Interview Questions to Consider

Sometimes an interview can completely change dynamics with one simple phrase, "Do you have any questions?"

Most of us have felt it. That sudden tenseness and the moment of panic when you realize that all of your questions that you came to this interview ready to fire off were answered during the course of the interview, and you would look like a moron if you asked them now. Well, never fear, here's a list of some questions that just might help avoid this and make you out to be an interview rock star!

What qualities are you looking for in the person you are hoping to appoint?

This might seem like a simple question, but it honestly makes sense to ask it. You go to the interview to try and demonstrate that you are the ideal candidate, and this is a chance to shine! Maybe they list a quality or two that you did not have a good chance to show that you had during the course of the interview, you can address that here. Maybe they describe you word for word and this becomes your chance to show them once again that you fit the mold! This question has the added bonus of letting you know where you stand with this interviewer.

What scope is there for personal development at your company? or Is there room for growth?

These questions show that you are career minded and are not just looking for a position to fill, but a career. Companies want someone who is a long-term investment for them, not just a time suck. This question shows that you are forward thinking and ambitious, which is a plus for a like-minded company. They want to see that you want to grow in this position, not just use it as a launch pad for a different job.

Is there anything you have seen in the other people on the shortlist that you have not seen in me? or Are there any reservations you have about my fit for the position that I could try to address?

These questions give you a chance to address any concerns that the interviewer might have about you. They also show that you are open to critical feedback and take criticism well.These questions are a bit of a gamble as you may not like the answer, but they can pay off big in the right circumstances. This question has the added fun of turning the tables on the interviewer.

What are the biggest challenges the person in this position will face? or Can you describe a typical day or week in the position?

You're not stupid or blind, a new job means new challenges and you are already thinking about them. You see yourself in this position and you want to know what to expect. These questions show that you are not just trying to land the position, but succeed at them as well. You want to be ready to face whatever the job may bring.

What would a successful first year in the position look like? or Thinking back to the person who you've seen do this job best, what made their performance so outstanding?

Whoa there partner, you're looking to actually succeed at this role? You want to do a job that contributes to the company as a whole? I hope so, because that what questions like these two demonstrate, that you realize you are part of a whole and want to be a great employee. Asking something like this will definitely get the interviewer's attention.

How will the success of the person in this position be measured? or How is the success of your employees measured?

Though similar to the previous questions, this type of question shows that you are looking to be successful. These questions allow you to get insights into the company's policies and values. It lets you know how your contributions are measured and if you are a good fit for a company that looks at you that way.

How long did the previous person in the role hold the position? What has turnover in the role generally been like? or Is there significant turnover?

Questions like these are more for your benefit than the employer's. They can alert you to pitfalls within the job like unrealistic expectations or lack of growth in a company. If the answer is yes, ask why so that you can be aware of what to expect. Use caution when using this question, however, as you can easily tread into places you should stay of out as an interviewee.

How would you describe the culture here? What type of people tend to really thrive, and what type don't do as well? or Can you describe your company’s culture?

I cannot stress the importance of this question. A job is a significant time investment in your life. You want to know that you would do well here, but so does the interviewer. Are you a good fit for this kind of environment? Is it strict and closed off, but you're more free spirited? Does the company act like a start-up but you're more used to having the same routine every day? These are the things you need to know when considering a potential position, and it also gives you a chance to show you would fit in and how.

Of course it is always good to have a fallback plan.

This is by no means a comprehensive list. Most of these questions where pulled by a simple Google search for interview questions, and none of them were all that unique. My hope is that these questions help you in the interview, or at least give you a few ideas for questions to ask. Remember, the goal of an interview is to show that you are the one they are looking for. You questions and answers should all be tailor made to showing the managers you interview with that you are not a candidate, but the candidate.

Grammar, Grammar, Grammar!

