28 brilliant questions to ask at the end of every job interview

It's important to remember that every interview is a two-way street.

You should be assessing the employer just as much as they're assessing you because you both need to walk away convinced that the job would be a great fit.

So when the tables are turned and the interviewer asks, "Do you have any questions for me?" take advantage of this opportunity. It's the best way to determine if you'd be happy working for this employer, and whether your goals are aligned with theirs.

"The very process of asking questions completely changes the dynamic of the interview and the hiring manager's perception of you". "Asking questions also gives you the opportunity to discover details that you might not have otherwise unveiled."

There's another reason you should always prepare questions. "It's expected — and if you don't ask at least two questions, you will appear disinterested, or worse, less intelligent and engaged than a prospective employer would like." You should have at least four questions prepared, though, in case your original two are answered through the course of the interview.

But, don't just ask questions for the sake of it. To actually benefit from them, you'll need to think carefully about what you want to ask.

"Your questions can, in fact, make or break an interview". "If they're not thoughtful, or if you ask something that has already been addressed, this can hurt you way more than it can help. Asking smart, engaging questions is imperative."

Luckily, there are plenty of smart ones to pick from.

Here are 28 questions you should always ask in a job interview — if they weren't already answered — to help you get a better sense of the role and the company, and to leave the interview with a positive, lasting impression:

 

Who do you think would be the ideal candidate for this position, and how do I compare?

HR Professionals recommends this question because it's a quick way to figure out whether your skills align with what the company is currently looking for. If they don't match up, then you know to walk away instead of wasting time pursuing the wrong position for yourself.

 

Who would I be reporting to? Are those three people on the same team or on different teams? What's the pecking order?

It's important to ask about the pecking order of a company in case you have several bosses, Vicky Oliver writes in her book, "301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions."

If you're going to be working for several people, you need to know "the lay of the internal land," she says, or if you're going to be over several people, then you probably want to get to know them before accepting the position.

 

How has this position evolved?

Basically, this question just lets you know whether this job is a dead end or a stepping-stone.

 

How would you describe the company's culture?

This question gives you a broad view on the corporate philosophy of a company and on whether it prioritizes employee happiness. 

 

Who do you consider your major competitors? How are you better?

This question is not for the faint of heart, but it shows that you are already thinking about how you can help the company rise to meet some of its bigger goals.

Beyond the hard skills required to successfully perform this job, what soft skills would serve the company and position best?

Knowing what skills the company thinks are important will give you more insight into its culture and its management values, so you can evaluate whether you would fit in.

 

Do you have any hesitations about my qualifications?

While this question puts you in a vulnerable position, it shows that you are confident enough to openly bring up and discuss your weaknesses with your potential employer.

 

What do you like most about working for this company?

This question is important because it lets you "create a sense of camaraderie" with the interviewer because "interviewers — like anyone — usually like to talk about themselves and especially things they know well." Plus, this question gives you a chance to get an insider's view on the best parts about working for this particular company, she says.

 

Can you give me example of how I would collaborate with my manager?

Knowing how managers use their employees is important so you can decide whether they are the type of boss that will let you use your strengths to help the company succeed. 

 

Can you tell me what steps need to be completed before your company can generate an offer?

"Any opportunity to learn the timeline for a hire is crucial information for you,".

Asking about an "offer" rather than a "decision" will give you a better sense of the timeline because "decision" is a broad term, while an "offer" refers to the point when they're ready to hand over the contract.

 

How would you score the company on living up to its core values? What’s the one thing you’re working to improve on?

This is a respectful way to ask about shortcomings within the company — which you should definitely be aware of before joining a company. As a bonus, he says it shows that you are being proactive in wanting to understand more about the internal workings of the company before joining it. 

 

What are the challenges of this position?

If the interviewer says, "There aren't any," you should proceed with caution.

 

What have past employees done to succeed in this position?

The main point of this question is to get your interviewer to reveal how the company measures success.

 

If you were to hire me, what might I expect in a typical day?

Obviously this shows your eagerness about the position, but it also gives you a better idea about what the job will be like on a daily basis so you can decide whether you really want to pursue it. "A frank conversation about position expectations and responsibilities will ensure not only that this is a job you want, but also one that you have the skills to be successful in".

 

What type of employee tends to succeed here? What qualities are the most important for doing well and advancing at the firm?

