How to Ask Your Potential Employer Insightful Questions

When you are going on interviews, do you realize- "I know that ABC and 123 companies are both
that you are not the only one being interviewed? Ifmajor competitors of your company. How would you
you look at the situation and handle it correctly, thendescribe the competitive environment?"
you should also be interviewing the company. Believe- "If I were to be asked to join the organization, is
it or not, if you are a good candidate, then thatthere a defined career ladder and could you explain
company and/or interviewer is just as nervous aboutthat to me?"
the impression they are able to make on you as you- "I've read a bit about the company president, Ms.
are of your impression on them. Being as though thisMacom. Can you define her style of leadership as well
is the case, you need to take advantage of it. Sittingas the overall executive management style of
quietly waiting for your questions to be fed to youleadership?"
rather than engaging in insightful dialect is a mistake,- "As of late, are there any major obstacles that the
pure and simple. You want to ask insightful questionscompany/department is facing that are preventing it
for two reasons:from accomplishing its goals?"
1. Determine whether or not YOU think there is a- "How have the organization's goals/mission changed,
match between the corporate culture and operationsif any, over the last three to five years?' The
of the organizationdifference between these questions and the other,
2. Display to the interviewer that you are interestedmore typical questions should be clear. To ask
enough to take the time to research and thinkinsightful questions, you really have to:
through these things. Why do I emphasize 'insightful?'1) know your information about the company,
This term means an "instance of apprehending the2) have a keen understanding about the culture that
true nature of a thing, esp. through intuitiveyou want to find in a company and how you can add
understanding." (Dictionary.com) How impressive dovalue to that company.
you think you'll be if you can lob these types ofFor me, I am not real comfortable working for an
questions to a potential employer? Here are someorganization that has changed its overall goals more
you should consider asking that I feel qualify asthan once in the last three to five years, so by
insightful questions:asking that question, I am telling the employer that I
- "So, you would be my immediate supervisor? Howam apprehending the true nature of a 'thing'-their
would you describe your management style?"company.