Learn the Art of Asking Good Questions to impress the Interviewer

Like most of the interviewers, while nearing the end of the interview, do not sit mute or say no and let this chance pass at the time you are being invited to ask questions. Asking the right, pertinent questions display a preparedness and keenness which is appreciated in any interview. Apart from the list of questions you keep in your head to ask during or at the end of the interview, if you stay alert during the conversation, some more questions can sprout in your head from whatever information the interviewer is sharing. Such impromptu questions add more credibility and also reflect your attentive listening and quick presence of mind.

The following will help you generate ideas to prepare your own list of questions:

Question about the Job

• What projects and assignments will I be involved in during my initial weeks?

• What are the main factors which determine the quality of my work's output?

• What are the challenges I can expect during my work?

• Whom will I be most closely working with?

• Who will be my team members?

• Could you give me a brief outline of a normal daily routine for a person in this position?

Questions about career growth and performance

• What would my growth plan look like?

• What sets apart your organization's employees from the others?

• May I know the performance evaluation process in detail?

• What kind of training programs will I be engaged in? How frequently?

• Could I have a few illustrations of the career paths of the previous incumbents?

Questions about the Hiring Process

• When can I expect to hear back from you?

• How soon can I join work?

• What will be the next stage in the recruitment process?

• How would your company define an ideal candidate for this position?

Some areas of questioning to avoid in the first interview include:

• Do not end up asking a question whose answer is clearly available in the written material provided by the employer. It shows poorly on your part.

• Direct questions related to compensation and/or benefits.

• Very complex or technical questions. More often, the interviewer is from the Human Resources (HR) department and is not equipped to handle queries from this domain. So ignore these questions to avoid embarrassing them or creating an awkward moment, or worse, leading them to think of you in a not so positive light.