As a writer, it is extremely important to check your grammar. It is easy to overlook small mistakes that can easily sneak into the work you do. I fall victim to this problem more often than I would like to admit. It is easy as a writer to forget that you make mistakes. You may not make the same mistakes that other people might make, but you still make them, and it can be hard to face that. It is increasing harder to keep your grammar skills up to par, especially in this digital age of texting and "lolspeak." I know that I am weird when it comes to text messages, but I refuse to sacrifice good grammar simply to send a text off mere seconds faster.

And even then people make mistakes.

Yes, I know the difference between "your" and "you're;" I don't get tripped up when it comes when to use "they're," "their," or "there." I can use the Oxford comma, and I know when to use a semi-colon (or even a colon). Does that mean I'm perfect? No way. I still make some basic mistakes now and then, and some less basic mistakes when I get a bit fancy. I know that tense changes slip into my writing too often, and I sometimes slip a progressive verb in places that really don't work. Even now and then I slip and make the same mistakes that I just implied I don't make! No writer is prefect, no matter what you may think.

As I write this, I am reminded that I have submitted work that honestly needed massive revision. Too often I have waited until the last minute to get to work. Heck, I recent writing sample I put together took nearly six hours to complete with about seven total drafts passed between me and a friend of mine who works as an editor. Now, don't get me wrong, a large part of those revisions was formatting my work into APA style standards (I confess I am much more adjusted to MLA style standards and Chicago style fills me with dread).

So what is a hip young writer to do? Well, you are in luck, that is exactly what this post is all about! Here are some simple, but effective techniques you can start using today to drastically improve your writing and minimize those annoying grammatical errors and mistakes.

1. Slow Down!

If you're not careful,
you could make mistakes like this one!

That's right! Slow down. Write slower. Okay, I get it, you have so much to say that you have to just write it down before it escapes forever. Okay, but are you willing you write that so fast that you make mistakes and then you have to spend possibly three or four times more time going back and translating your "genius" into something other people can understand? Sometimes, yes, this is necessary (we'll get to that in a bit), but other times you are deluding yourself and you really need to get a reality check. You don't have to get it all out before you forget it all, because if it was really that good, you should be able to write it out without losing it like a small breeze.

Slowing down will also help you keep an eye out for typos or changing tenses. Some mistakes can easily be avoided if you take your time to carefully craft your work. Some people use the term wordsmith to describe what we do. I think that is an apt word. Similar to a blacksmith, a great piece takes time. It is carefully crafted over time, not within seconds. You might have loaded this blog post in seconds, but I promise it took much longer to write.

2. Double, Triple, and Quadruple Check Your Work!

Tideous, but effective!

Yes, I know, some of you are upset. I have now told you in two tips in a row to slow down. Why is that? because it is important. Take breaks, get your eyes away from your writing. Sometimes all it takes is a fresh pair of eyes on a draft to spot mistakes that you may have missed before. That's why others can spot things you missed! They haven't had their eyes glued to the work for hours at a time.

Additionally, there are times that sudden inspiration hits and, honestly, you just can't be slowed down by hunting for errors. That's okay, let the inspiration ride, but remember that it will need a bit of work to make it as polished as possible. This isn't a bad thing.

3. Have a Style Manual Ready

Personally, this is my favorite.

Yes, I know. You feel like you know so very much when it comes to grammar and stylistic choices that you don't need the rules close at hand. You are also wrong and reading this article, so I think I've made my point.  Yes, it is slower to thumb through a handbook. Yes, the tips might be very basic. Honestly, though, I don't see how one of these bad boys isn't a normal part of a lot of writers' arsenal. Heck, while we're at it, you should have a dictionary and a thesaurus within arm's reach as well.

Everyone needs help. This is an inescapable rule of life. It has been said that no man is an island unto himself. This is true. No one stands alone. Mistakes are simply a part of life. Having a plan to minimize those mistakes only makes sense. Which leads us to tip number four!

4. If Possible, Have Someone Else Edit Your Work

Red marks can save you
embarrassment later.