This question shows the interviewer that you care about your future at the company, and it will also help you decide if you're a good fit for the position, Oliver writes. "Once the interviewer tells you what she's looking for in a candidate, picture that person in your mind's eye," she says. "She or he should look a lot like you."

 

Is there anyone else I need to meet with?/Is there anyone else you would like me to meet with?

Knowing if they want you to meet with potential co-workers or not will give you insight into how much the company values building team synergy. In addition, if the interviewer says you have four more interviews to go, then you've gained a better sense of the hiring timeline as well.

 

How do you help your team grow professionally?

This question shows that you're willing to work hard to ensure that you grow along with your company. This is particularly important for hourly workers, because they typically have a higher turnover rate, and are thus always looking for people who are thinking long-term. 

 

When your staff comes to you with conflicts, how do you respond?

Knowing how a company deals with conflicts gives you a clearer picture about the company's culture. But more importantly, asking about conflict resolution shows that you know dealing with disagreements in a professional manner is essential to the company's growth and success.

 

Will I have an opportunity to meet those who would be part of my staff/my manager during the interview process?

Getting the chance to meet with potential teammates or managers is essential to any professional interview process. If they don't give that chance, "proceed with caution".

 

How do you evaluate success here?

Knowing how a company measures its employees' success is important. It will help you understand what it would take to advance in your career there — and can help you decide if the employer's values align with your own.

 

What are some of the problems your company faces right now? And what is your department doing to solve them?

Asking about problems within a company gets the "conversation ball" rolling, and your interviewer will surely have an opinion, Oliver writes. Further, she says their answers will give you insights into their personality and ambitions and will likely lead to other questions.

 

What's your timeline for making a decision, and when can I expect to hear back from you?

This one tells them you're interested in the role and eager to hear their decision.

"Knowing a company's timeline should be your ultimate goal during an interview process after determining your fit for the position and whether you like the company's culture". It will help you determine how and when to follow up, and how long to wait before "moving on."

 

Is this a new position? If not, why did the person before me leave this role?

This might be uncomfortable to ask, but it's not uncommon to ask and that it shows you are being smart and analytical by wanting to know why someone may have been unhappy in this role previously.

If you found out they left the role because they were promoted, that's also useful information.

 

Where do you see the company in three years and how would the person in this role contribute to this vision?

Asking this question will show your interviewer that you can think big picture, that you're willing to stay with the company for a long-term, and that you want to make a lasting impression in whatever company you end up in.

 

I read X about your CEO in Y magazine. Can you tell me more about this?

Oliver says questions like this simply show you've done your homework and are genuinely interested in the company and its leaders.

 

What's your staff turnover rate and what are you doing to reduce it?

While this question may seem forward, it's a smart question to ask because it shows that you understand the importance of landing a secure position. "It is a black and white way to get to the heart of what kind of company this is and if people like to work here".

 

Is there anything else I can provide to help you make your decision?

This simple question is polite to ask and it can give you peace of mind to know that you've covered all your bases. "It shows enthusiasm and eagerness but with polish."

 

Is there anything we haven't covered that you think is important to know about working here?

This is a good wrap-up question that gives you a break from doing all the talking. In addition, she says you may get "answers to questions you didn't even know to ask but are important."

 

13 Personality Traits of a Disengaged Professional

Disengaged Professional…Are You??

13 Personality Traits of a Disengaged Professional

1.     Complain

Disengaged employees are always complaining & nothing is good enough for them.

2.     Makes Excuses

Disengaged employees never take responsibility for their actions & always find an excuse.

3.     Lacks Enthusiasm

When a new task or project comes up, this employee is always the least excited.

4.     Doesn’t Help Others

They always say “It’s not my Job”, and are never willing to go above & beyond.

5.     Gossip

Gossip destroys morale and the team dynamic, & creates cliques within the company.

6.     Liar

An employee that lies and makes up stories is really dangerous for the team.

7.     Know-It-All

Disengaged employees act like they know everything and are too good for whatever you have to say.

8.     Independent

Disengaged employees are set on working alone. You need collaboration to thrive as a team.

9.     Irresponsible

Disengaged employees often miss deadlines, are late for work, and break their promises.

10.  No Initiative

Good employees take initiative, whereas a bad one just stands around waiting to be told what to do next.

