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	The transition from interviewee to interviewer… Do you have any questions for me? YES YES AND YES… As a recruiter, the number one reason we hear why people didn’t win a position was because they didn’t ask any questions. No matter how many people you’ve met, always ask questions. If you don’t, that one person could simply pass since they thought you were disinterested. Remember, the last person you meet probably exerts the most influence on all the others – make a positive lasting impression. Asking questions demonstrates that you are the right person for the role by communicating your: interest in the role, intelligence in understanding the role, confidence that you can take on the role, your personality is a fit and you are assertive. Interviewee Questions Common Questions you should ask on your interview Do you think I can do the job? What criteria are you selecting the person for this role? Why did you come to XYZ Corp? What are the best/worst parts of working here? Can you describe the work environment here? Can you tell me about a typical day? What major projects is your team currently working on? How soon are you looking to fill this position? Is there a structured career path? What challenges would I encounter in this role/department? Other managers/interviewers (perhaps HR) have indicated that work/life balance is... Do you see this job requiring extensive overtime or weekend work? What weaknesses do you see in your current department that you are looking to improve? What is the reason for the opening? What is the most important thing I can do for you during my first 90 days here? The Final Step! - The Follow Up Do you think I can do the job? The vast majority of candidates upon leaving an interview feel that it went well. Yet rarely does one ask this question. This offers instant feedback but it takes confidence. If they love you they will say ‘yes’ in which case you ask when you should start. More likely they will hedge and offer some objectives. This is also a great situation since you have something to immediately re-address. “I can see why you might think that… however, if I can take you back to my time with…” Or “I am willing and eager to put in the extra time to get caught up to speed?" Alternatively, you could ask: "Is there anything I have said that would indicate that I’m not the best person for the job?" What criteria are you selecting the person for this role? This allows you to be assertive and confident but it also allows you the time to take notes about all the key items this particular manager will want answers for in about 3 minutes. Don’t interrupt them but once they list one, ask for the next and so on. Why did you come to XYZ Corp? What are the best/worst parts of working here? This is a personality question for both interviewer and applicant. You are complimenting the interviewer too by showing an interest in them and potentially modeling your career path similar to theirs. Can you describe the work environment here? So as I understand, the title is …, the duties are … within the … department. I would report directly to… Is that right…? Followed by… Can you tell me more about my day-to-day roles? Listen to what may have been repeated to make sure you will cover or re-emphasize their critical issues. Can you tell me about a typical day? Slightly different than above… used in combination it will give you an idea of the job needs and some insight into their corporate culture. Also, it may indicate whether this is a proactive or reactive organization. What major projects is your team currently working on? Or for the confident candidate … what projects are WE currently working on. Either way, these are all questions you can better address your candidacy for. How soon are you looking to fill this position? Have you ever left an interview and wondered when they would call you back? If you asked this question at each level, you probably wouldn’t wonder. Is there a structured career path? Keep in mind smaller companies won’t have the same corporate ladders as larger companies do. What challenges would I encounter in this role/department? This question is another great indicator of expectations. Is the manager describing something that would require a Herculean effort to succeed? It is also useful to compare with other answers about the general work volume. Is this a career you want to explore if the requirements sound like it will be 70 hour weeks? Other managers/interviewers (perhaps HR) have indicated that work/life balance is an important benefit of working at XYZ. How do you balance the tensions and time commitments of your role and still encourage your staff to have private lives? Once again, another clue towards the manager and companies potential conflicting views of work/life. Hopefully they agree, but if not, ask for clarification. Do you see this job requiring extensive overtime or weekend work? It’s direct. So don’t qualify it with “I mean, how long do you work during the close?” Just ask and get a straight answer. What weaknesses do you see in your current department that you are looking to improve? Their answer is probably your first challenge on the job, or simply perhaps the reason for the opening. What is the reason for the opening? If this is the fourth person in the same role over the last year, you may want to seriously consider passing on this role. What is the most important thing I can do for you during my first 90 days here? This question focuses on confidence, inquisitiveness and attention to detail. The answer accomplishes two goals – reasserts your interest in the role or leads to an objection for which you can counter with your closing or next comments. Final Step Follow-up! Send a follow-up thank you for their time and consideration. E-mail is acceptable especially if you discovered in your interview that they are heavy email users. Keep it simple and sweet. Learn more about the follow-up process and Thank You notes.