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kedra
what are some questions i can ask at a interview for employment if i an the interviewee?
Asked by kedra
Im going on a interview at a job that I want and i want to impress my interviewer. thanks in advance

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Best Answer:
As a general rule of thumb I ask around 9 questions at the interview. 3 questions directly relating to the company. Base these questions on your research. Things such as: Are the original founders still involved in the day to day operations? Is the scope of business dramatically different compared to when it was founded? Where does the company see itself growing in 10 years? 3 questions directly related to the person interviewing you. Base these on the personality of the interviewer. How long have you been with the company? Are you in the same position now as you were hired for? What do you like best about the company? Then 3 questions about the position you are applying for. Why is this position open (and how many times has it been open in the past couple years if applicable)? What do you (the interviewer) see as the biggest challenge facing the new hire in this position? Does this position offer growth opportunites for skills, education, other positions? Do NOT under any circumstances talk benefits, wages, vacations, time off or anything like that (especially on the first interview). If the person interviewing you brings it up then you can ask, but generally I never ask until the point of offer. Make sure you get business cards from everyone you interview with and send thank you notes (handwritten if time) the same day you interview. Good luck to you
15+ years HR/Management/Recruiting
Answered by Gem

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A. Do you have a medical plan? B. Do you have a retirement plan? C. How about educational benefits?
Answered by jeff

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research the company online if you can. This will help you to learn the main goals and points of interest for the particular company. Then you can base your questions on things that are central to the company's core values and missions. This has always been helpful for me. Also, try to think of things that will be important to you as an employee. Be sure to clear up any questions you have as to what will be expected of you as an employee. Good luck with your interview =)
Answered by magnolia745

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i usually ask how this position came about -- is it a new position created from growth or did someone quit. if the previous person quit -- i usually ask in a nice subtle way why or how they "quit". you usually can get a good idea what type of place it is by learning why the previous person quit.
Answered by curious_One

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i dont think i would make the only questions i ask be about your benefits, they would think all you care about is what you get out of the job
Answered by swenjj

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I'm not ace in this sphere, but i heard my prof. telling these: 1. Don't ask any question until u r asked to do so. 2. If you are asked, just ask a question that shows your interest in this company and your broad-mindness. example: if you'r going to enter an oil company, and the oil prices are going up, you may ask, "What kind of measures is your company taking against rising oil prices?" or something like this. Good luck with your interview.
Answered by beemzet

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Are you unionized? Is it a sfe enviroment? What, if any, are your benifits? What exactly is your job title and duties? Is there anything you can do to prepare for the first day? **Be sure to do some research on the company before you go in, this way if they ask you anything about the company you will have some knowledge about it!! ** Hope this helps you good luck!!!
Answered by Birdshit K

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One of the big ones that throws the interviewer off,is to ask: "Assuming above average to exemplary performance, what is the normal course of progression within the firm?" That shows that you are a go-getter and are looking towards the future.
Answered by lauren.mitchell

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If it's your first interview don't ask anything about benifits or pay! Ask them questions about the company, about the position, and ask them maybe about what happens in a typical day in the company.
Answered by sunflower12687

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When you are in an interview, YOU are interviewing the company as much as theya re interveiwing you. Remember that people find YOU interesting when you ask abou THEM. 1: Ask the interviewer about thier history with the company. Listen and ask other questions as they come up. 2: Ask about the job only if duties and such are not covered by the interviewer. 3: Ask about the company as it pertains to the future. You want to be involved with a company that is not in bankruptcy. (Research ahead of time should tell you this.) 4: Ask about corporate policies such as sexual harrassment, problem reporting, position advancement and the like. 5: Ask about the person who just left hte job. Why did they leave? What did this person do that was innovative>? What did this person NOT do that the company would like to see improved upon? Do not ask questions about wages, retirement and benefits until the very end of the interview. Let the interview run down and allow these to be a final pass. Almost as if you are including it only because it is necessary. The other points shoujld be MORE inportant than the wages. You want to come off appearing to be interested more in the JOB than the PAY. (Yeah Yeah, I know it's really the opposite, but the truth is that they want you to chomping at the bit to work, regardless of the pay.)
Answered by Marvinator

