Questions to Ask in an Interview

Interviewer:  Is there anything I can answer for you?
Candidate:  No, I think I know everything I need to know.

Let's face it.  Do you really know EVERYTHING you need to know about the company you're interviewing at?  

You should assume that every interviewer will allow you an opportunity to ask questions of them.  I urge you to ask them!  Engaging the interviewer shows them that you are a part of the conversation, and that you are interviewing them as well.  After all, you will have to be working with them.  On top of looking like you are genuinely interested in the company and the team, it shows you came prepared.  

Below, I list some of the types of questions you can consider asking your potential-future-employer:

• Future of the industry (ie: cloud technology, solar, potato powered cars)
• Growth of the company over the past few years
• Planned future growth of the company
• Company culture
• Team structure / hierarchy 
• Opportunity for growth
• The interviewer's career path

Things you should avoid asking:

• Salary (unless the interviewer brings it up)
• Benefits (unless the interviewer brings it up)
• Soft benefits
• Paid Time Off / PTO
• Sabbaticals
• "Bring your dog to work" day

At the end of the day, remember that an interview is just a conversation.  It should never be question-answer-question-answer.  Make it interactive; make it a give-and-take.  Don't be afraid to ask questions mid-interview.  Don't be afraid to interject if you are confused about the job duties.

Just as much as the company is interviewing you, you are interviewing them.

We Are Always Watching...

Social media outlets provide great insights to a potential candidate.  Let's say I find someone on LinkedIn Recruiter that I think looks great for the position I am looking for.  I will be the first to admit (and many recruiters will) that I am not only looking at your professional profiles, but I am going to look at your Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, Yelp, and/or any blogs you write for or own.  I not only want to get a sense for who you are as a professional, but I want to see how you will be as an employee.

People make assumptions.  Lots of them.  How many times have you looked at someone's Facebook profile and said to yourself, "Joe Shmo is always partying" or "Mary Jane's updates are always her complaining about something".  I'm sorry to break it to you, but recruiters are doing the exact same thing.  We are people, after all.  If we see something we don't like, it may cost you an interview - or worse, a job offer.

So, what's killing your social networking profile, you ask?

Inappropriate pictures.  Mentions of excessive use of drugs and/or alcohol.  Complaints about work, or your boss.  Bad grammar.  

Employers are trying to get a picture of who you are as a professional, who you are at work and outside of work, how you interact with your colleagues.  Ultimately, they are trying to figure out whether you will be good for the culture, or whether you will be a parasite for it.

My suggestion:  Google yourself.  See what pops up.  Would a future employer be pleased with what they see?  Would you offer yourself a job?