The Top Job Interview Question You Need to Ask

Are you asking the right question in your job interview?

Lots of job seekers don't even realize they should be asking questions in the interview. If they do, they limit themselves to information-gathering about the job. Information-gathering is great (as long as you don't ask about salary!), but there's one question that can either seal the deal on you getting the job, or even rescue an offer you're already losing.

It’s “Do you see any reason why you wouldn’t hire me for this job?”

You may have a hundred reasons why you don't want to ask that question...it's cheesy, it's to "salesy", it's pushy, it's too aggressive...it doesn't matter.

The information you pick up from the answer they give you will provide you with a key to getting that job. It actually boost your chances of getting the job by something like 30% - 40%. To me, that's worth it. Figure out some way that seems natural for you, with your conversational style, to ask that question.

Why? The interview is your best shot at securing a job offer. You don’t want any doubts in the hiring manager’s mind about hiring you. You need to uncover those doubts and objections while you have a chance to address them right there in that conversation. And many legitimate objections can be addressed just by giving the interviewer a different perspective on an issue that’s bothering them. Or maybe you forgot to highlight some experience in your job history.

Whatever they say will give you big clues about what your weak spots are and give you another chance to shore them up.

What are other ways you could ask?

"Do you see me being successful in this job?"

"Can I count on you to recommend moving me forward in this process?"

"Are you confident I can meet the challenges of this position?"

"What's the next step in this process?"

It feels pushy to ask these types of questions, but in reality it shows confidence and enthusiasm.

If you have any doubts about your ability to ask this question in the interview, PLEASE practice it with someone, or even consider hiring an interview coach to role-play interview questions with you. Practicing asking that question will make it easier and more natural for you to ask it in an interview. You deserve to know the answer.

And getting it could make the difference in whether or not you get the job offer.