How NOT Asking Questions Can Ruin Your Job Interview

You’re just finishing up an interview for a great job opportunity in Winnipeg. You’ve nailed every question and think you’re a shoo-in for the position. Then the hiring manager asks, “Do you have any questions?” Answer “no” and you can kiss the job offer good-bye.

Why? Because the hiring manager has multiple objectives when asking this question:

1. They obviously want to know if you have any questions they can answer.
2. They want to know if you’ve done your homework and researched the company and the position.
3. They want to gauge your level of interest in the job.
4. They want to find out more about your communication skills.

But asking good questions isn’t simply about impressing the hiring manager. As one of the leading Winnipeg employment agencies, we know that it’s critically important to ask the right questions so you can tell if the company – and the position – will truly be a good fit for you.

Here are some examples of questions you should be asking in job interviews:
About the Company:

• Where do you see the company headed in the next few years?
• How has the company fared in this economy?
• How do you stay ahead of your competition?

About Working for the Company:

• What’s the culture like?
• What do you like best about working here? What do you like least?
• How long have you been working here?
• Is there a lot of turnover?
• What are your company hours?
• Do you offer flex hours?

About the Position:

• What’s a typical day like for an employee in this position?
• Why did the last employee leave?
• If this is a new position, why is there a need for it?
• How big is the department I’d be working in?
• How will my performance be measured?
• Are there opportunities for advancement at the company?
• Is there any travel expected?

About the Hiring Process:

• What’s the next step in the hiring process?
• When do you think you’ll be making your decision?
• Is there anything else that you’d like to know about my experience?

That said, you don’t want to interrogate the hiring manager for hours over every little detail. There are certain questions that you should avoid, especially if this is your first interview with the company. These include:

• General questions that are easily answered by looking at the company’s website. For instance, “so when was the company founded?” and “what exactly does your company do?”
• Asking questions about salary, paid time off, and benefits, like health insurance – unless, of course, the hiring manager brings up these issues first.

And if you’d like some help finding out about new jobs, give us a call. As one of the leading Winnipeg employment agencies, we work with top employers throughout the area and can give you access to a variety of terrific opportunities. Search jobs in Winnipeg now!