Hi All -

I want to share some good, smart interview questions that really help during any interview. Whether you're having a phone interview or an in-person interview, it's best to understand that you should be asking questions that employers do not expect one to ask. And in almost every situation, people get stuck not knowing what questions to ask during a phone screening or in person. It's this lack of preparation that ruins any chance of being considered for a position.

• Employers know when a candidate and the interview is a complete waste of time. Why? Because they can see whats important to someone vs one that is expressing true interest in a position. If your persona reflects that you don't care, it's a turn-off that can potentially cost you a job and often be ghosted by the employer.

• Take this created list of smart interview questions that work well for any type interview. The key is in how you position any question(s) that makes the delivery strong/solid. I have multiple copies of these questions, and prior to every interview I've had in the past, I highlight (up to) 5 questions that I really want to know about the company, about the job and/or about the employees, etc. I can tell you that from years of experience with this, these questions will either intimidate the potential employer and/or get you the job. I encourage anyone to save this list (Word/PDF), make multiple copies and use (1) fresh copy every time you attend a new interview (phone or in-person). This will show the employers you are prepared and want to know what is important beyond the bulls***.

• These questions are NOT in any order, so if you select questions, be sure to number them in the order you want to ask during your interview (#1, #2, #3, etc.). You can learn SO MUCH from these questions.

I can email a copy of this to you (if you like), just message me via Jobcase.

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THE QUESTIONS:

1: How long have you been seeking a candidate for this position? (This will give you an idea on if the company has just started interviewing or if the position has been open for a while, and what chances you might have. The employer may also tell you when they want to fill the position by, so this is good insight.)

2: What are three important qualities you seek in a candidate (for this position)? (This allows you to gain insight on what the employer is looking for without guessing)

3: What's the company's communication and support style like in terms of teamwork? (This gives you an insight to what the environment and existing employees might be like)

4: If offered the position, what training is/will be arranged to ensure that I am given the best opportunity to develop and adapt to a comfortable working structure? (This gives you an idea on what to expect and if training will be organized or disorganized.)

5: If I was to start this position today, whats the most important task you would expect me learn/understand first? (This let's you know what you should learn immediately within the first week of employment, if offered the job.)

6: Does this position open other doors for advancement opportunities? If so, what are they? (This let's know if you have opportunity to move within the company or not.)

7: What is the pay range/rate for this position (If pay is listed or known prior to your interview)? (This is a more professional way of wanting to know what a position's starting pay rate is.)

8: Can you explain why the starting pay range/rate is set here? I feel that the pay does not support the position workload. Realistically, is the company open to pay negotiations? (WARNING!) This is ONLY a question you should ask with caution IF/WHEN needed, and based on the type of position you're applying for. You do NOT want to ask this question for any positions that are in fast food, retail, custodial or any type of position where the pay rate will never increase over a certain cap due to position standards). Common sense should be used here as FYI.

9: What's the position schedule? (This tells you if the schedule changes or is a fixed schedule.)

10: What are the top three problems the business/organization faces today? (This gives you an idea on what the company is struggling with in the present, and if they are aware of these issues. Also, this can potentially point to possible delayed communication/follow-up after your interview if you know the company is working to sort out an issue or multiple issues.)

11: When can I expect a follow-up once a decision has been made? (This is a BIG one that you want to know, and let's the employer know that you need an answer whether it's good or bad.)

12: What part of the job, from your perspective will require the longest or most complicated learning curve? (This will tell you what to expect during training, and if you might struggle.)

13: Now that we've discussed a little about about the position and my background, what more do you think I can do to better prepare myself for this type of position? (This question can sometimes cause your interviewer to get stuck on providing an answer. If the employer delays or stumbles answering this question, this is good. It might even land you the job but it depends.)

14: Do you have any concerns about my character or efforts expressed today? (This is a backwards professional way of figuring out what they think of you as a candidate.)

15: How many interviews does the company conduct before offering employment to the chosen candidate? (This tells you if an employer conducts more than (1) interview, and if you should prepare yourself just in case.)

16: What are three most important qualities by which you evaluate a person's performance in this role? (This tells you what's important to the employer and what you should be consistent in.)

17: Does the company utilize social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter to conduct or advertise business? And what is the company's cultural norms around using these types of platforms here, if applicable? (This tells you if the company encourages/supports social media, but also tells you if the company has a no social media policy that employees should follow.)

18: (If offered the position), I understand that I would be reporting to (manager's name, if known), can you tell me what their communication and support style is like that may differ from other levels of management? (If your manager will be the person who's interviewing you or someone else, you should know the type of personality you'll be working with, so you can adapt and avoid conflict).

Here's to smart interviewing! - Veronica