Ask These Questions to the Secretary While Waiting for the Interview
We all know that one of the keys to a successful interview is learning a little about the culture of the company. To better understand this before the interview, author Tim Kherson suggests asking the secretary a few simple questions.
The time you spend in the waiting room waiting for your interview is a great opportunity to gather information. Kherson has several questions that need to be asked to the administrator in order for him to help you with this task:
- How long has the company been in this location (or on this floor)? What was the reason for the move?
- How many people work here? What kind of work do they do? This can often lead to interesting follow-up conversations. If, for example, this place has both engineering and marketing, you might notice that this is an unusual combination. For some reason?
- What is the largest department or division in this location?
- Is everyone here always like this (relaxed, friendly, energized, busy) or is there something special going on today?
- What do you like most about working here?
- Are managers usually nearby or mostly on the road? Do you often see or talk to them?
Obviously, you don’t need to ask every question, and context is important. The point is, an administrator is a great resource for getting information about a company, so be sure to talk to them if it seems appropriate.
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