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.

Looking for Work, or an Exercise in Insanity?

Normally this is the part where I whine and complain about how I haven't maintained a blog, and blah, blah, blah. I've decided that this blog is going to cease to be that kind of blog. Why? I'm getting serious about the serious business of writing.

You see, a lot of us writers do this. We say that we want to freelance or whatever (commit to a book, poem, whatever currently tickles our fancy). We make bold claims and a whole lot of nothing is the result. So I asked myself, aren't you tired of that? The simple answer was yes, so I committed to looking for work in the writing industry. And that is when I discovered one small hiccup in my otherwise brilliant scheme, my portfolio is sad.

I am weep into your cocoa, cuddle up with a puppy, and watch some generic sappy movie sad. The sad that drives poets to poesy sad. It's not that I don't have writing samples, I do, and they even display my range as a writer and how I'm all multifaceted. But as a lot of writing jobs are in marketing and I have nothing that shows how I could blow people away in the field, I spend a lot of time sending in my stuff, only to get laughed at. (I assume this at least; to date, no one has actually called me to laugh at me, but it wouldn't surprise me.)

So, some of you ask, "What are you doing about all this? Quitting? I would, but then again, I'm not you so you wouldn't take my advice." You're right random person that I made up, I'm not. I'm still plugging away. I keep searching for jobs, even ones not in my field. I've started building a LinkedIn profile, and I am working on generating new, exciting writing samples, as well and brushing up my writing skills and taking the leap into freelance writing. I'm building myself up and taking risks.

I was, admittedly, trying the same tactics for far too long. Using the same samples, not taking risks, and even not writing, but what is the point? Writers and supposed to be creative and I confess to be one of their lot, so creativity is something I should have. (I do have that spark, by the way, at least according to others and a class I took in college.)

Finding work in the freelance world is not easy, but not impossible, at least according to Tom Ewer at Leaving Work Behind. I've actually found his article "Freelance Writing: How To Find Your First Job" interesting and informative. I will be following his tips. One thing that I have as an advantage is that my current living situation allows me to not need a steady income right now, so I do have some time to build up a portfolio this way. He also lists 7 mistakes that I will definitely be looking to avoid.

I would hate to live where Tom lives, though, he says $40,000 a year is not enough to pay the bills, and I would disagree, that would be a blessing beyond compare for me and there would be plenty of opportunities for me to live off of that.

Normally, this is the part where I promise to write more and maybe even announce what will come next. The truth is, I don't know what is next, nor do I care. Life is too fluid sometimes and we all have a lot to learn. So, no, I won't make promises like that. What I say is I will write when I have something to say, and possibly even before that.

Oh, Forget It, I Can't Think Of A Title Any Way...

So, some news for my faithful few! (Maybe I should avoid saying things like how few people read this and blah, blah, blah...) I finally have my first real interview since I lost my last job. It went fairly well, but it seems I am the first of four candidates for this job and the manager that interviewed me seems to think that he won't make a decision until about Tuesday. Then, if he likes me enough over the other people, then he'll give me a call. If that happens, then I get to interview once again with the general manager, who is ultimately responsible for hiring. All this to be a cook at Applebee's. No offense to the other guys (or possibly gals), but I hope they don't get the job and I do. I need to work 'cause work makes me feel good inside (and makes my bank account feel even better inside).

Speaking of work, I have been reading this blog lately, called Android Central. Recently, they posted an article detailing how they are looking for some new writers to handle news volume. Now, I know, some people are thinking, "Oh, Nathan, that would be right up your alley, you want to be a writer after all." I thought the same thing! However, there is one slight problem, they require that you own an Android smart phone, which I currently do not. (Yes, that is a link to a Wikipedia article, because it gives some good insight for those who don't know that Android is a cell phone operating system and not the Droid series of phones from Verizon.) I do want to own a Nexus One when I have money and my upgrade comes in from T-Mobile, but that is not now.

