Job interview uncertainty...advice please?

Question

I was wondering, I wrote a list of questions to ask the interviewers, and one of them was, "What do you like about working here." They seemed kind of surprised about this question..was it okay? Also, one of the women kept on yawning, and the other kept checking her watch. Are those bad signs?

Answer 1

It might be a bad sign, it might not.

In my most recent job interview, there were three interviewers and they all looked bored and like they couldn't wait to get out of there. The interview lasted about 15 minutes.

In one sense I thought I must have bombed the interview right from the start (based on their reactions). But I also knew that I was a very strong candidate for the job.

They had been sitting in that room interviewing people for three days (there were several openings to fill), and my interview was the very last one, so I could understand that they just wanted to go home on a Friday afternoon at 4pm.

I got the job, with the salary and location I had requested. I suppose they looked bored/ restless because early on they had decided to give me the job, but couldn't say so until later.

By the way, I think your question for them was an excellent one. Their reaction was probably just because they weren't prepared for it. (A lot of people complain about their jobs, but few take the time to think about the good aspects.)

Well done, and I hope you get the job!

Answer 2

I think that you have the right to know where you'll work.... at the end employer chooses you and you choose to work there... therefore they (employers) should market themselves to you, as well as you do... that said, maybe the question you mention was too direct and could also be more specific... I propose: how is it working here in terms of "xx"... or the things you really care about, some people care about leaving on time in the afternoon, some other care about out of the office activities, etc... 2 or 3 questions should do it... some people freaks out when they are the interviewers and end up being interviewed...

Answer 3

To start off, I do find it to be a bad sign that one interviewer kept yawning and another kept checking their watch. It shows a lack of interest on their part but moreso, it shows a lack of professionalism on their part as well. Perhaps several of the people sitting in on the interview were not accustomed to doing so or were merely observers to later provide feedback. I wasn't at the interview so I can not say for certain why they were not fully engaged in it.

Now as far as your questions to the interviewers, I tend to disagree with the other posters that say it was a bad idea. As someone with over 10 years experience in my field, interviews are a way of life considering most work in my profession is contract assignments. I have been apart of a great number of interviews and for the most part feel quite comfortable in them. I have to say that I found your question "What do you like about working here?" to be very imagnitive! I shows that you can think "outside the box" which is something many employers do look for. Some people look at interviews as a way to sell themselves to an employer. Those that really value their self worth not only look at interviews as a way to sell themselves but also give the employer the opportunity to sell themselves as well! After all, I need to explain what benefits I would bring to the employer, and I expect them to explain what benefits they would bring to me! If those benefits would not matter to us, then why would we care about things like salary, medical/dental, 401k, vacation time, etc? Employers consistantly ask questions of us such as "Give me your greatest stregth/weakness" or "Why should I hire you?" so why is it wrong for us to ask "Why should I work for you?"

In closing, I do not think that you asked anything wrong! You have just as much right to ask questions that are important to you as the employer does. And like I said, I think it was a very fitting question!

Answer 4

That seems a little strange- you asking them questions. I understand what you were trying to do, but I don't think you went about it the right way. When they say ask questions, they mean ask intelligent job/company related questions. Things that you would like to know about the company that maybe the interviewer didn't touch on. For example, health benefits, job requirements, something simple and to the point. Something that they can answer quickly and move on. And not a whole pre-prepared list, that's for sure! And definately no personal questions of the interviewers!!! Please keep this in mind for next time and Good Luck!

Answer 5

you need to impress them with some flashy stuff in your portfolio.
Besides the'r interviewing you not you interviewing them-so never ask the employer questions about if He/She likes their job-only ask the employees
-Jace