11. No Questions

Disengaged employees aren’t willing to ask questions and learn new things.

12. No Growth

They don’t invest in themselves to become better people and grow within the company.

13. Distracted

Good employees know how to stay focused, and disengaged employees get easily distracted.

5 Worst Times to Ask for a Raise

5 Worst Times to Ask for a Raise

When it comes to crucial conversations about your pay, timing is everything. After you have completed a detailed research about your market value, succinctly pinpoint your biggest recent achievements and go above and beyond, it’s time to ask for a raise, right?

Wait a minute!!!                                                                                       

Make sure you don’t ask for a raise during these five worst times:

1. Let it not be a MONDAY at least J

It is good if you are reading this article on Monday. But please don’t you ever think of asking a raise on any Monday – being the first day of the week. Let your boss settle through the week. Work hard till the mid week & then nail it at the right time.  

2. Just after you’ve been OUT

If you’ve been out of the office for a while—it’s better to wait until you’re back in the game before you ask for a raise.

Even if you are legitimately out sick or on vacation, it is not wise to return and immediately ask for a raise. Instead, get back to work, keep your head down and once you are re-engaged, then it may be time to consider such a request.

3. During Company’s Financial Rough Patch

Learn the fiscal rhythms of your company. No one is getting a raise just after the company announces less than expected quarterly earnings. This can rather backfire.

4. When Your Boss is in a Bad Mood or Hungry

It sounds like a scanty reason, but catching your boss during a bad mood could alter how this very important conversation will go. Read your boss—is she more of a morning person or a little more chipper in the afternoons?

We suggest (jokingly) to employees that the best time to ask for a raise would be right after lunch. Also, as a ‘morning person,’ early afternoon is one’s time of least resistance. First thing in the morning when Boss has rushed to the traffic & rain and just before lunch, when his stomach has priority, are the worst times.

So, why risk it?

In terms of what time of day to bring it up, after lunch and in the early to mid-part of the afternoon is a great time to talk to your boss regarding the hike. Everyone's blood sugar levels are up, making potentially tough conversations easier.

5. When you haven’t been killing it at Work – Just Need the Money

Raises are generally tied to your performance. So, if you just haven’t been killing it at work, focus on that before you start pining for more pay.

Don’t just ask for a raise when you’ve suddenly had some big financial issue. If you need more money, that’s never a good reason to ask for a raise.

5 Steps to start a Productive Day

5 Steps to start a Productive Day

Before you dive into your daily office gossip, your regular coffee break at around 9:30, and before you click on your favorite FB account there are a couple of things to do first. It’s a common misconception you need to follow routine to be successful. For most people a routine will dull their work and will push them towards a burnout much quicker. Instead, I prefer getting through the stress points first, and easing into the rest of my workload later.

There are a few things you need to keep in mind when starting off your day, and they don’t start at work. Some of them start in your home, on your commute, or as you’re walking into work. Everyone is different so you can tailor this list to best fit your needs and quirks.

1. Eat breakfast. Here goes…this is the most important meal of the day! How many times have you heard this? A healthy breakfast can lead to more focused thinking; just what you need to stay focused while you work. We can’t always ignore the distraction of the “ping!” from our social notifications, but a healthy meal or snack in the mornings can keep us from bottoming out before lunchtime.
2. Say out loud one activity you’re looking forward to at work that day. To me this is the most important. On some days I’m excited about the iced coffee I’ll be grabbing on my way in, and the phone call I have with a prospective writer in the afternoon. It gives me momentum to get my day started, and I have something to look forward to.
3. Greet the first person you see with a hearty “hello” upon entering your office. We are entirely too anti-social in the mornings; well a majority of us are. It’s not a joke to say that most people need their coffee to function and be decent. Sip your coffee before you get to work, and you can even check some of your social channels if you’re in need of a pick me up. Being exclusive about who you say hi to is alienating and that bad mood can spread like a wildfire. Pay it forward with a simple friendly greeting each day.
4. Before you open your email complete that one trivial leftover task from the night before. If you’re constantly connected through a company work phone then turn it off when you first sit down at your desk. We all have crazy mornings and being off of email for 10 minutes won’t hurt anyone, but it will help you to stay focused on eating that frog first thing in the morning.
5. Move onto that activity you’re enthusiastic about for the day. We’ve all heard about the sandwich approach in management, and I think its relevance carries into task and project management. For every tedious or frustrating activity you perform you should alternate with an enjoyable one. Some people enjoy copy writing as a form of stress relief, and others enjoy responding to clients. This might even be a good opportunity to pitch that idea you’ve been working on for a month, just make sure you’re prepared.

