Questions To Ask The Interviewer

Here are some basic questions that you may want to ask (Choose at least 2) after the conclusion of the interview. The person conducting the interview will give the cue to ask your questions. Remember to watch and listen carefully. Nobody likes to be interrupted during their closing pitch.

I have underlined 2 questions that I find more appropriate then the others.

Why is this position open?
Where do you see the company in 5 years?
What makes you successful, and different from your competitors?
How long have you (the interviewer) been here, and what do you like most about your position, and the company?
What qualities would your ideal candidate have? (listen, and make sure you later bring out some of the qualities you have which match what you heard)
How do you feel my qualifications match your needs? (A bold question to ask and I would only ask it if you personally feel that the interview went very well and that your qualifications truly do mirror the skills needed for the position. We don't want to put anyone on the spot especially if they are merely the interviewer who is weeding out the bad from ther good.)

Asking why the position is open is a huge factor in seeing if this position truly is what is stated on the Job Description. If you find that the position is being re-filled more then twice within a 6 month span, CAUTION. It may simply be that they just did not find the right person or other outside or internal influences were causing a rift which ended up in the search for the replacement. It would be truly up to you to either take the position if offered...or decline it. Whatever the case, when in doubt...I always trust my instincts. they have never led me down the wrong path before. If you have an opportunity to walk amongst the office personnel, ask questions, observe their moods and emotions. You can tell when you walk into a room if the tension is there or not.

I like to ask the longevity of the interviewer to truly get a grasp of where he/she is in their career stage and gauge the level of content or discontent about their present job, their co-workers and their supervisors, etc. you can truly tell if someone really enjoys going to work and you can also sniff out those who are just playing the Recruiter Shuffle with you. Once again, Listen, Observe and trust your gut!