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You can ask about the sundry details about the job- What is the work schedule? Is any overtime required? If so, how often and what is the compensation? What are the benefits? How long until they go into effect after the 1st day of employment? What is the dress code? Is there an evaluation/ probationary period? If so, how long is it? When do they expect to make a hiring decision? A good one to ask if you are thinking long term about being employed there is: what are the available opportunities for training and advancement for someone starting in that position?
Answered by Cruel Angel

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I would suggest asking about any of the following: -Ask what your job resposibilities would be....of course these will not be set in stone, but you need to understand general day to day activities -Where they think the company is headed & how it's grown in the last year -Look on their website and generate some questions from that...be like, well I read that "the company" just got an award for this or that...can you tell me about that? (read their press releases) -See what their normal plan of promotion is, in-house first...then look outside -Make sure you understand what type of benefits you have and your salary or commission requirements are. But be careful how you ask about that....i wouldn't jump on asking about salary...just know if you are on salary or commission or both...don't have to know details yet until they tell you. -You can ask them about common challenges that may arise from the job, after they tell you, maybe reinstate how you think you can arise from those challenges.
Answered by Jolonious17

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Make sure you are prepared when you go into the interview. You should do research about the co., the city it's in and the area. The interviewer will ask you if you have any questions towards the end. If you say no it will show you have no interest in the company and are just looking to get some money. Try not to ask questions about pay, off days, stuff like that until you create value in your interest. You could ask about questions you may have had during your research or questions about: the position- how long it's been open, how many others hold the same position, is there room for promotion, who is going to be in charge of me, am I going to be in charge of anyone, who will I be working with, what happened to the person previously in the position? the company- what made you want to work for the company, how long have you worked here, how is the company doing financially, is there cutbacks or expansions in the future, are there any problems I will have to face that are unresolved right now, what do you like most/least about the company? Don't be afraid to ask questions, the street goes two ways. It shows you are interested in the company, you are professional, you are thorough, and you aren't going to be easy to walk over. Make sure you ask when you will hear from them and if there is anything keeping them from offering you the position now, maybe more interviewees? Make sure you dress professional, no gaudy jewelry for woman-none for men, no exposed tattoos, don't overdo your hair; it's not a prom ladies-no outrageous hair guys! A ponytail with a proper clip is acceptable for woman. Don't let your hair cover your face. No stilettos, short skirts or cleavage- jeans, t-shirts, sports gear, hats, sneakers. You can never lose being a professional. Don't slouch, it shows laziness and uninterest. Sit flat and upright in the chair, sitting on the edge may seem edgy or uncomfortable. If someone is talking, lean a little towards them to show interest, try to mirror-match them, it creates a subconscious bond and relaxes everyone a little. Don't cross your arms, it shows a defensive posture. Keep them loose on your lap but try to use gestures if you can. Smile and pay attention. Don't be afraid to take notes when asking them questions. It's your life. Take control. I hope this helped. Take a deep breath and rock the house. Cool, confident, calm. Oh yeah baby!! Job interviews rock!! Good luck with your journey!!! Happy Holidays and happy job hunting!! Good luck!
Answered by jaws_0311

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How early can I leave work? How much vacation do I get? What's the most you will pay me? What are my benefits? --Just kidding. Don't ask these questions at the job interview! You should go to their website and learn about the company. Then ask them questions (perhaps three will do it) about certain aspects of their company. It's really a way for you to show them that you are very interested in their company and that you have done your homework. You could also ask them about the typical career path in their company, if this is appropriate based on what you have learned about their company.
Answered by Debra G

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Worry about the questions that they are going to ask you. You can go on-line and look at lists of the most frequently asked questions by interviewers. If the interviewer is a dud or a jerk, he / she might ask you those typical interview questions like: What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? If you were an animal, what would you be? Be prepared.
Answered by PreciousGirl

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Here's at least some questions/requests you'll get: -Tell me about yourself. -Do you have any experience and is it relavent to the job? -Why do you want this job? -What could you do for this job? -How much money do you expect to make? -When can you work?
Answered by jjc92787

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will i be followed to and from work and will this cause stress at my job and cause me to get fired....thats a good question
Answered by danlop614

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"will I be required to come in on weekend on short notice?" "what is your medical plan?" "if I stay overtime, will I get paid?" (those above are just for your benefit) ask about the company's rules and stuff like that (if there's no other way of knowing it beforehand) and I'm sure you'll impress them enough.
Answered by basiamik

