Why it is important to ask questions during an interview

Another excellent post found at the Sodexo website:

http://pinterest.com/source/sodexocareersblog.com/

...on the importance of asking questions as part of an interview because of the impact it will have on the person you are being interviewed by.

If I were looking for a new job I would...ask good questions at the end of the interview.

By Guest Blogger, Marguerite Granat, Senior Recruiter with Sodexo

“If I were looking for a new job I would…” the 8th in a series of blog posts that will give you an opportunity to gain insight into the world of job seeking from a recruiter’s perspective.

Do you have any questions?

I’ve been asking this question to every candidate I interview at Sodexo.  You’re probably wondering why do the questions you ask have anything to do with your ability to do the job?

Because a good question from you is worth one hundred great answers. 

It shows me that:

• You’ve taken the time to come up with intelligent questions
• You’ve done your homework on our company
• You can think on your feet
• You’re up for the challenge
• You’re interested in the job
• You have a logical thought process

Here are some types of questions you might consider developing:

Performance expectations

These are questions about what will be expected of you in order to succeed in the role. Examples might be:

• How will my performance be measured?
• A year from now, if I met or exceeded your expectations, what would that look like?

Hiring Manager’s objections

Why would you ask for objections? Because this is probably your only chance to address them in a positive way. An example might be:

• Now that we have talked about my qualifications, do you have any concerns I might be able to address about my ability to perform in this role?

Asking for the job

These are reserved only after you’ve established rapport and believe that the interviewer has expressed positive interest in your background.  The interview is a sales transaction. A good sales person knows how to close the deal. These questions are designed to get you closer to an offer.

• Based on what I’ve heard today, the ideal candidate has accomplished X, has Y type of qualifications and has Z type of experience. Did I hear this correctly?
• You summarize your background emphasizing and matching it to the expectations of the role. At the end of your summary you ask, ”Is this the type of experience you’re looking for?”

By preparing a set of effective questions at the end of an interview, you can demonstrate your ability to do the job. So the next time you are looking for a new job, consider developing questions around performance expectations, Hiring Manager objections and asking for the job.

Are you now ready for, “Do you have any questions?