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Job Interview Questions
2 years ago  ::  Dec 09, 2007 - 7:46PM #1
Lauren
Posts: 450

That can be such a difficult one! What I began to do was write down questions based on the job description and what I knew of the company - possibly incorporating what I had done at other jobs that might have been similar. Then, I brought this notepad with me to the interview. When it came time and they posed the, "Do you have any questions?" I could pull this out - or I would have it out and make notes during the interview. If all of my questions were answered and no new ones popped up, I would review my list and say, "No. Actually, it looks as though you have answered all of the questions that I had. Thank you!" That way, at least it would look as though I had had some good ones!

Most of the time, I have tried to come up with specific questions that I might ask somebody that does the job I am applying for about what they do. Like, if I were to have a conversation with this person and really want to know what their job is like. How busy is busy for you? General work-week hours: 60 or 40? Or, to the hiring manager: What kind of supervisor are you? Do you like to have people work independently or do you prefer to have a close working relationship - knowing what everybody is working on and where they are at?

2 years ago  ::  Dec 09, 2007 - 8:21PM #2
Bronte19
Posts: 502

My personal favorite is "is this a new position?" I can go into two directions at that point:


  1. If it is a new position, then I can see how the envision this position and if the job description and expectations may change.
  2. If it is not a new position, then I can find out how long the last person was there and why they left. Then I can go back another person or two. (Seriously, when I got to this question, I asked when the person left, and they told me that it hadn't even been vacated yet, ie the person did not know that they would soon be leaving. Eeeks!)
2 years ago  ::  Dec 09, 2007 - 9:55PM #3
LeeLoo
Posts: 556

If I don't want the job ( like if the person interviewing me is going to be my boss and is a total drip kind of situations) I'll keep my responces short and definatly not ask questions haha but if it's a job I really want I try and get the interviewer to talk about themselves and they're background and try to establish a casual conversation with them.

My sister is an HR lady and does alot of phone interviews, she always asks the "When have you gone above and beyond for a boss or supervisor?" She had someone pause awhile and say "Nah I've never done that, I just do whats expected of me" LOL 

2 years ago  ::  Dec 11, 2007 - 7:07AM #4
Lauren
Posts: 450
OH! Don't just ask "Is this a new position?" but rather, "Why has this position become available?" lol, if the person is in therapy because of the stress and evil co-workers, you'll never know. But, sometimes you learn that they are still with the company, loved the job so much they were there for 10 years, etc.
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