CAREER SERVICES
Akeley Hall, Room 114

Summer Office Hours
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.*
*May be closed during lunch hour

Please call in advance for appointments with the Director or the Internship Coordinator. 

 Telephone: 570-484-2181; Fax: 570-484-2784
 


Akeley Hall

QUESTIONS TO ASK THE EMPLOYER
One reason that employers frequently cite for rejecting candidates is their inability to formulate intelligent questions about a job or an organization.  A first step to generating appropriate questions is to thoroughly review the written material that is available regarding a company.  This includes their annual report and other company literature which can be secured directly from the company's public information or personnel offices; industrial guides; business directories; articles in trade and professional publications; and direct contacts within the organization.

Once you have some background information, it's easier to ask a sophisticated questions - a question that couldn't easily be answered by reading company literature.  A good question should also reflect a genuine interest on your part.  Avoid questions when you really couldn't care less about the answer.  Interviewers may sense t his disinterest or may ask follow-up questions to your inquiry that stump you.

A list of sample questions is included below.  Choose those that are relevant to you and rephrase them into your own words.  Try to formulate some other questions in line with your special interests.

  1. Can you tell me what kind of person you hope to hire for this position?
  2. What skills and attributes would be ideal in the short run/long run for an effective career here?
  3. Can you explain how new hires are trained and developed?
  4. If you were to hire me for this particular position, exactly what would I be responsible for?
  5. What would you expect me to accomplish in a year?
  6. How do you evaluate/measure job performance?
  7. If  I perform well in this position, what would the future hold for me?
  8. Please explain specific company career development activities and career ladders/paths. 
  9. What is the retention rate of people in this position?
  10. What happened to the last person who filled this position?
  11. What is the overall structure of the department where the position is located?
  12. How would you describe the person I will be assigned to as a supervisor?
  13. What are the challenging facets of the job?
  14. What are the company's plans for future growth? 
  15. What makes your firm different from its competitors?
  16. What are your company's strengths and weaknesses?
  17. Can you explain the management style or philosophy of the company?
  18. Based on your experience, what are the advantages and disadvantages or working for the company?
  19. How much travel, if any, is normally expected?
  20. How frequently do you relocate professional employees?

Questions for Teacher Candidates to Ask

If  you are serious about teaching in the district where you are interviewing, there are many questions to which you need answers before you accept an offer.  Your interviewer will surely cover some of your questions, but by asking pertinent questions you will show your interviewer that you understand fundamental issues relating to teaching.

You should have several questions in mind before you arrive for your interview.  The following 18 questions should give you a good start.

 1.  What is the teacher/student ratio in your district?
 2.  Do you encourage teachers to earn graduate degrees?
 3.  How many classes a day will I be expected to teach?
 4.  What types of school activities promote parent-teacher-student interaction?
 5.  Tell me about the students who attend this school.
 6.  What textbooks does the district use in this subject area?
 7.  Do teachers participate in curriculum review and change?
 8.  Does your district promote staff development activities and conferences?  What types of programs
      have the teachers attended in the last year?
 9.  How does the teaching staff feel about new teachers?
10. What discipline procedures does the district use?
11. Do parents support the schools?  Does the community?
12. Do your schools use teacher aides or parent volunteers?
13. To what extent do staff members work collaboratively to solve problems and respond to the needs
      of students? 
14. Does the administration encourage field trips for students?
15. How are teachers assigned to extracurricular activities?  Is compensation provided?
16. Does the district have a statement of educational philosophy or mission?
17. What are prospects for future growth in this community and its schools?
18. What technology resources will be available to me in the classroom?
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