Thank the person you're meeting with for taking the time to meet with you. People are very busy and an interview is an added task to what the employer is already doing. Your two words of gratitude can set a good pace for the interview.
2. What's the salary range?
Money shouldn't be a secret. Two people's livelihoods are on the line: yours and your future boss. A safe way to discuss money is to use a range. You can ask, "Is this position budgeted between 50k and 55k?" Even if you have information going into the interview what you THINK the salary is, you can confirm what you know. Note that this isn't the time to negotiate salary. Rather, just gather information so you'll know how to rank this with other job offers.
3. How close are you to making a decision?
Gone are the days of candidates being at the mercy of an employer's behind-the-curtain intentions. You can ask where they are in the hiring process. This gives you a sense of control in the process and you'll know how to prioritize this opportunity compared to the other jobs you'll be pursuing.
4. I've done that. I haven't done that.
Be honest about your background and experience. You don't have to exaggerate or dummy-down what you've done in your professional life. Give the potential employer the consideration of how they can assess where your skills fit in with the organization and the direction of the company's growth (or downturn). This is the short but critical time to engage in a candid conversation about what you can immediately contribute to the company. Use this information sharing to also find out if this is a company that fits in with your career plans.
5. Ask for the job!
Almost 30% of candidates aren't chosen because they didn't express interest in the job or the company. At the end of the interview, make sure you thank the employer for meeting with you and say that you ARE DEFINITELY interested in the position. This one act makes a big difference!
Get all the information you can . Practice saying and asking things plainly and politely. The more you know about where people are in their decision, then the better equipped you are to make your own choices.
