From
: FEBRUARY 2007 PIAZZALE CAREER NEWSLETTER Questions are your gateway to career information and interviewing success. Whether you're networking for a job or information, interviewing, or negotiating salary, questions can give you crucial information that will help you determine what job and career are for you, where the jobs are located, and then help you land the job.
In this newsletter, I provide a small sampling of questions to give you a start.
Before you network with someone or go into an interview, ask yourself what do I most need to get from this interaction? What do I need to find out or communicate? What will help me learn more about where I need to go next? What will help me succeed in landing a job, acing this interview, or negotiating a fair salary?
Then write out your questions accordingly. Practice them out loud, see how they sound. And above all listen carefully to the answers you are given.
Feel free to change the wording of these questions to best fit your
conversational style. But you owe it to yourself to mine for information.
NETWORKING/INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
What do you wish you'd known before you entered this field?
What's the best way for me to get more experience in your field without taking major steps backward from my current career level?
What sacrifices do you think I might have to make to switch to your career?
What are the emerging trends and changes in this industry?
What skills or personal characteristics do you feel contribute most to success in this job or industry?
What kinds of people experience the greatest success in this field?
What is the most important thing that someone planning to enter this
career/industry should know?
Which professional journals and publications should I be reading to learn more?
Are there courses I should be taking; a credential I should pursue?
Which professional organizations should I join?
With the information you have about my education, skills, and experience, what other jobs or industries would you suggest I research before I make a major decision?
How would you assess the experience I've had so far in terms of requirements for the work we've discussed?
Would you take a brief look at my resume and suggest ways I could tailor it to make myself more marketable?
Could you look at my self-marketing plan and give me some feedback on my job search strategy?
If you were conducting a job search today, how would you go about it?
What's your biggest work challenge? Your greatest reward?
What is the current salary range for the jobs we are discussing?
Do you have any special words of warning or encouragement as a result of your experience?
What special advice do you have for a student seeking to qualify for this
position/get into this industry?
Can you describe the industry trends and emerging markets I should be aware of?
How has outsourcing affected this work?
If you were me, what would you do next; who should I speak with, what
professional association meeting should I attend, what should I be reading?
Who else would you recommend I contact? (And then network with those folks!)
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
How can I make your job easier?
What should I be asking about this job that's not obvious?
What are my most important deliverables in the first month/3 months of this job?
Please describe the qualities and abilities of a star performer in this role.
What do you wish someone could just come in and just take care of?
Is my position a new position; if not may I speak to my predecessor or to a
peer?
To the peer ask: What is your typical day like? What is the management style like? Ask about corporate culture and morale.
At the end of the interview ask: I think we have a good match here. Is there any reason you wouldn't consider me for the next round (or the job)? Do you have any lingering concerns?
What other information can I provide to convince you to hire me?
What should I expect next?
And ask any other questions that will help you determine if you want to work for the company and that you can succeed there.
Well, that's a good start. Don't ask questions the answer to which you could find through research but do ask anything that will help you understand a new career better, network more effectively or help you succeed in an interview. Then listen carefully to the answers. They contain a goldmine of valuable information!
Good luck!
Keywords: eCDF, Pizzale Career Newsletter, rf, sg