In other news, life has been interesting. I did/ am doing some work at my church, painting this shed we have. It's great to be doing something with my hands again. Another thing I did with my hands is rip apart a computer I used to own and take some components from it. You see, I found out that my CD drive burned out, or something, on the computer I am currently using at home. I hate that computer so much, but I had some CD's I really wanted to load to my iPod. However, they first needed to be on my iTunes, so I was simply going to take one of the two CD-ROM drives that were going to waste in old system, yet it proved to be more of a task than I thought. So I gutted the thing and now need to find it the parts I took are even worth all that effort. I also recently fixed my PS3, with my own two hands, because I do stuff like that. Yet Best Buy still hasn't called me. Their loss I guess.

How Can Looking For A Job Still Make You Feel Like A Bum?

Oh, unemployment, thou art the bane of my existence. I've been out of work since October and let me tell you, finding a job has been insane. Part of me wonders if there isn't some mean spirited person running around, contacting the people I apply to and telling them not to hire me, not to even call me. Sure, I was let go from my last job, but it wasn't for anything crazy. It's not like I'm some loose cannon waiting for a chance to explode. I am hard working guy and I'm good at what I do. So you know what that means? That's right, NO ONE WILL HIRE ME. At least that is what it feels like. I honestly now have more applications out now that I have ever had in my life. Managers duck my calls like a wide receiver ducking defenders (that's a football reference for the non-football people).

Maybe it's my degree. I have an English degree, but I am not applying (for the most part) to jobs that require a degree. Maybe they think I'm over qualified or that I will dump them as soon as that big job comes in. So they don't call back. It's silly, but it's more like their a boy not sure if the girl who gave him her number wants him to call; he wonders if she is interested. She is, even though this example is kind of a poor choice as I am not a she, but, yeah... I want to work, and I want to work for them. I wouldn't have applied, and I definitely would not have called back. However, it appears that you cannot flirt sweetly enough in these dark economic times. You must find a way to bring down the hammer, or find that one person who is willing to take a chance on you. I want that chance. I work hard and learn any job quickly. I hear those are important things.

One thing I have learned is how to fill out an application. Not that I didn't have this knowledge before, but I know it better than ever now. I'm sure I will have nightmares about filling out applications for the rest of my days.

My roommate Jon states that jobs should just hire me because I'm just that good and they should know it when I walk through the door. Of course he is just being encouraging, but, at the same time, I would love it if I just walked in and they knew I would be a hard worker and a great fit. My dad has convinced me that I know my stuff when it comes to things I have applied for, especially when I applied to have a job at a T-Mobile dealer. I've all but given up on that job ever coming through.

I did "have" a job. I was "hired" on to be a cafe cook. Now, you may have noticed I used quotations there. If not, you might think about investing in glasses, it will save you on headaches and your eyes from getting worse. See, I am very helpful, I provide a free eye exam with my blog post. Any way, I came into work for this cafe one day for a very short period of time, which was to be "training." I was told I did well, and then was given a meal as payment. That's right, I worked for about two hours for lunch. Now, I was told I would be called within the week about my hours (this was a Monday). I waited, then called back. Three times, and then I was told by my dad not to call back. If they wanted me, they would call me. I guess they didn't want me, I never got that call. Then I learned that this same location has been under new management/ownership three times in the last three years, so maybe it was for the best.

However, I now wish there was a way to make money filling out these applications. I do so many a day I have to rack my brain to remember who has an app from me and who I'm looking at applying to. I need to sit down and make a master list, which I may do tonight. Seriously, I could open up a business, Nathan's Applications, "You want them filled out, we get them filled out." Sure, it would start off small at first, and I would only have a few clients. Then, as time went on, especially as people were hired, I would expand. At some point, I would hire on new employees, and even set up a website and a Twitter page (businesses have to have a Twitter page these days). Ironically, new employees could not use the service to apply, because our application would be the pre-interview test they would have to pass. Over time, the company would grow, and I would retire early as I sell the company for a multi-million dollar deal. I wouldn't let the new found wealth spoil me though. Oh no. I would still live like I was middle class, just middle class with a whole lot of disposable income.

My point is that someone should hire me so I can stabilize just a bit so that trying to become a freelance writer doesn't seem like a far off pipe dream that I will never be able to gain. I could be a star, just give me a chance to shine! That, and some income is good for things like bills and what not...