drawing of a monitor   Module 1 – Unit 5:  Language Focus

Closing the Job Interview Appropriately

Asking good questions at the end of a job interview is an important skill for an interviewee to have. It is also important to recognize what types of questions are appropriate and which you should not ask.

Near the end of an interview, the interviewer will usually ask if you have any questions. If the interviewer doesn’t ask, you can say, Could I ask you a few questions?” Always have several good questions prepared to ask the interviewer. If you don’t ask any questions, the interviewer will think you are either very shy or not very interested in the job. Use this opportunity to show your interest in and knowledge of the job and the organization.

  1. Read each of the questions below and decide if you think it is a good question to ask at the end of an interview.
  2. Mark each appropriate question with a star (*). Mark each inappropriate question with an X. Consider the reasons for your decisions.
  3. When you finish, change each question with a star (*) to a more polite question. Write your new questions. Use the following clauses to begin your sentences:
    • Could you tell me . . . ?
    • I’d like to know . . .
    • I was wondering . . .

Example

When does the job start?
Could you tell me when the job starts?

  1. What do occupational therapy assistants do here?
  2. How much sick time is there?
  3. What special projects is your organization working on now?
  4. What is the ratio of professional staff to support staff?
  5. What are the salary and benefits for this position?
  6. What does it take for someone to be successful here?
  7. Who will be my boss?
  8. Do I have to work on weekends?
  9. What specifically do you offer in your in-service training programs?
  10. What is the biggest challenge your organization faces now?
  11. How soon can I be promoted?
  12. What is your turnover rate for nursing?
  13. What is a typical career path for a laboratory technician in your hospital?
  14. When do you think you’ll be making a decision about this position?
  15. What do you see for your unit in five years?
  1. Write three other questions you might ask at a job interview. Use polite question forms.

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