The Magic Interview Question You Should Ask

At the end of every interview, the question comes: "Do you have any questions for me?" The interviewer stares at you expectantly and you're left to rack your mind for an answer. You need an interview question that seems clever, insightful and unique. You can't ask a question that's already been answered during the interview and you can't just say you don't have any questions. So what do you do?

Asking the Right Interview Question

Firstly, there are some questions that you legitimately need to ask if they haven't already been answered. Some important interview questions are:

• What is the compensation bracket for this position? It leaves some wiggle room for further negotiations, but it's an important question to ask. Too often, job seekers are told it's "impolite" to ask about compensation. It isn't. It's a need to know.
• What is the company's culture? This gives you a better indication of what you can expect from the company on a daily basis.
• What is this position's churn like? Why did the last person leave? If many employees are leaving for new opportunities, this may not be the best job for you.

But these questions are all for your personal benefit. You also need to ask some questions for the interviewer's sake.

The "Magic Question" Itself

Interviewing requires that you get into the mind of the hiring manager and understand what they want and need to hear. In general, hiring managers are very fond of the following question (and variations thereof): "What would make an employee exceptional at this position?" or "What did your prior employee do that made them special?"

Whether it be skill or education, this question both gives you an idea of what is expected and tells them that you are truly interested in excelling in what you do. It shows that you're thinking ahead and that you're concerned about performing well. And it gives them some time to express their needs and what they're looking for.

Of course, remember that each interview is different and that to some level you do need to play them by ear. But what is most important is that you always ask some form of question to show that you are both interested and engaged, and that you are knowledgeable about the challenges that the job opportunity will present.

If you want more information about your job search and interview skills, contact us at Artisan Talent today.