Well, I’ve gotten a lot of great feedback from last week’s email about finding your dream job and how I totally messed up during my final interview to NOT get it. You can read about my sad story here. So today, I want to start from where I left off.

As I shared before, I just kept replaying the interview in my head and trying to figure out where I went wrong. Honestly, it was a lot of things. But, what I remember most was at the very end, she asked me if I had any questions for her. Instead of having a few prepped questions to let her in on how I think, how I work, and what she can expect of me… I proceeded to tell her why I would be a great hire and how hard I would work and how dedicated I am..etc…me, me, me. I think she was turned off by my self-promotion and indulgence.

If I had it to do all over again, I would have prepared questions to give her insight into my honest intentions. You can see I’ve had years to brood on this idea… here’s what I’ve hand picked:

My top 5 if-I-could-turn-back-time questions, plus some of the benefits that come with asking them:

• Why did you decide to work at this company? I like this a lot since it’s so personal. It gives the interviewer the opportunity to talk about themselves and share from their heart and experience. Hopefully that helps establish a stronger connection between you.

• What are some of the challenges or roadblocks I might come up against in this role? This question shows that you can already envision yourself in the role, but without sounding presumptuous (since you’re anticipating the challenges as well). Based on the answer, you’ll be able to propose how you might deal with the problem as well, and reassure them that you’re not afraid to face it.

• What do the most successful new hires do in their first month here? In other words, you’re the type of person who likes to hit the ground running, and you’re open to learning from the best practices. This insider info gives you a head start to success in the company.

• How does this role contribute to larger company goals? I like how this reflects that you want to be part of something bigger than just you. The reality is, too many people struggle to stay motivated in their work because they never really get this answered.

• Do you have any questions or concerns about my qualifications? This question means you’re not afraid of critical feedback, and gives you a real-time chance to answer any issues they might have with you before you leave the room. This could be the difference between an offer and a rejection.

Hope these questions help you shine in your next interview! Before we go, I want to offer one last tip – an example of WHAT NOT TO DO:

I’m so thankful for that guy’s videos – no matter how bad my interview was, he’s proof that it definitely could have been a lot worse haha.

Related posts:

Who Should I Hire? So, Tell Me about Yourself Why is Everyone Quitting? How The Past Can Shape The Future Of Your Business