Tag Archives: Interview Questions

By Rob Kelly

On the next interview  you go on, I recommend that you take some control.   Don’t let the hiring manager ask all the questions; ask your own!  A good hiring manager will welcome your curiosity.

Here are some examples of useful questions to ask the interviewer:

1) Would you please describe purpose/mission statement & set of values?

2) What are the company’s greatest challenges (or priorities) your company faces right now?

3) Who would I report to and how does our team fit within the rest of the company structure?

3) Who are the shareholders/owners of the company?

4) What is the path to earning more responsibilities?

5) How are priorities set?

6) How does feedback work…how often will I receive feedback on performance?

7) How does compensation work? Is salary the only component, or are their equity or bonus/commission programs? What opportunities are there for me to grow your compensation?

When searching for a good job, it’s even more important to get your questions answered than just answer the employer’s questions.

Rob Kelly is a globally recognized CEO, advisor and writer. He has served as CEO of Ongig, Hot Topic Media and Mojam and held executive positions at Topica and CMP Media. Before that, Rob was a journalist for Information Week Magazine where he interviewed Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and other business leaders. Rob began his love of business early, attending his first shareholder/board meeting when he was 16 years old. More on Rob can be found at http://robdkelly.com.

The Glassdoor Team is a small yet seasoned group of individuals looking to provide greater transparency into one of the most important aspects of our lives – our jobs. Contributions to the blog are designed to present a unique perspective on current events, offer commentary on the inside workings on specific jobs at a multitude of companies, and provide details on the latest happenings from within Glassdoor.

By Debra Wheatman

While there are many differing views on how to respond to the question: “what’s your salary?”  – you should tactfully avoid answering whenever possible. As the saying goes: He who talks salary first, loses.

Of course, there is a fine line. Being evasive might cause some friction between you and the interviewer. However, if you put all your cards on the table, you will have no leverage. It would be better to understand what the position is paying first. This will help you determine whether you should continue to pursue the role or move on to greener pastures.

If you are speaking directly with a company, you can say something like, “I am sure we will be able to come to a fair agreement if the position represents a good fit for us both.” Alternatively, you can state that your required salary depends upon the duties and responsibilities of the role; you will be happy to provide full disclosure once you are further along in the process.

Unfortunately, you may not always be able to skirt the issue. One of the first questions a 3rd party recruiter or hiring manager may ask during an initial interview is “What is your current compensation?”  While this can seem downright invasive, it is an attempt to make sure you are in the right price range. The flip side? Ask what the position is budgeted for. There has to be a budget or else why would you be in an interview situation?

It may be tempting to say that it is premature to discuss money, but this tactic can backfire when dealing with recruiters in particular and hinder you from getting your foot in the door. Any worthwhile recruiter will tell you what they know about the allocated budget.  Keep in mind that most external recruiters are paid based on a percentage of your base salary, so it is to their advantage to have you earn compensation at the higher end of the spectrum.

If you wish to be vague, you can let him or her know that your salary falls within the range stated. If you are probed for specifics, depending upon the situation, you can answer this in a number of ways:

1. If your salary is lower than the stated range, consider quoting the value of your total package.  For example, if you earn base plus bonus and also get insurance and mileage reimbursement along with a 401K match, lump that all into one and state that your total package equals X. The goal here is to make you look more attractive by bringing your compensation history to a higher level without being dishonest. Be prepared to provide actual W2s to back up the base compensation.
2. If your salary history is higher than the range quoted, but you are still interested in the role, let the recruiter know that you are flexible on the base and you are negotiable for the right total package.  This will allow you to keep the door open for perks and benefits. If you are really valuable and the budget permits it, who knows – maybe they will step up to the plate and match your previous salary.
3. If you are within the stated compensation range, but want to be sure to get a bump up in pay, be clear with the recruiter or hiring manager to let him or her know that you are targeting a salary increase and that you also currently get a variety of benefits and perks that are substantial.

