Need help preparing for my interview today!

Ok who wants to help me I have an interview at 4:30pm today with an insurance company for a new job. (it's life and casuality). Part of my interview requires me to prepare a list of questions to ask them during the meeting. I want to make sure i ask appropriate questions that relate to my possible position/etc. I've never been asked to prepare questions before for an interview- so i want to make sure i ask the right things and show them i prepared ahead of time. Any ideas what I should ask.

I'm planning to ask the basics.....job requirements,hours,benefits, retirement plan, travel, what's expected of me,etc....but i'm wondering what else i should ask?

Here's my list so far! Anything you guys might add or change???


What will be my position with this company?
What will be expected of me/ What are my responsibilities?
What is the next step in the career ladder?
What kind of promotion opportunities will be available for me in the future?
What can I do to be a team player and help the other staff?
What sorts of benefits are offered?
What will my hours be like?
What days a week will I be expected to work?
Do you offer overtime hours/compensation?
Will I be required to work weekends/holidays?
What are the company’s policies on breaks?
What are the company’s policies on sick and maternity leave? Personal days?
What is the company’s approach to customer service and making sure the customers obtain what they need?
What are the advantages of retiring with this company?
What is this company’s policy on furthering education and obtaining a license to sell insurance?
Will this company contribute anything financially towards their employees obtaining a license to sell insurance?

It looks like you have a pretty good coverage of questions there. Praying you do well on the interview and get it.

Be very careful of "me" questions. Try to pose them in such a way that you are asking about the company.

For example:

BAD: What can this company do for my career?

GOOD: What can I do to help make this a great place to work?

Ooh, I hope it goes well!

Good Luck!

....good luck Nikki....

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Vibes for you don´t get nervous....

Hmmm. I thought you had a job that you liked, working with animals?

Out of all of those questions you posted, I would only ask a few of them. The idea is to show initiative, not bombard them.


What will be my position with this company?
- that will more than likely already be covered during the interview. You don't just go in and interview at random. They call you in to interview for a position. So no need to ask this.


What will be expected of me/ What are my responsibilities?
- Again, save this question for after you have been offered the job and discussing salary.


What is the next step in the career ladder?
- I wouldn't ask this. You don't even have your foot in the door. A better question would be "Is there room for advancement within the company?"


What kind of promotion opportunities will be available for me in the future?
- This is already covered in the above question.


What can I do to be a team player and help the other staff?
- That's not really for them to tell you. It's up to you to be able to figure out. So it's not a good question to ask. Just let them know at some point in the interview that you are capable of working independently as well as part of a group.


What sorts of benefits are offered?
- This is not a question that you come right out and ask during an interview. Save it for when you have been offered the job and discussing salary.


What will my hours be like?
- It's in an insurance office, so you will be more than likely working office hours, Monday to Friday. So again, save this one to when you have been offered the job and discussing salary.


What days a week will I be expected to work?
- If it's full time in an office, it will be days, Monday to Friday. Again, save the question for when you have been offered the job and discussing salary.



What days a week will I be expected to work?
Do you offer overtime hours/compensation?
Will I be required to work weekends/holidays?
What are the companyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s policies on breaks?
What are the companyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s policies on sick and maternity leave? Personal days?

Save those for when you have been offered the job.


What is the companyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s approach to customer service and making sure the customers obtain what they need?
- This is an excellent question to ask during an interview. It would also help if you did your own research about the company. Check with the BBB, online reviews etc. Get an idea for yourself.

What are the advantages of retiring with this company?
- This is an iffy question. I'm on the fence whether it should be asked during an interview or post job offer when you discuss the details of the job.


What is this companyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s policy on furthering education and obtaining a license to sell insurance?
- Another excellent question to ask during an interview.

Will this company contribute anything financially towards their employees obtaining a license to sell insurance?
- A good question. But be more tactful and ask this after you approach the room for advancement question. And ask "Does the company offer any education assistance towards becoming a broker?"

Oh boy. Too late now, but... I sure hope you left out the word "maternity." You don't want to go out of your way to make them aware that you're planning to start a family soon...

Hope it went well!

Nikki, I just caught this....


HOW DID IT GO?!?!

Just a little update:

The interview went well, it actually wound up being more of a group interview with several people there as well.

I am starting to think though that the job in question is not the right fit for me....when i went in i found out that it is commission only, you have to obtain your insurance lisence before they'll let you start (when i talked to the lady on the phone she told me they would start you in a lower position while you obtain your lisence then let you sell- so that was not right) and you essentially have to put yourself through the school and lisencing/testing before you can start there so i'd have to pay over $300 for my insurance lisence before i could even start there It is also a very long commute to and from that office -i can bairly afford gas as it is- so i will definitely be looking for something closer to home!

Now i don't mind obtaining my lisence at some point- but right now is just not a good time- i need something with steady pay. / The hours on that job were pretty flexible/good as were the benifits...but i just can't do commission only- i need something more stable, so i'm planning to look elsewhere.

(haha and the list of questions was totally not necessary- we didn't even wind up using them! Thank you for the suggestions any way though you guys!)



(P.S. - Linda i'm not working for animal control anymore- there's a huge thread in the PL about what happened.)

Nikki,
I wish you lived closer to me...I could get you a job making 8 an hour taking calls for Xm radio with bonuses of up to 1000 every other check...I know 8 doesnt sound too good to some people but around here unless you work in a factory 8 is the best paying job in the area!

Originally Posted by Brandi

Nikki,
I wish you lived closer to me...I could get you a job making 8 an hour taking calls for Xm radio with bonuses of up to 1000 every other check...I know 8 doesnt sound too good to some people but around here unless you work in a factory 8 is the best paying job in the area!

Click to expand...

I appreciate that

I'm probably going to call a few vets offices tomorrow (i know a lot of the vets in the area pretty well) so hopefully something will be open for a vet tech position. I just hope they will match or get close to what i was making for animal control- it was good pay for that field. I just need full time hours and benifits too! We'll see! Keep your fingers crossed.

If all else fails though- i am a lisenced florist- so i can always get a design job somewhere.

Originally Posted by StarryEyedTiGeR

(P.S. - Linda i'm not working for animal control anymore- there's a huge thread in the PL about what happened.)

Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that. So far as the thread in the PL goes, some of us can't read that forum.

I, personally, would not take a job that required me to put out a lot of money and effort, only to get a position that depended on commission. I've been in that position, and it's a good way to starve.