I've heard myself say a few times "We as journalists are good at asking questions, we are just not good at answering them." I've been seeing job openings and want to make a couple of points on behalf of applicants.
A long- time colleague and I were talking the other day about his job search. Unlike most of the job seekers I counsel, he's no early or mid-career professional. In fact, we met when he was already in upper management in 1988 (!), and I was the early career professional at the time.
This old friend applied for a senior management job and we talked before and after the interview. After accepting a buyout from his previous company, he elected to stay out of the game for a while. Ironically, in previous interviews it was he who sat on the side of the desk that had the power. In an unusual role-reversal, he is now asked questions and providing the answers.
During his meeting, the interviewer asked, "Do you have any questions for me?" My friend responded, "Is this a marathon or a sprint?" Great question. He wanted a sense of how quickly the company would hire and how much pressure there is to get initiatives up and running.
I won't reveal more, but will say that alongside researching the company online and especially in-person (i.e: What, if anything, are people saying about the company?) you, as the interviewee, should be ready to ask questions during your interview. This shows you did your homework. Journalists do background interviewing and fact finding for a story. As an applicant, do the same kind of thing for every job that seems like right one.
Once during what turned out to be a successful job interview I asked to the hiring committee, "Tell me why you think this is a great job?" I think I surprised them with that question BUT the CEO had a great answer.
As you prepare for an interview, don't forget it's a two-way conversation and think about what it's like on the other side of that table. What would you ask?
*Chantal de la Rionda edits this blog
