Do You Have Any Questions for Me?: How to Use Questions to Express Your Worth in a Job Interview

Though many people become very nervous about how to answer any questions an interviewer might have for them in a job interview, they forget that they're also telling the interviewer a lot about themselves by the questions they're asking. Where interviewers use questions to have leverage in the conversation it's also important to express yourself with your questions. A thoughtful question tells the interviewer what it is important to you and could be just what you need to stand out from the other applicants. Here are some questions that may help give the interview a look into your frame of mind: 

1. What would be my daily responsibilities in this position?
- Asking this question not gives you additional information about the job, but also tells the interviewer that you're already starting to put yourself into the mindset of a person with this position. This forces the interviewer to envision you in this role in order to answer the question. 


2. Has this position been newly created to fill a need within the company?
- Not only does the answer to this question let you know if there is already a predetermined schedule and set of responsibilities for this position, but the question says that you're also thinking outside of your own role/gain and thinking about the company.  


3. If you'd be replacing someone, you might ask: "What did the last person in this position go on to do?"
- This is question can express that you're thinking about where this position can lead if promoted. 


4. What kind of opportunities would there be for growing within the company? 
- Asking about advancement can seem like you're already looking beyond a position you haven't even secured, but it tells the interviewer that you're interviewing for a career with the company rather than just interviewing for a job. You won't be able to be promoted unless you're very driven and focused on your work and this question tells the interviewer that you will be; even if for no other reason than to be promoted. 


5. What are some immediate goals of the company?
- Again, any opportunity you have to express to the interviewer that you are interviewing for a career and not just a job will help you stand out as a team member who cares about the overall success of the company. Employees who take greater stock and pride in the company they work for tend to work much more diligently to ensure its success. 


6. How did you get started with the company? What do you like about it?
- This is a unique opportunity to speak to the interviewer as an individual instead as an employee and get them to personally open up about their experiences with the company. The interviewer may or may not let their guard down and talk to you as an individual instead of as a representative of the company. Either way, it's a good way to ease tension.


7. Who would be my immediate supervisor? Whom will I supervise?
- By asking very specific questions, you're already beginning to feather the nest of your position at this company. Specific questions about day-to-day activities on the job express that you're a planner and think ahead. 



8. What specific skill set does this job most require? 
- Though asking very specific questions about a position you don't yet have seems like jumping the gun, it shows that you're thinking about how you can be an asset to the company in this position. The answer will also cause you to look within yourself to see if this job is really for you. 


9. How has the interviewing process been going?
- This question is another way of breaking any tension in an interview and talking to this interviewer as a person rather as an ambassador of the company. Most companies want to hire people with personalities and not robots. By asking, you're giving the interviewer a miniature break from the interviewing process and an opportunity to let their hair down for a moment. However effective this question might be in relieving tensions, it's best asked towards the end of an interview. This shows that you're about getting business handled before socializing. If they give a very short official response that shows they're not interested in small-talk, quickly move on from the subject. 



10. How soon do you think you will make your decision? How would you like to contact me?
- There's a good chance you'll want to ask this question for personal reasons, but it's also a good way of wrapping up an interview. It shows that you're looking towards the next step in your relationship with the company. 


Just like you can't ace a test unless you know the answer to the questions, having the right questions that tell give the interviewer an expanded look into your frame of mind about a position is somewhat like bringing along your own bonus questions to answer. Always be extremely courteous, provide a firm handshake, good eye contact, proper posture, and most importantly, remain calm and be yourself. 


For more questions to think about asking the interviewer in your next job interview, check out this write up from Resumagic.com. For high caliber jobs for high caliber workers in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas, log onto to Barracuda Staffing for more information. 

Questions About Staffing Agencies

For many, the prospect of using the services of an employment agency can seem very confusing. Questions range from who is actually employing the individual, how is the agency getting paid, and how do these job assignments work out in the long run. To answer these questions and many others, the good people from Libgig.com have put together this article answering some frequently asked questions by those thinking about seeking the services of a staffing company. The benefits from using an employment agency to assist in finding a job range from the connections these companies provide to those who might not normally have a foot in the door of larger businesses to the advice they can offer to help you present yourself to companies in the very best light. For some of the finest positions available for those seeking work and some of the best workers in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City areas of Oklahoma, look no further than Barracuda Staffing. Our employment professionals can help get you on track to a rewarding career or help your business thrive by utilizing the highest quality workers. 

