It’s not about me, it’s about you… the 21 questions you need to ask in a job interview

Well, you are not going to read all 21 here, since this article is a repost from the original, so please continue to read the remaining there. According to Marc Cenedella, the New York City Start-up Founder, we often forget what a job interview is all about. It sure feels like it’s about you, but it’s really not. According to Marc : “An interview is actually about how you can help your future boss and future employer succeed. It’s about finding out what their requirements and hopes are and matching up your background and experience with what they need. Overlooking these basic facts about the interview is easy. There’s so much else going on in your work, your life, and in your job search, that you can forget to look at the interview from the interviewer’s point of view. And that’s a shame, because you need the interviewer to walk away from the interview thoroughly impressed.”

He goes on to argue that “… by asking these questions, which focus on the needs, traits, and preferences of your future boss and future employer, you’re demonstrating that you are somebody who is genuinely interested in their well-being. And the more interest we show in others, the more commitment they show to aiding our cause.”

That to be honest might seem a bit overzealous or pretend, but I guess that the extend you choose to follow his advice, or with what “flair”, is completely up to you, your interview style, and maybe how much you want the job. Eitherway, it is essential to project maturity, and communicate endurance and vision. Here are 10 of the original 21 questions :

1. What’s your (or my future boss’) leadership style?

2. About which competitor are you most worried?

3. How does sales / operations / technology / marketing / finance work around here? (I.e., groups other than the one you’re interviewing for.)

4. What type of people are successful here? What type of people are not?

5. If I get the job, how do I earn a “gold star” on my performance review? What are the key accomplishments you’d like to see in this role over the next year?

6. How did you get your start in this industry? Why do you stay?

7. These are tough economic times, and every position is precious when it comes to the budget. Why did you decide to hire somebody for this position instead of the many other roles / jobs you could have hired for? What about this position made you prioritize it over others?

8. What is your reward system? Is it a star system / team-oriented / equity-based / bonus-based / “attaboy!”-based? Why is that your reward system? What do you guys hope to get out of it, and what actually happens when you put it into practice? What are the positives and the negatives of your reward system? If you could change any one thing, what would it be?

9. How does the company / my future boss do performance reviews? How do I make the most of the performance review process to ensure that I’m doing the best I can for the company?

10. What is the rhythm to the work around here? Is there a time of year that it’s “all hands on deck” and we’re pulling all-nighters, or is it pretty consistent throughout the year? How about during the week / month? Is it pretty evenly spread throughout the week / month, or are there crunch days?

Carefully consider what is said during the interview. As you would raise a red flag if you had NO questions, so you raise a red flag when you ask questions that have already been answered. Be sure to plan several questions for your interview so you aren’t stuck if some of them are answered in the general flow of the conversation. Get hired by being prepared and leaving a positive impression.

[Ref.] http://www.cenedella.com/its-not-about-me-its-about-you-the-21-questions-you-need-to-ask-in-a-job-interview/