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Interviewee Questions for Interviewers

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6 replies

by billmannion

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I have the inside track on a position before it is released to the street. I have already gotten past the phone interview and will be having the first in-house next week. Things are going well, but I have been here before. I have noticed that once before I got this far, but determined that I have a small snag in my interviewing skills.

I need questions to ask the interviewer that will make them remember me. I managed to have the interviewer?s ?light bulb? go off in the once or twice, but alas not enough to beat out the competition. I ask about the company, hiring managers and department goals. I ask about both tactical and strategic projects within the department. I keep away from the personal questions of what type of working environment and such. What else am I missing?

Any ideas?

6 replies

by hal 9000

I've always found that if I want to leave a lasting impression on an interviewer after I go through all the usual company questions like goals and objectives and I think that I need to make a point I just ask "ANd why do you think that I should work for you?"
In most cases it putts the interviewer on the back foot and makes them realise that they are not in control of the sisuation.
When I used to conduct interviews I only had one person ask this question and I hirred him but you have to be able to pull it off and not look too desperate.

by ghstinshll

Or too cocky...!

If done at the right time and in the right mood, then this is a useful question... Other variants might be "What do you think about my fit into this position, off the top of your head?" This will open a frank dialogue about you and your position in the interview, and allow the manager to give you some feedback on your interview skills. This is a rare question, and not one to just throw around, to be used lightly...

by hal 9000

But it is effective provided that you can pull it off in the right manner and at the right time. The trick is not to come across as too flipant or condesending to the interviewer but it did put me on the back foot when asked to me at one interview that I was running.

As I said from experience most people at interviews are hungry for the job and it doesn't hurt to let the intervierer know that they arn't always in control, but then again it all depends on the interviewer as if it is for something like a Government Job it would never work as they think they are only answerable to God and not even the current Government has any real maening to them. But in the private sector it is a different story mostly but again it all depends on the interviewer doesn't it?

by judyhpc

Hi,
TechRepublic has published a few stories relating to this topic and I wanted to share them in case you had missed them:

1. Bob Artner's list of questions he'd like to ask in the next hiring interview
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5100-6314-1054031.html

2. Members share interview questions that demand meaningful answers
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5100-6314-5034338.html

3.Ask potential employers the right questions to ensure a good fit
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5100-6316-1057828.html

4.How to get the most out of informational interviews
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5100-6316-5034897.html

Hope these help,
Judy Mottl
TR Career Editor

by judyhpc

Hi,
TechRepublic has published a few stories relating to this topic and I wanted to share them in case you had missed them:

1. Bob Artner's list of questions he'd like to ask in the next hiring interview
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5100-6314-1054031.html

2. Members share interview questions that demand meaningful answers
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5100-6314-5034338.html

3.Ask potential employers the right questions to ensure a good fit
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5100-6316-1057828.html

4.How to get the most out of informational interviews
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5100-6316-5034897.html

Hope these help,
Judy Mottl
TR Career Editor

by maxwell edison

I've discussed different variants of the same sort of question, and I always fall back on the same sort of answer.

The person doing the interviewing isn't there to give you anything, but rather to fill a need the company has. They are looking for that one person who can give them whatever is necessary to fill that need. Do your homework. Do as much research on the company as possible. Who are their customers? What are their products? What services do they provide and for whom? How does your future position fit into filling that need? How can you uniquely fill that specific need?

I think too many people give the wrong impression in interviews. Too many people give the impression that they care more about, "What can you do for me", instead of "What can I do for you".

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