Down, but Not Out: Making Finding a Job Your Full-Time Job

After working a job for a while, especially a job that you enjoy and pays decently, being let go from that job can be hard to take; no matter the reason behind it. Many people equate their own personal value with their work so when a company or individual tells them that they don’t want them anymore, it can almost feel like a breakup in a relationship. It’s painful, disorienting, and can lead to a continued slump. One of the easiest ways of dealing with the pain and bouncing back to the person you were before is by not wasting any time and getting back to work. While this might sound obvious, many people take this concept for granted. Here are some tips for getting back into the swing of things and out-running the blues.

1.       Don't stop. 

Even if you were let go from your job early in the day, there’s no to turn off that driven frame of mind and end up in depression. While taking the length of a lunch break is a decent amount of time to come to terms with the fact that you no longer have a paying job, the term “paying job” is purely subjective. What constitutes a “paying job” anyways? Being on the clock? No! A paying job is simply working for something that will pay off in the future. While before, that “paying job” was working on the clock, in a salary position, or based on sales commissions, you’re not anymore “jobless” than you were when you showed up at work that morning. Now you’re simply working in transition. Channel any anger or disappointment about losing your job into energy towards finding a new job. With what’s left of the day, instead of stewing, start devising your strategy for finding a new position elsewhere.

2.       You’re not actually out of the job.

Even when you’re not officially employed by a company any longer, you are not jobless; your new full-time job is finding a job. When you were working, you showed up to a place every day at a specific time to do a specific job. Why turn that off now? You can keep the momentum up in an assortment of ways. 

-          The morning of your first day out of work, don’t sleep in. Get up at the normal time you would for your job and start strategizing ways to get a new job.

-          Update your resume. Have someone you know review it for possible mistakes and inaccuracies. Make sure it looks professional and easy to read.

-          Dress for success, even at home. Even when your job-hunting tasks for that day don’t involve leaving the house, dress for like you are. Sitting around in your pajamas isn’t good for productivity or morale. Simply putting on a pair of shoes can help trick your mind that there is work to be done.

3.       Every job hunter is a salesman.

It doesn’t matter what line of work you were in before, whether it was construction or food preparation, you are now a salesman and the product you are selling is yourself. If you were to sell a product for a company, you would put together some form of a presentation for the customer, you would make sure it looked good, and you’d be on time for the presentation. How you come off to a potential employer can determine whether or not you get the job just like a bad salesman can turn a customer off from buying a good product.

-          Be on time. First impressions are everything and if you’re not on time for the interview or time you arranged to speak with an employer, you’ve already told them that you’re unreliable. Being 5 minutes early is recommended, but being any more than 15 minutes might actually end up inconvenience the employer, so it would be best to wait in your car and prepare for the interview if you have some time to kill.

-          Dress the part. There is an old saying that says “Dress for the job you want.” While there is some truth to that, walking onto a build site in a tuxedo might not be the wisest decision. Do a little research and attempt to find out not only what the average employee of that company wears, but also what other candidates for the position are wearing and go one step above that. If the next guy is wearing a polo shirt, wear a dress shirt. If he’s wearing dress shirt, wear a tie. If he’s wearing a tie, wear a blazer. You get the picture.

-          Be courteous, but be yourself. Most of the time, employers are not only looking for a good worker, but a human being who can listen to the concerns of their customers. Your interaction with an employer gives them a preview of how you are going to be with their customers. Their customers want to be greeted by a professional, not a robot.

-          Follow up. No matter how badly you think the interview went, follow up with the employer soon after. Rather than inquiring about whether or not they’ve made their decision and coming off as being desperate or nosey, rather simply thank them for their time and compliment their business.  

4.       Take time out for yourself.

Like any other job, if you overwork yourself, you’re not going to be a quality worker. Your job as a job-hunter is no different. Take time away from looking for work during the times you would usually be off work unless an employer wants to meet with you during those times. Spend time with friends and family to give yourself a chance to recharge so you can start off the next day or the next week fresh and ready to tackle your full-time job of finding a new job.

For additional help in finding a job, contact the job-finding professionals at Barracuda Staffing. Chances are that the job-fishing experts at Barracuda Staffing have several jobs waiting for a person like you to get started on.