Page 22 - 301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview, Second Edition

PART I

THE RULES OF
THE GAME

The interviewer’s most critical question in a job
interview is often the last one.

The interviewer’s last question typically (but not always) comes
late in the job interview. That’s when the interviewer smiles, leans
forward, and says: “Now, do you have any questions for me?”

Don’t let the smile fool you. This is a serious moment in the
interview. Your response at this point often determines whether
you get screened out or continue on as a viable candidate. If
you handle the situation right, what you do at this point may
tip the decision in your favor.

Some people say there is no such thing as a dumb question,
only dumb answers. No interviewer believes that. As this book
aptly demonstrates with examples of questions that applicants
have asked in actual job interviews, magnificently dumb ques-
tions are asked every day. By the same token, applicants can
ask brilliant questions too. It doesn’t take that much more
effort to ask a brilliant question than a dumb question. So you
have a choice. You can be remembered for asking really dumb
questions, boring questions, no question at all, or truly amaz-
ing questions. It’s your choice.

This book prepares you for the most neglected part of the job
interview: the opportunity for you to ask questions. Part I out-

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