Every situation is unique; your preparation will allow you to handle the situation gracefully. Take some time beforehand to sit down and make a list of your actual compensation. Consider the value of your entire package, including things like mileage reimbursement/company car, health insurance, stock options, and 401K match.

While you want to remain flexible and friendly, you do not want to devalue what you bring to a new role. Assuming you have worth as an industry expert in your chosen occupation, you should not accept a salary unless it is commensurate with your experience, skills, and ability to perform.

While you may consider a decrease for a start up that offers stock options, you should not fall prey to a company that thinks they can offer low salaries because of a sluggish economy.  In the long run, this practice will cause high turnover and dissatisfied workers. You may want to think twice if you feel you are being shortchanged. Stick to your guns and remember to share all of the assets you bring with you.

Glassdoor.com is a career and workplace community offering a free inside look at jobs and companies with access to millions of job listings. Glassdoor enables employees, job seekers, employers and recruiters to simultaneously see – for the first time – unedited opinions about a company’s work environment along with details on salaries, company reviews, CEO approval ratings, job interview questions and reviews, and office photos as well as career advice.

By myFootpath

There’s nothing quite like a job interview.  From the minute you get the call, you’re excited about the chance to start a new opportunity, but you’re worried you’ll answer a question the wrong way, or you’ll forget to comb your hair that day.

There’s a good chance your hair will be just fine, but you might want to give some advance thought to an interview question many people don’t handle well.  While interview questions can change very quickly, “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” is one that just won’t go away.  Some employers try to disguise the question by asking “What is your best talent, and what do you need to work on?,” but both of these questions are heading in the same direction; they want to know how you see yourself, and how well you can communicate that self-knowledge to others.

For some reason, people think this is some kind of trick question, so they try to come up with an answer they think is unforgettable. They’re usually right—but the answer is unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.  Consider these:

“I’m awesome!” It might seem OK to start off your strengths with an strong statement, but since this is a pretty popular phrase, it’s easy for this answer to sound fake.  Some employers might worry that the rest of the interview is going to turn into more of a pep rally than a serious conversation; show good energy, but don’t get too strong too soon.

“I don’t think we have enough time for me to really answer that question.” This may seem like a good effort at humor, but it can come off as a little too self-centered, or more interesting than whatever you might say after this.  In most cases, save the humor for a little later in the interview.

“Wow.  Umm… Let me see.” This is an opposite answer that has the same effect in the interview—it’s a job killer.  Not being able to think quickly of one good thing to say about you is usually seen as a lack of self-confidence, something employers don’t like.  Other job hunters will use this answer to pretend they haven’t thought of an answer ahead of time, but most interviewers see right through that false modesty.

“I’m afraid of the dark.” This is the kind of answer you want to avoid when talking about your weaknesses.  Too many job hunters think this is the time to list personal faults, bad habits they want to break, or other private matters that don’t relate to the office.  As one counselor said, this is a job interview, not psychotherapy. Keep your answers related to work, and you’ll be fine.

“I care too much!” This is the all-time worse answer to give if the question is about your weaknesses.  Even if it’s true, it’s been used by too many people in the past, and it really doesn’t answer the question—so don’t be tempted to use this response.

If these are all bad answers, what makes a good answer? The truth. “As I understand the position, the strengths I would give to the job are my experience in sales, my ability to listen to people, and my ability to close the sale.  In terms of weaknesses, I find the paperwork in sales can be challenging to manage, but I took a workshop on how to use my new computer to help with that, and it’s really helping me stay organized in my current job.”

Thoughtful, professional, honest: that’s the job interview trifecta. – By Patrick O’Conner via myFootpath

As a counselor and college adviser for 25 years, Patrick O’Connor has helped unemployed workers, veterans, returning students, and new high school graduates learn new skills, earn degrees, prepare for graduate school and get better-paying jobs.  He’s a past president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and author of the widely acclaimed college guide, College is Yours in 600 Words or Less. Most important, he’d like to help you realize your goals for college and career success.