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What’s top of mind for candidates during job interviews

MENLO PARK
September 24, 2015 5:54am

• It isn’t necessarily the pay
• Plus what not to ask the hiring manager

The responsibilities of the job, not the pay, are the biggest questions job candidates have when interviewing, according to a survey paid for by Accountemps, a unit of Robert Half International (NYSE: RHI) of Menlo Park.
A large majority (84 percent) of professionals polled by Accountemps say they typically pose questions of their own when meeting with hiring managers.
The most common questions professionals include those about professional expectations/responsibilities, asked by 21 percent; salary, asked by 15 percent; and questions about the corporate culture, asked by 12 percent.
"The interview is the perfect opportunity to learn about the company's priorities, the position and how you can add value," says Bill Driscoll, a district president of Accountemps. "When first meeting with potential employers, it's better to pose big-picture questions so you can discover how aligned your skills and personality are with the role and the organization. You can delve into the details in future meetings."
Unfortunately, some questions can be questionable. From the survey:
• "How late do you consider too late for showing up to work?"
• "When can I retire?"
• "Can I take a three-week vacation?"
• "When can I get a raise?"
Accountemps offers five better questions that can help applicants gain useful insight during job interviews:
• What is a typical day like for someone in this position? Not only can you learn about the standard duties, but you also will get a sense for how closely your prospective manager understands what's involved with the job.
• Who was in the role before me, and why did they leave? Be wary if the job is a revolving door; there could be unrealistic expectations or other reasons that people in this function haven't been set up for success.
• What qualities do you think would make someone successful in this position? The answer can help you highlight your relevant traits and determine if your strengths are a match.
• What do you see as the greatest opportunities for the company in the next several years? The response gives you a sense of the firm's prospects and whether leadership is more pragmatic or visionary.
• What do you like most about working here? This gives you information about the corporate culture and also what most motivates and inspires your potential manager.
About the research
The survey was developed and paid for by Accountemps and conducted by an independent research firm. It includes responses from more than 400 U.S. workers 18 years or older and employed in office environments.

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I try to say what the interviewer doesn't expect.

these lists are list of things to say if you don't want the job.
These writters keeps circulating this tired list and most hiring managers realize when you start spouting off this manufactured tripe to them the interview is over and your resume gets shit canned into the waste basket. How ever if the HR is clueless, then they do follow these lists. If the company has that kind of HR person. Then it's a job I'll pass on anyway.

If I can't get an audience with the person who will be the manager or the person you report to, and that person is someone that can recognize my skills then I don't go to those interviews.
I want an audience with the right person so I can sell my abilities and get as much information about the possition that I see fit, without having to worry about if pissed some no nothing bitch off that hasn't got a clue about the possition. Other than what CNN, Bloomberg, or HuffPo put in a list of things you shouldn't say and do in an interview.

How long will it be before I'm replaced by Technology/robots?