You don’t need a secret formula to be a success all day long. Some of us deflate after a bad meeting, and others just perpetuate a bad mood by piling the work on just to get it done. If you’re serious about making a real effort then give some thought to this list.

How are you using your time makes all the difference!!! Take these 5 simple steps to increase productivity by guarding your own time which can be followed in 5 minutes or less.

How are you using your time makes all the difference!!! Take these 5 simple steps to increase productivity by guarding your own time which can be followed in 5 minutes or less.

We all have exactly the same number of hours each day with us ---- 24. If we don’t guard those hours, we’ll waste them. That can happen in a number of ways. Often, because we are so connected, we allow others to dictate our day. We find ourselves responding to others instead of setting our own priorities. An e-mail comes in and we respond almost instantly—it’s what people expect. The phone rings, and we pick it up. Someone else is again dictating our day.

I think we all need to guard against wasting the precious time we’ve been given each day or allowing others to determine how we spend it. Because it’s what we do with the time we have each day that makes the difference. And that’s the question, isn’t it? Do we make a difference with the hours we are given?

1. Write a “thank you” note. It’s not hard, and it doesn’t take long to jot down a few sentences that convey your appreciation for another person. But the gesture is significant. Here, in a world where most communication requires an electronic device is a simple five-sentence letter that speaks volumes about the person who took the time to send it.
2. Walk down and speak with a colleague you typically don’t see during the day. In just five minutes you can learn something about the person and what’s happening in her life. It doesn’t have to be a long conversation, but a few minutes of attention focused on someone who might just need it can go a long way toward establishing a relationship. You might be amazed to learn what you have in common with people you seldom see or talk to around the office.
3. Set a goal. It doesn’t take long to come up with something meaningful that you want to achieve. In less than five minutes you can write down that goal and tack it on your bulletin board or slip it in a drawer you open every day. That written goal can serve as a daily reminder of something you want to accomplish. Maybe your goal is to write one “thank you” note a week for a year or to spend five minutes with every person in your office during the next 12 months. Whatever it is, jot it down.
4. Find the answer to one question. We all wonder about things every day. Why is something done a certain way? What’s the definition of a word we’ve seen or heard? Who was the first person to do something? It doesn’t take long to learn something new. Type a few words into Google and spend five minutes discovering the answer to something you’re curious about. Knowledge is power, and in today’s world, it doesn’t take long to discover the answers to our questions.
5. Quiet time. Take five minutes to shut everything out. As I said, we live in a world where we’re constantly connected. Our phones provide us with the ability not only to speak to others but also to text, e-mail, and browse the Internet. And that’s just scratching the surface of what these handy devices can do. But I encourage you to spend five minutes each day in peace and quiet. Put it on your calendar. Five minutes each day with the phone off, the computer off, everything turned off. Who knows what you can dream up in those few minutes when nothing or no one else is in control.

I’m sure you can come up with your own list of things you can accomplish in just five minutes. In fact, take five minutes right now and come up with your own list of things you can do in just five minutes a day. Then make it a daily habit to spend some of your precious time doing them. Five minutes represents less than one percent of your day. What are you doing with your time that will really make a difference?

Once we begin to guard our time and make sure we use it productively, it’s astonishing what we can accomplish.

3 Must Do Things before Quitting Your Job

3 Must Do Things before Quitting Your Job

It is normal to fall out of love with your job. In fact, on average every adult has two jobs that they didn’t exactly love. So if you hate your job, know that you are not alone – and having a job or two you don’t like is part of growing up and learning through experience.

But that doesn’t mean that it’s normal to stay in a job that makes you miserable. Remember: Whatever your situation, you have a choice – and when you think about every job as a choice, it opens a whole new world of opportunity and abundance.

So what do you do if you are in a bad working situation? The obvious options are to quit your job.  But did you know that there is a right way and wrong way to quit your job -- and how you do it can affect how successful you are after quitting.

3 things you must do before leaving to make sure you are prepared for the next phase of your career journey.

