The job interview is where you want to shine; it is, after all, the deciding factor in whether or not you get the job. You’ll want to be sure you show the hiring manager that a) you have the skills and background for the job and b) that you’ll fit in with your colleagues and with the company culture.

However, you also should keep in mind that you are interviewing the company just as much as it is interviewing you.

So you need  to ask questions of your interviewer. We don’t mean questions about pay, benefits or the earliest you can take paid time off (leave benefits questions for either a second or third interview or when you’re offered the job). Instead, you should ask questions that move your candidacy forward.

When the interviewer asks you to tell her a bit about yourself, mention a bit about your professional background, and then start asking strategic questions, questions that help your candidacy because they showcase you as a considered thinker and problem-solver. That’s why companies hire people — they have problems that need solving. Show an employer how you can solve her problems and you’re well on your way to getting hired.

For example, if you’re applying for a position as a customer service representative, you may want to ask questions such as:

• What’s your customer satisfaction percentage?
• What’s the number one problem people call about?
• What’s your staff turnover rate?
• Describe the qualities of your perfect customer service representative.

These kinds of questions show that you take your role as a customer service representative very seriously. It’s not just a “job” to you; you understand how important customer service can be to a company’s bottom line.

You also may ask questions such as:

• Why is this position open?
• Into what kind of role within your company could this position lead?
• How does this position fit within your company?

In addition, it’s almost always a good idea to ask “Do you have any concerns regarding my candidacy?” Should your interviewer bring up any concerns, you can allay them right then. If the interviewer says something like, “I’m worried that you lack such and so,” a great reply is “Yes, I do lack such and so. But I do bring such and such, as well as this and that. In addition, given my great experience with this and such, I believe that makes up for my lack of such and so.”

Finally, ask what the “next step” is. Will there be a second interview? When will a decision be made. When should you expect to hear one way or another?

If you’re looking for a terrific position with one of Tampa Bay’s best companies, contact StaffEx. We can help place you in temporary, temp-to-hire and direct-hire positions with some of Gulf Coast Florida’s top company’s. Contact us today.