The Lion’s Pride: Interviewing - Returning the Question

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The Lion’s Pride: Interviewing

Returning the Question

Interviews are for asking questions – but it shouldn’t be a one way street.

You should ask questions as well. This will make your talk more conversational, which will put both of you and the hiring manager at ease. You’ll both get more information, too.

Let’s look at a typical “old-school” exchange:

Hiring Manager: “What’s your biggest weakness?”

Candidate: “I tend to take on too many things. Recently, though, I’ve reduced my commitments. As a result, I enjoy life more and actually get more things done – and done better.”

You probably noticed the candidate finished with a declarative statement. This allows the hiring manager to ask another question without disclosing any information. Our candidate would be better served to finish with a question of her own. Here are two examples:

* “Is this the kind of information you’re looking for?”

* “Would you like another example?”

These questions can be applied to nearly all interview questions you’ll face. There are specific reasons why candidates should ask these questions (or variations of them):

Clarification. Both questions allow our candidate to judge what the hiring manager’s looking for. If, for instance, he wants more specific information, then she should give him more specific information. She could tell him about the time she wound up with three appointments at the same time, how she handled the flub, and how she’s changed for the better.

Simplification. When the candidate asks these questions, the hiring manager’s answers will reveal what he wants. Since she knows what he wants, she then can give him what he wants. It really doesn’t get much easier than that.

Revelation. These questions can also help reveal any ulterior motives the hiring manager might have. His answers will offer glimpses of his personality and, as such, the company’s personality. (If, for instance, he keeps asking for more and more examples, then he obviously isn’t into divulging information.)

IN THE CARAVAN: Returning the question to the hiring manger makes the interview more conversational. It also helps clarify, simplify and reveal information.

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