By Tatiana Varenik

1. Could you describe a typical day/week in this position? The typical client/customer I would be dealing with? How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured? These questions not only show your interest in the position, but also help you to clearly understand your role and the tasks that you would be expected to undertake.

2. Can you tell me about the opportunities for learning and development? or What is the company’s policy on providing training, seminars and workshops so employees can keep up their skills or acquire new ones? This will help you to understand where the job might lead and what skills you might acquire. It also indicates that you are ambitious and thinking ahead.

3. What are the skills and attributes you value most for someone being hired for this position? or Do you have any questions or concerns about my ability to perform this job? From the answer to this question you will understand if you fit the position. If they say that you are lacking in some key skill then you can move into objection handling mode and point out some relevant experience or a countervailing strength.

4. If from the company’s web site you’ve learned some information about new products, new stores, hiring or laying people off, etc., you can ask about it. For instance, What can you tell me about your new product or plans for growth? or I’ve heard the company X laid off a number of employees. So, what is the biggest challenge facing the organization today? The answer gives you a bigger picture of where the company is going to as far as its strategies and it proves that you are interested in more than just “Nine to five” job. It can lead to interesting discussions that can show you in a good light – especially if you have done some intelligent preparation. But do not ask questions that are clearly answered on the employer’s web site and/or in any literature provided by the employer to you in advance. This would simply reveal that you did not prepare for the interview, and you are wasting the employer’s time by asking these questions.

5. After answering interviewer’s questions you might also want to ask about his/her personal insight. For example, What attracted you to work for the company? or What opportunities did you have during your career? People often like talking about themselves and if you can get your interviewer talking you can make a good impression and learn useful and interesting things.

6. Also a good strategy to use is to ask the interviewer to summarize something for you. For example, you can ask:

• In your opinion, what are the three most important changes that this company is making right now?
• What do you consider to be your firm’s most important assets?
• What does this company value the most and how do you think my work for you will further these values?

These types of questions show an interviewer that you take the position very seriously and want to understand the company strategies and how you personally can help.

Many candidates take a passive role during the interview. They competently answer the questions that are put to them but never take the initiative to ask a question. Sometimes, a relevant question will come to you during a conversation. Don’t be afraid to ask it then. Asking a relevant question can spark a related conversation during which you can demonstrate more of what you have to offer and will significantly increase your chances of being offered the job.