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January 02, 2007
Interview Tip - Ask Impressive Questions!
When an interviewer gets ready to wrap up an interview they will most likely ask you "do you have any additional questions?" You don't ever want your answer to be "no, I think you covered everything." Show the interviewer that you did your research, came prepared, and have questions that go beyond (or expand on) what you have already talked about!
The questions that you ask should not only enable you to learn more about a potential employer but also allow you to demonstrate your interest in the employer and the position. Show you have done your research by saying (if true) "I recently read an article that highlighted your work in x area and I was hoping you could tell me more about that project." Or "I was reading on your website that you are growing x practice group and I am excited at the opportunity to work with that group. Is that a possibility for the summer and do you plan to continue to grow this group and/or other groups in the coming years?"
You want your interviews to feel like a conversation as often as possible so feel free to ask questions as you talk with you interviewer if they are relevant to what you are discussing. But keep in mind that you don't want to ask all of your questions! Hold a few back for the inevitable "do you have any questions?" You can impress the employer with your well researched and well prepared questions. If you still have a question about something you talked about earlier then say something along the lines of "we were talking earlier about how you mentor your law clerks, could you elaborate on that? Does that include weekly meetings, written feedback, etc.?"
Be sure to check out the CSO Blackboard course for additional tips on interviewing - just click on the Interviewing Info link on the left for great interviewing resources! And don't forget that the CSO counselors are available to conduct mock interviews to help you fine tune your interview skills. Feel free to stop by the CSO to make an appointment for a mock interview or to chat with a counselor about the types of questions to ask in interviews!
Posted by kcc17 at January 2, 2007 06:21 PM