Getting Answers Before Getting the Job

What are some of the problems the company is facing right now, and what will your department do to solve them? This type of question gives you a new perspective on the job, and insights into the personality and ambitions of your employer and your department. This question will initiate conversation and allows you to dive deeper into the specifics of the job, and your role within the company. What kind of person tends to succeed here? What qualities are the most important for succeeding and advancing at the company?

The qualities and characteristics the interviewer is describing should align with your abilities and characteristics. The answer will help you determine if you are a good fit for the position. For example, if organized and meticulous make their way onto the interviewers list, but you can’t find your stapler underneath desk clutter, you may not be the best fit for the opening.

Who would I report to? Are those people on the same team or on different teams? What’s the pecking order? Understanding the chain of command and structure of the company will help you position yourself as the ideal candidate. Before accepting a job, you should know how many people you will report to, and how many people you will be managing. Knowing these important details of the job description up front will ease your transition into the company.

How do you qualify your new clients? How do you handle new business pitches? Who gets involved generating new business at this company? Is there a team in place, and do they cull employees from different teams, depending on the business that your firm is going after?

The best performers get involved in developing new business. When you ask about how the company cultivates business, you are signaling that you’re a team player, even if you are not interviewing for a new business position.

If the company’s needs and culture corresponds with what you desire in an employer, your last question should go something like this:

I would love to work for you. So tell me, what are my next steps?

You have thrown out a feeler to the interviewer. If he has any unresolved questions or concerns, he should tell you. This question assures your interviewer that you are still interested in the position. Believe it or not, employers face rejection too, and reassuring them that you are interested only works in your favor.