Dig Deeper Than the Typical Interview Questions to Impress Your Audience

The interview is coming up and your job is to make a solid impression. This requires more than just asking the typical interview questions. When preparing for this event, spend some time developing questions that demonstrate you have done your research. Get below the surface and ask probing questions that convey your critical thinking skills and preparation. This will make it clear to your audience that you are serious about the position. Here are a couple of examples of typical interview questions along with a more thoughtful alternative:

Typical interview questions about the company barely scratch the surface of learning about the organization, how it is poised for growth, what challenges it faces, etc. Your objective is to extract as much information as possible by asking insightful inquiries. For example, "Can you tell me something about the company that you are most proud of?" This will clue you in to what the interviewer deems important, especially pertaining to what he/she places value on. This is also a springboard to additional follow up questions that will allow you learn about the organization, the personality of the interviewer and the vision for the direction.

Typical interview questions about the position give you some insight to the expectations, yet for some reason, you always walk out of the interview with more questions than answers and you put yourself in a situation of making assumptions. An example of a suggested inquiry is, "How would you prioritize the functions/duties of this position?" This helps you understand where the company/hiring manager is placing emphasis. You also learn very quickly how to keep your manager satisfied with your performance.

Typical interview questions about turnover do not always shed light on this specific position or department. My favorite question on this topic is: "Is this position newly created or recently vacated?" By asking this question specifically, you are able to put your audience at ease with your tone and learn about the relevant situation you are competing for. By gathering this information, you can make a better determination of whether or not this position is right for you by understanding the expectations up front.

When interviewing, prepare like you normally have. Conduct your research and practice your responses to questions you know will be directed toward you. In addition, raise the bar of your candidacy by using your research to get beyond the typical interview questions of your competitors and ask probing questions. You will demonstrate your critical thinking skills and your deep seeded enthusiasm for the position.

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