1. Knowing Exactly Why You Are Quitting Your Job

This may sound obvious, but at times people think they know why they are quitting their job, but they ended up being mistaken. It is a humbling experience.

Example, you might think you want to quit your first job because you don’t make enough money. So you would set out to fix that problem. After doubling your salary and still feeling miserable, it would be obvious you had fixed the wrong problem. Or the wrong why!

This is important because if you quit for the wrong reasons, you are likely to repeat the underlying problem again down the road.

Get to the bottom of why you are quitting. Is it the Money? Flexibility? Management? Or maybe everything is great but the commute is unbearable? Dig deep and ask yourself questions to find out exactly what makes you want to leave this job. That's your first assignment before you quit.

2. Come Up with 3 Exit Strategies and Put at least 1 into Motion

Trust in yourself and have faith it will all work out but at the same time, you don't just want play it by ear and "see what happens". And you don't want to just go applying to every job because any job would be better than this one. Trust me, things can get worse.

Instead, put together at least 3 ideas as part of your exit strategies beyond this job. Maybe you want to work for a particular company or start your own business or switch industries. Be specific. Be intentional about your choices.

Then choose at least one of those ideas and learn everything about it. Do as much preparation as possible for it while you are still in your job. Take action in the evenings and on weekends. Build out your exit plan with super smart strategies and put at least one of those plans into motion before you quit. That’s your second assignment.

3. Make Your Exit Smooth and Easy

Your Boss or Management may have not been nice to you and you want to show them by leaving the job. But don't. Take the high road. Because, this is a terrifyingly small world. Things come around. You will cross paths with them again. So be professional and coordinate your exit with your boss so you don't break the trust you have built overtime.

Make sure you do everything to make it smooth and easy and agreeable to them. Leave on very good terms, even if you have had a hard time there. And remember, as you do this difficult third assignment, that you are actually doing all of it for yourself and your future opportunities.

Whatever your situation may be, if you feel that your current job is not the right direction for your career, take these 3 actions sooner than later. If you wait until you are absolutely miserable, then it's hard to focus and think clearly because your emotions get in the way. You want to make the decision to quit your job and the relevant preparation well in advance so that you are always prepared and in charge of your own career.

3 Salary Negotiating mistakes

Negotiate Salary, but don’t appear GREEDY!!

Read on the 3 Salary Negotiating mistakes

Candidates have the biggest fear of being perceived as Greedy while negotiating salary with the Hiring Managers

Worst case scenario: Offending Hiring Managers may cause them to rescind your offer.

Best case scenario: You might get a bump in salary and walk away with a win-win situation.

Here are the ways to avoid the Worst case scenario:

1. Asking for More than Industry Standard

First & Foremost thing is to do a salary research before pitching. It is essential to look what folks in your position make at other companies.

If you are asking a price which is far beyond then, you may come off greedy.

Another key thing you should take into consideration and research is how much your boss makes. If you are asking for more than even the manager makes, you may seem unreasonable. Unless you want to make your boss’s eyes pop, research your boss’ salary too.

It’s a good idea to learn as much as you can about the financial health of the company, if you can.  Make sure the salary you are requesting will not financially harm the company and you can account for it in a return on investment for the value you produce. If you can make a strong case about the value you will add to the company, you won't seem greedy.

2. Negotiate Successfully, then Come Back to Ask for More

This is the major point why many prospective candidates actually lose job offers.

If you did negotiate and you did get more pay or benefits and then decided you should have asked for even more is the worst situation. You negotiated. You were successful but you were unprepared to know what to get. Wait at least six months before you go to bat again. This truly is the one time companies will ding you for negotiating.

One good rule of thumb: Try not to keep asking for more repeatedly, coming back three times irritates many managers. They may agree to the raise but could also conclude the employee is dissatisfied, will probably leave and consider their alternative structures.

3. Not Sticking With Your Initial Word

People should not negotiate unless they are prepared to walk away from the negotiation. If you ask for way more than they offered get turned down and then decide that you’ll take what you can get, you’ll come off as flighty and unsatisfied.

Consider keeping your negotiation flexible. Offer options. For instance, if you can’t offer a bump in the base pay, perhaps you can consider raising the bonus limit? Or could you allow me to work from home on Fridays to compensate for a salary below market value? Whatever floats your boat!