Is It Only The Interviewer That Asks During An Interview?

Remember that you are interviewing prospective employers at the same time that they are interviewing you. Ask questions that will help you determine whether the position meets your skills, desires, and career goals. Asking intelligent questions will make you appear interested and enthusiastic to the interviewer. Here, then, are some suggested questions.

1. Tell me about the nature of the position. What are the specific duties and responsibilities? Is a written job description available?
   
   
2. What type of training can I expect in the first six months? Down the road?
   
   
   
   
3. Are there any travel requirements?
   
   
4. To whom would I report? Can you tell me something about his or her background?
   
   
5. Is this a newly created position? If not, who was the last person to occupy this position and what is he or she doing now?
   
   
6. Does this organization promote activities that aid in professional growth, such as participation in business societies or seminars?
   
   
7. Does the company provide for any form of tuition reimbursement?
   
   
8. How long has the company been in business?
   
   
9. What types of customers does it service?
   
   
10. What are the future possibilities for promotion?
    
    
11. Can I provide you with any other information about myself?
    
    
12. What is the next step in the decision process? When will a final decision be made regarding the position?
    

It's best not to inquire about salary during the first interview. With careful research, you should have an idea of the salary range of the position. In addition, you will want to demonstrate that you are more interested in the company and the position than the money, so delay your questions about salary until the second interview or until the company makes you a job offer.

Mind Your Body Language

When you interview for a job, it's important to make the best impression you can. To do so, you should monitor not only what you say but how you say it. Did you know that people show 55 percent of their feelings and emotions nonverbally? Thirty-eight percent of a message is carried by tone of voice. Only seven percent of our feelings and emotions are conveyed by the actual words we use.

Your "silent" message is conveyed through signals in your body language. Positive signals can indicate agreement, openness, acceptance, and interest. Negative signals can reveal disagreement, suspicion, rejection, and defensiveness. Become attuned to the nonverbal signals you're giving and watch others to determine their receptiveness to you.

• Positive Signals
  
  
• Good eye contact
  
  
• Leaning forward
  
  
• Uncrossing arms or legs
  
  
• Nodding head in approval
  
  
• Occasional laughing
  
  
• Unbuttoning jacket
  
  
• Rapt attention
  
  
• Palms or wrists turned
  
  
• outward/open
  
  
• Raised eyebrows
  
  
• Steep ling fingers
  
  
• Negative Signals
  
  
• Poor eye contact
  
  
• Slumping or turning away
  
  
• Crossing arms or legs
  
  
• Shaking head in disapproval
  
  
• No response
  
  
• Buttoning jacket
  
  
• Doodling or blank stare
  
  
• Hands in pockets
  
  
• Narrowed eyes/sideways glances