Ask the Interviewer

Rapport Questions You Can Ask

To build rapport with the interviewer, ask:

• Why did you choose to work here?
• What’s been your most satisfying accomplishment here?

Among Questions You Might Want To Ask the Interviewer:

• If you hire me, what are the three most pressing issues you need resolved?
• What are your company's strengths and how do you capitalize on them?
• What are your company’s weaknesses and how are you dealing with them?
• What changes do you anticipate in the industry?
• What risks will your company face due to industry changes?
• What are the best opportunities at your firm for new hires?
• How have you strategically responded to the competition?
• What legislation is pending that will affect your firm?
• Where will the major sources of your business be in the next 5 years?
• How is worker performance measured and reviewed?
• Do you have a mentor program? How about formal training programs?
• What is your company's management style?
• What challenges are facing this company? Are you pleased with how your company is reacting to them?
• Why do people leave?
• Why have you stayed with the company?
• Describe my initial assignments?

Be Prepared to Answer This Question:

"What do you consider your weaknesses to be?"

Never answer this question with comments like..."I work too hard" or "I tend to take on too much responsibility." Some interviewing books suggest these kinds of answers to spin a negative into a positive. In my opinion it has just the opposite effect.

You can say..."I sometimes am short or abrupt with people. I could be more diplomatic. I need to work on dealing with people who are lazy or whose workmanship is shoddy." OR "At this stage of my career I don’t react well to what I would call a ‘looking over my shoulder’ style of supervision."

Money Talk:

In many cases you will have told me your current salary and minimum desired salary, which I have may have shared with the client. Sometimes I have not done that. Clients will typically want me to know your current salary. They will have in mind a salary for the position you’re seeking but there will always be room to negotiate. The purpose of the interview is for you to create desire on their part for your services. Mak 'em want you !!!!!!!!!!

To avoid committing yourself to a desired figure early in the negotiations, it is useful to state “your company has a good reputation and my recruiter has spoken highly of you I am sure you will make a fair offer”. (As appropriate to the company's compensations practices, the "package" might include base salary, bonus, stock options at hire and thereafter, and benefits). It is also a good stalling tactic to emphasize that the nature and scope of the job and opportunities for advancement are more important to you at this stage of your career than salary, if this is true.

During the first interview you might answer a question about the kind of compensation you’re seeking by asking the interviewer a question back.

What's the targeted salary range for this position?

What are others who now perform this work currently earning?

That’s a difficult question to answer at this time. Could we first clearly lay out the responsibilities for the position and then see how my skills and experience measure up to others now doing this job before we discuss salary?

“You know, at this time I’ve been focusing on learning about your company, about this opportunity and how I might contribute rather than crunching numbers; I’m sure you’ll make me a fair offer.”

Should you state a salary that’s significantly higher than what others doing the same job are earning, the interviewer won’t hear anything else you’re saying; he or she will be thinking only that they can’t afford you. If you say a number too low, you’ve boxed yourself in. We first need to create a desire for you.

If I am presenting you to more than one client, then we also have the potential of real world offers that we can cite.

It often is less self-serving to allow me to deal with these issues. You and I need to be on the same page about exactly what kind of salary you ARE prepared to accept.

Offers/Counter Offers

In most cases I will be dealing with the client company as far as an offer. In this case you and I need to have agreed on a bottom line so that I know what I am working with .In some cases the company may offer right on the spot. In this case I would suggest just to write down what they offer and tell them you will get back to them OR tell them “I really appreciate that you want to offer me this position today but I would rather you call Jamie with it and allow me to take in all the information I received today and then make a decision.

On a Counter Offer ---– Here Is the Rule

Resigning a position is a break in a relationship, it is a final decision and as we all know when you go back to a relationship you attempted to break there is no trust. I would suggest you walk in and hand a resignation letter to the boss and thank him for the opportunity to learn and grow professionally but you are moving on with your career. Then stand up shake his / her hands and Leave. Never tell your old boss were you are going, who you are working for and how much you are making it isn’t any of his business one and two he may call over and cause you problems. I know you wouldn’t think a pro would do that but I have seen it all the way to the director /Sr director level.

Before You Turn in a Resignation Do the Following

1. Tell your friends
2. Type the letter to be professional in appearance
3. Make up your mind that you are leaving
4. Be prepared for either a thank you for your service and congrats or a jerk