Jobless Corner

Let’s describe the typical job interview. You might be the one looking for a job but there’s no reason to just sit there and respond to their questions. It’s your prime opportunity to get to know more about the position, the work, and the company apart from what you already know.

Most human resource officers are now paying attention to both verbal and non-verbal cues. They can read your body language whether you’re scared half-witted or too complacent. They also profile your personality through the way you ask questions. By forcing a two-way conversation, it gives the impression that your are a person with keen attention to detail and that you’re not the person who would blindly rush decisions since you are interested in knowing more.

This also tells you much about a companies that do not allow interviewees to ask some questions about themselves. If they’re just too keen on getting information from you, and not return the favor, then you just might have to consider your decision to pursue the position. This may just reflect their company culture and ways of working.

Provided that you really aced the questions and have discussed the offer and other arrangements, it’s probably your turn to ask questions. Some of the things that you might want to ask are:

1. Corporate mission and vision These cheesy tags reflect how the company perceives itself. Are they all for creativity and dynamism? Or are they for traditional ways of working? Are these consistent with what you know so far?
2. Corporate structure Examining corporate hierarchy may give you an idea whether you have a chance to grow within the company or not. Knowing what the departments and reporting lines are gives you an idea if they’re all for a streamlined process or a bureaucratic set-up.
3. Turn-over rates High turn-over rates reflect much about the dissatisfaction of employees. Most people I know would not trade their job even for higher pay if they really get satisfaction from the work and the workplace.
4. Typical office day and routine Will you be a) bored to death, b)be dead with stress, or c)enjoy a challenging yet satisfying job?

Be keen yourself. Interviewers are often instructed to sell the company and the position depending on the company’s urgent need.

Still hesitant to ask? Now, perhaps one block that prevents interviewees from turning the tables is that they hold the interviewer in such a god-like status. Sure, your interviewer will definitely affect the company’s decision whether to hire you or not. But that doesn’t mean that you’d have to limit yourself to mere responses.

Next time your interviewer asks if you have any questions, take advantage of it. Keeping the interviews two-way can help you better gauge whether you’re landing your dream job or not.