The Worst Answer to Give in a Job Interview

Do you have any questions? When asked this question in a job interview, the worst answer you could possibly give is, "no." If that is your answer, you'll look unprepared, uninterested and uneducated. So how do you know what questions to ask? The best questions to ask usually stem from dialogue exchanged during the interview process, but in case this doesn't happen, come prepared with general business and/or position related inquiries.

To avoid sounding as though you did no previous research on the company, don't ask overly broad questions about the company's products, mission statement, etc. These types of questions should be easily answered through the company's website or a simple Google search. So instead fo adking generalalities, ask specific position and or business related questions.

Here's a short list of position related question you could consider taking with you to a job interview:

• What is the hiring process at your organization?
• With whom and how many would I be working in ______ department?
• Who would I report to and what would be my general duties?
• What are the opportunities for growth within the organization?
• What do you like best about your job?
• Describe a typical day for you.
• Does your organization offer any opportunties for professional development?
• In what way, if any, is the organization involved in the community?
• What are the projections for future change within the position and its department?

Comments

[reinkefj]

My recommendation is to come with three specially prepared about the company. (It has to be unique for each interviewer. Sometimes they check with each other.) While it should be keyed off the interview, but you can always fall back to your interview prep ones. I like one long range financial one (i.e., who is the company's bank so I can put my account there to make US more important to them), a medium term industry one (i.e., how does the company plan to grow US against it's competition), and a short term political one (i.e., does the company have a political action committee that I can contribute to that makes sure OUR positions are properly represented in the Congress). Note, I want to be part of the team and emphasize "them" versus "us". I have a large suite of "interview questions" (both what I expect be asked and what I expect to ask) that I prep with to be as prepared as possible. I try to be sure to ASK my three because they are really NOT questions but positioning within a "question".

Ferdinand J. Reinke
Kendall Park, NJ 08824

Webform that creates an urgent email => http://2idi.com/contact/=reinkefj
Web page => http://www.reinke.cc/
My blog => http://www.reinkefaceslife.com/
LinkedIn url => http://www.linkedin.com/in/reinkefj

[Lea]

Another question to add to that list:

What does success in this position look like?

The answer you get from the hiring manager can help you determine whether you can deliver the work required to be successful at this job. It's a key question that has impressed every hiring manager I've asked.

[Elizabeth Simmer]

I would like to add:

What is the unwritten rule in this company?

The answers I have gotten by asking this one question alone has revealed a myriad of successful company-think patterns and, at times, the underbelly of how the company actually works. The interviewers have actually liked answering this one because it lets them expound on their own discoveries.

[Arvind]

I worked in Federal for 11 months, I was dismissed,because of poor performance (which is not true), because i was on trial period and have come to know from several sources it is becuase of budget problem. Now when I appply in, in the preliminary interview they whay you been dismissed from federa and how are doing in any offer. What should i say to these questions.