If you thought that interviews were easy then it is time you took a reality check. Interviews are never easy. You will be judged not only on the basis of the skills you will bring to the job, but also on your capability to get along with other team members. If you are aloof and distant, employers will think twice before hiring you. However, if you are bright, sharp and love interacting with people you will automatically rise up in your future employers esteem.
Since first impressions are so important, you should make the right moves at the job interview. Read up and ask intelligent questions. Don’t expect the interviewer to give you information about company finances, but at least it will show that you are interested. Unfortunately, interviewees take this piece of advice too seriously and commit hara-kiri by asking the wrong questions. Here is a small primer on what to ask at a job interview.
1. Nature of the job: If you are not sure about the terms and conditions of the job, ask. However, don’t commit the crime of asking irrelevant questions. This will only convey that you are not taking the interview seriously. Interviewers hate that.
2. Know more about the company: It is important to know about the company before accepting a job. This will ensure that transition from one job to another is smooth and incident free. Many of us leave one company for another, only to realize later that we have made a big mistake. This can be avoided at the interview stage itself by asking intelligent questions like the nature of the job, employer expectations, working hours and so on.
3. Know about your predecessors: Yes, this can save you from a potentially tricky situation. Ask why the earlier employee quit. If he was asked to leave, ask why. Filling in a position can be a potential landmine if you are not careful.
4. Know where you stand in the hiring process: It is important to know where you stand compared to other interviewees. This will help you when it comes to bargaining in later rounds.
5. Financial health of the company: Before you commit to a position in a new company, it would be better if you knew what you are committing to. It makes no sense to get a job only to know later that the company is in dire straits. The interviewer is not going to discuss company financials openly, but you can still glean a lot of information by getting information on future plans.
Asking the right questions at the job interview is more than half the battle won. You can do a lot of damage by asking the wrong questions. Think twice before you speak goes the old adage and there is a lot of merit to it when it comes to handling interviews.
