnel. And Chap-
ter 8 provides questions to ask hiring managers.

I hope you find Part III especially useful. It deals with the most
common job interview scenarios and recommends killer questions
for each. For example, Chapter 9, “Exploring Questions,” looks at
questions that demonstrate your interest in the job and the company.
Chapter 10, “Defensive Questions,” helps protect you from taking
the wrong job. Chapter 11, “Feedback Questions,” focuses on ques-
tions that allow the interviewer to identify objections so you can deal
with them. Chapter 12, “Bid-for-Action Questions,” suggests phras-
ings so you can actually ask for the job, an important step that most
candidates miss.

Chapter 13, “Questions for Superstars,” lists the boldest questions
that only the most highly qualified candidates can get away with.
But since you are highly qualified, these questions may be appro-
priate for you to ask as well. Chapter 14, “You Got the Offer. Con-
gratulations!” deals with the happy outcome that you have received
an offer and you want the job. Naturally you have many questions.
Chapter 15, “You Blew the Interview. Now What?” looks at the near
certainty that at least some of your interviews will not go well. Don’t

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