Ep. 064: 8 Questions You Must Ask in an Interview, with J.T. O’Donnell

Most people leave a job interview and are no closer to knowing if they will be offered the position than when they sent in their resume. Even if they feel the interview went well they realize they forgot to ask about the company or the next steps in the job process. Waiting for the company to call with feedback can be agonizing. Mac’s List listeners can avoid uncertainty by following the steps provided in this episode.

So, what do you say when a hiring manager asks if you have any questions?

Guest expert, J.T. O’Donnell says to ask open-ended questions and to use the job interview to find out as much about the company as possible. If you don’t, you are missing out on an important opportunity to get to know the company better. This can help you to know you are making the right choice if a job offer appears.

The employer is expecting you to ask questions about how you can serve them and how you can earn the money they would be paying you. If your first questions are about you, it can come across selfish and self-absorbed. They want you to focus on them first. Prove that you have done your homework and demonstrate you want to learn more about the company in order to build trust and respect.

J.T. O’Donnell guides us through her 4C Strategy, which ultimately benefits both the job candidate and the employer. The 4 C’s and helpful open-ended question a job seeker should ask are:

• Connect
  • “How did you come to work here?”
  • “What do you like most about working here?”

• Corporate Culture
  • “Who is the most successful person hired in the last year?”
  • “Who has been the least successful person and what went wrong?”

• Challenges
  • “What is the company’s biggest challenge this year?”
  • “How can my skills help you to overcome the challenge?”

• Close
  • “Is there anything about my candidacy you would change to make me a better fit for this job?”
  • “What are the next steps in the hiring process?”

Pro Tip — Hiring Managers hire based on personality, aptitude, and experience.

J.T. O’Donnell Bio

J.T. O’Donnell is a career strategist and workplace consultant who helps American workers of all ages find greater professional satisfaction through courses on her website, Work it Daily. She is the author of Careerrealism: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career. And with Dale Dauten, she writes the career advice column "JT & Dale Talk Jobs", a nationally syndicated career advice column, that appears in more than 130 newspapers.

Ben’s Job Search Resource:

Ben’s resource this week is the blog post, "What Colors to Wear to a Job Interview". It includes wardrobe basics and an in-depth look at the psychology of different colors. The article states that a black suit may come across too strong, but dark blue or dark gray will leave the right impression. Check it out.

Jenna’s Find Your Dream Job Listener Question:

Today’s questions come from Allison Rhinechisel who asks, “When transitioning from being a college student to an employee, what investment options, insurance options, and financial benefits should be considered?”

If you would like the team to answer a job-related question, email it to jenna@macslist.org, or call her at 716-JOB-TALK. If we use your question on the air, you will receive either a copy of our new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere (to be published February 1, 2017) or a Mac’s List Coffee Mug, your choice. Or, if you’ve found a job resource you think everyone should know about, send it to ben@macslist.org, and tell him how it has helped you find your dream job.

Ben and Jenna’s segments are sponsored by Land Your Dream Job Anywhere (to be published February 1, 2017). The book offers practical, actionable, and proven tools to help you get clear about your career goals, find hidden jobs, ace your next interview and more.

If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support!

Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.

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