You miss things. It's okay; this is a judge free zone. You are not perfect, nor are you expected to be. You will miss things in your own writing. You know what you meant, and it is very likely you keep that firmly in mind when you read your work to edit it. Other people will see mistake you may easily miss. Sometime you correct the mistakes in your head as you read them. This is natural and many people have been tripped up by this.

While we're on this topic, it is important you carefully consider what has been said to you. Don't get offended at what someone suggests. You know your first (and maybe eighth) draft isn't spotless, so why are you so up in arms when the person you had edit your work points out that this or that isn't clear, or you changed tense, or whatever you did? That is what they're there for! Maybe they have a suggestion of how you could word something clearer, take that advice! Sometimes you will flat out disagree with proposed edits. That's okay too! You don't have to do everything someone else suggest, but you do have to to be gracious, or you could lose a valuable asset!

Additionally, you could make them mad.

Ultimately the best advice I can give is to keep at it. Yes, it will take time. Yes, you might fail more times than you succeed. If you are really serious, then treat those times as learning experiences, get up on the horse, and ride again my friend!

Content Ahoy!

About a month ago I was in the process of applying for a content writer position that I really wanted. I sent in my resume, a strong cover letter tailored to the position and company, plus the four writing samples they had asked for. It was a position that didn't require experience and I thought that was my in. I was thrilled when they asked for an additional writing sample. In fact, I was on Cloud 9! They were taking me seriously! That's when things fell apart.

I sent in the writing sample. I was told I would be contacted. I kept sending weekly reminders. Silence was my only reply. I didn't know what to do. In fact, I nearly gave up on the job completely.

That's when it happened. This same company reposted the content writer job. The exact same job that fell through for me appeared again. I was unsure at first. Should I take that leap again into the arms of a company that had just recently left me hanging? The answer was yes.

The contact person had changed for this opening. I had thought that maybe the original contact person had become too busy to actively recruit for this job.When I carefully read the description again, I saw that the contact person was not the same person as before. So, throwing caution to the wind, I applied again!

This time they were only asking for two writing samples, so I sent what I believed to be my strongest sample, plus the one I created for them before. I decided to be a bit more aggressive this time. I sent a follow-up e-mail stating that I had already been through a portion of this process already, who my contact was, and what had happened. I seriously want this job, so I am serious about how I apply and pursue this job.

It seemed to pay off, I got a reply. This reply, however, was unexpected due to the content. I was again asked for a writing sample, with the exact same details as before. I could have taken the easy route and simply replied that I had already done this, and whatever, but I didn't. I wrote a new sample from scratch. I took the time, made sure the new sample is was as polished as possible.

This is when I took yet another calculated risk. When I submitted the new writing sample, I let my new contact know I had already submitted one for the other contact, but this one was brand new. I'm actually rather proud of this one, I think it is a lot better than the original.

Pictured: #Winning

Then I went for the kicker. I went there, in person, with three new writing samples I wrote just for them. I was confident. I was pumped! I was rejected. 

And repeat...

That's right. I went through all that time, effort, and energy to simply be shot down quicker than frat boys by a bar waitress. They kindly took my new samples* and sent me on my merry way. I walked away feeling a bit down.

So what's an unemployed, creative writer-type to do? I kept my head high and moved on. So this one company doesn't hire me. Someone will or freelancing with go on to be something more than it is now. Heck, my networking is already paying off and I should have new contacts with a major company within the week, so, sweetness!

Also, looking a pictures of
puppies helps. Here's one!

All in all, I say it was a good experience. Sure, I am still unemployed, but oh well, I don't have to stay that way forever and I learned from this. I gained confidence from this. I learned that tenacity pays off, even if it doesn't land you the job. I got a company to take me seriously. If anything, I took a major step forward. And so can you.

On a happier note, I've been pairing up with City Union Mission a bit recently. Most of what I do is some minor editing, but I also wrote a little something for them.

*I had physical copies which had, and I quote, "great formatting."