Page 198 - John Kador - 301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview, Second Edition-McGraw-Hill (2010)

QUESTIONS FOR SUPERSTARS

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What are the biggest problems facing this department in the next six
months and in one year? What key competencies have you identifi ed
that I will need to develop in the next six months to be successful?
Here you’re looking for the hiring manager’s hot buttons. These are
the issues against which your initial performance will be evaluated.

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What do you see in me? What are my strongest assets and possible
weaknesses? Do you have any concerns that I need to clear up in order
to be the top candidate? What is the likelihood, in percentage terms,
that you will make me an offer?

This is a bold and confident bid-for-action question that also asks for
any objections.

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What is the best or toughest question I could ask you to find out about
the worst aspects of this job? How would you answer it? If you were
my best friend, what would you tell me about this job that we haven’t
already discussed?
A last-ditch attempt to reveal negative information about the
company.

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Are any acquisitions, divestitures, or proxy fights on the horizon?
A question suitable only if you are a candidate for a very senior

executive-level position or in finance. Otherwise, if the answer to this
question matters, get a subscription to the Wall Street Journal or talk
to an analyst following the company.

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If this position is offered to me, why should I accept it?
It takes a certain stage presence to ask this question without being
offensive. It requires a broad smile, the right tone of voice, and body
language that suggests humility instead of arrogance. Frankly, few
people can pull it off.

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