1. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions, you better have something to ask.

2. You should walk into the interview room prepared to answer the classic questions, such as, “What is your biggest weakness?” or “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

But there’s an often overlooked rule that you should remember for your own good:

3. You should be asking important questions at every step of the hiring process — from the first time you speak to the hiring manager to the last conversation you have with him.

Have a list of questions ready before you start. You don’t need to ask these questions to look good to the employer; you need to ask them to learn about the employer. You are interviewing employers just as much as they’re interviewing you.

Here are 11 questions you should be asking employers throughout the interview process:

When you receive the first call before the in-person interview:

No. 1: Whom will I be interviewing with?
The best way to adequately prepare for an interview is to know whom you’ll be speaking with. You’ll likely have different questions for the hiring manager than you would for the entire team or the department head. You’ll also want to do some research on the interviewers so you can ask them personalized, insightful questions.

Plus, if the employer can’t give you specific names, you have to wonder if they’re taking the situation seriously and are even a legitimate business. For all you know, you could end up in a room with 30 other applicants on the receiving end of a sales pitch. If a serious employer calls you for an interview, they’ll already have interviewers lined up and should have no problem sharing their names.

No. 2: Does the opportunity involve commission sales or purchase of a sales kit?
If you get a call out of the blue for a position you never expressed interest in, you have a right to be skeptical. If the position sounds confusing, or their description is too vague, dig deeper. If you get the feeling the position requires you to purchase a sales kit or there is no base salary, and you’re not interested in that type of role, ask them up front. A reputable employer will answer directly and trust that you’ll know if the position is right for you.

No. 3: Can you tell me more about the opportunity and why you think my qualifications are a good fit?
You’ve spent a lot of time customizing your résumé so that employers know you’re serious about their specific role. You used keywords and quantified results to prove your worth. If employers can’t pinpoint what attracted them to you, then they’re probably not looking for a great worker to help grow with the role. They’re looking for anyone who will accept the offer and won’t hesitate to make a replacement if it doesn’t work out.

During the interview:

No. 4: What are your short- and long-term goals for the position?
Employers will probably ask about your career goals, but you should ask them what they want the person in this position to achieve. Are they concerned with increasing revenue, visibility, leads, improving morale, or any number of other things? You want to know that they have a purpose for this position and aren’t just looking for a temporary solution.

No. 5: Can you tell me why the last person left this role?
They might not tell you, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. If the person got promoted or even took a better job elsewhere, that’s a sign that the position is a good way to advance a career.

No. 6: Who are the primary people I’ll be working with on a daily basis?
Where does this role fit in the overall structure of the team and even the business? Will you get face time with people who can help your career? Will you spend most of your days in silence, typing on a computer? All that matters is that you receive an answer that  appeals to you.

No. 7: What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the person taking this role?
No position is perfect. In fact, some roles are created to address a problem that needs to be solved. That could very well be what attracted you to the job. An honest employer will tell you what struggles lie ahead. That’s your opportunity to turn the answer around as a challenge you’re happy to accept and present some ideas of how you would tackle the obstacles. If the employer makes it sound too good to be true, it probably is.

No. 8: Do you have any doubts about my fit for the position? I’d be glad to clear anything up for you.
Not all interviewers ask direct questions or are even very good at interviewing, so you might have to prompt them to tell you what their concerns are. Now is the only chance you have to clarify anything, so make sure you leave no question unanswered.

No. 9: What is the timeline for filling the position?
You deserve to know when a decision might be made and what the next steps are. Hiring managers have a ballpark idea of how long the interviewing process will take, whether candidates will have to come back for another interview, and when a decision will be made. It might not be exact, but at least you have an idea of what to expect.

After the interview:

No. 10: Have you made a decision? (If the given deadline has passed)
If the hiring manager says it will be a week before you hear back, wait an extra day or two (or even three). Then follow up to see if a decision has been made. Don’t pester her and don’t show up at the office — that won’t win you any points. A quick email to ask how the process is going is enough.

No. 11: Do you have any recommendations for how I could improve my interviewing skills?
If you don’t get the position, you’ll be disappointed, but use it as an opportunity to improve your interviewing skills. Some employers won’t give you tips, but others might give you feedback that will help you on the next interview.

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The Associated Press

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Telegraph.co.uk

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As adults who spend most of our days at work instead of school, we don’t always have that same level of preparation. A new CareerBuilder survey on disaster preparedness finds that many companies do have some form of a disaster-recovery plan, but many aren’t ready for the variety of crises that could come their way. Check out the infographic below to see if companies are as prepared for a cyber attack as they are for a fire.

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As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, many workers yearn to leave the constraints of their offices or cubicles and enjoy the outdoors. But if you’re unemployed during the summer months, chances are you’d be happy to trade in the mild temps for the office environment.

Summer job seekers, you’re in luck. Hiring conditions are steadily improving, according to CareerBuilder’s annual Summer Job Forecast. The survey found that 29 percent of U.S. employers plan to hire workers this summer, up from 21 percent in 2011 and an average of 22 percent over the past four years.

Hot industries for hiring
Brent Rasmussen, presiden….
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Parenting is tough on any given day, and it does not get easier when one or both parents work outside the home. As you might expect, working moms have their own unique situations to confront, according to CareerBuilder’s annual survey of working mothers. As with all workers, today’s competitive workplaces, demanding positions and financial obligations affect how much time working mothers get to spend at home.

Balancing work and life
Workers often struggle with knowing how much time to spend at the office and when to clock out and head home. The survey found that 25 percent of working moms believe they have to choose between thei….
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Summer job seekers, you’re in luck. Hiring conditions are steadily improving, according to CareerBuilder’s annual Summer Job Forecast. The survey found that 29 percent of U.S. employers plan to hire workers this summer, up from 21 percent in 2011 and an average of 22 percent over the past four years.

Hot industries for hiring
Brent Rasmussen, president of CareerBuilder North America, says that confidence is up among the employers most closely associated with summer hiring. The manufacturing sector leads the way in expected summer hiring, with 45 percent of employers planning to add summer workers. The other industries that are expected to have high levels of seasonal hiring include:

• Hospitality — 44 percent
• Retail — 34 percent
• Finance — 31 percent

The customer service, office support, information technology, research, engineering and sales sectors are also predicting summer hiring spikes.

Summertime salary
What compensation should seasonal workers expect this summer? When asked what they plan to pay seasonal hires, employers gave the following responses:

• More than $16 per hour — 20 percent
• $10 or more per hour — 64 percent
• $8 to $10 per hour — 29 percent

Summer temps could last all year long
Many job seekers would be happy to take a temporary job during the summer, and if it leads to a full-time position, all the better. Seventy-one percent of employers hiring this summer said they’ll be considering some hires for permanent positions. In fact, 39 percent of employers said they’re less likely to hire someone who isn’t interested in working beyond summer.

“A majority of employers told us they consider a summer position an extended job interview,” Rasmussen says. “The forecast is also a strong indicator that the job market will continue to strengthen as we come closer to the second half of 2012.”  

Haven’t started looking for seasonal work yet? It’s not too late. Thirty-eight percent of companies typically complete summer hiring in May, and 19 percent will hire in June and beyond. So whether you’re a recent college grad, an unemployed job seeker or someone who has left the workforce but is considering a comeback, you can expect to enjoy a sunnier summer job season.

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Moneycontrol.com

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CTV.ca

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