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Do not ask about job description and duties (as some have suggested). I have managed before and when I got this question I moved quickly to end the interview. As a manager, you don't want somebody who is going to being pulling out their job description and say "Oh no, that's not my job." Far better to ask what kind of work you would typically be doing. If you are really concerned about this, wait until you have an offer and then ask for the written job description. (Although one should have been available in the job posting - which is another reason not to ask this in an interview. You should already know the duties etc.).
Answered by mullah_robertson

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The most impressive interviewees I have hired are the ones that took the time to go online and find out about my company. Then, they ask something about a specific product or specific market that they have researched. They walk in the door prepared for me, and can have a conversation about a product or market or group of customers with confidence. That's impressive stuff in an interview.
Answered by myopenhandsguy

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ask when the hours will be, tht should impress them nd get u the job. =)
Answered by rctriplefresh5

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Ask them what hours they offer to you, the advantage of you working there, how you will benefit from working there, what can they expect from you, and what you can expect from them. You can also ask about the environment that you will be working in, and the safety of the environment. More questions may come to mind as you're going through the interview. Good luck!
Answered by ♥michele♥ ~ oh so ruthless...

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Research the company you are interviewing with as much as you can, ask where the company's long term goals are and how you can help achieve them.
Answered by six_foot_2_midget

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What does your benefits program consist of (ie. health insurance, 401, dental insurance, vision insurance, vacation pakcage, sick leave) How much training will I get Is there a flexible schedule after training What is your sick leave policy What is your family sick time policy (if you have kids you will need to know this because kids get sick) And speaking of kids...Is there onsite daycare What is your dress code What is your policy for tattoos and piercings And of course How much does the position pay.
Answered by Colleen O

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You should ask what are the key deliverables of the job and how your performance would be measured. You might also want to know and ask details about the company you hope to work for in terms of their size, number of employees, client profiles, products and services and so on. The best idea is to do a bit of reasearch on your prospective employer/ company so that you know something and that might pop-up few questions that you wanna ask.
Answered by CoolDude

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Above all else, LISTEN to what your interviewer tells you about the company and the job. Ask your first questions about what he or she has already said. This is the most impressive thing you could do - it demonstrates that you've been listening. Have some questions prepared in advance - most of the ones above are pretty good. Remember, what you want to convince the interviewer of is that you really want to do this work - pay, hours, vacation, etc. all fade into the background as your enthusiasm to do this job well shines brightly. Use that as your theme and ask questions around that: "What does it take to do this job well?" "What do you you consider outstanding performance?" "How many previous holders of this job have shown outstanding performance?" Turn some of the usual questions back around on the interviewer: "Where do you see a succesful holder of this position being in five years? in 10?" Try to use the interviewers answers to continue selling your strong points. Example: "What qualities would a succesful employee need to have in order to succeed at this job?" answer - "A succesful employee would be punctual, extremely accurate, and very tidy" Your re-sell response: "At company xyz, I was always 10 minutes early every morning. At school, I got the neat desk award three semesters in a row, and at company abc, I had a 99.8% accuracy rating." Each time you get an answer to a question, try to use it to continue your sales pitch. Above all, be UPBEAT. No one wants to work with a grump.
Answered by Bobzeechemist

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Ask about the history of the company, how long they have been around, how the company got its start, if they are owned by another company.
Answered by justdavesplace

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For now, I'd hold off on asking things like salary and benefits and such. You can ask about those after you've been offered the job. For now, I'd just ask about the duties of the job itself -- what sorts of things you'd be doing from day to day at the job. You probably already have some idea, but you can ask about specifics. Perhaps all you have to do is ask, "I have a general idea of what the job entails -- would you be able to tell me in some detail exactly what my typical day would be like, if I were to fill this position?" When the interviewer tells you what they are, you can respond with something like "Oh yes, that's great, I think I would be good at that" or other such positives. Good luck. .
Answered by Julia Encarnacion

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After somehow acing an interview for a job I had to have, and the interviewer asked if I had any questions, I simply said, "Can I start Monday?" That was a Tuesday and I started on Thursday. Good Luck.
Answered by boxersgirlbunny

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ASK HIM OR HER IF THERE IS ROOM TO ADVANCE, AND IF SO, HOW LONG DO HE THINK IT WILLTAKE FOR YOU TO ADVANCE. ALSO ASK ABOUT HOW THE COMPANY COME ABOUT, AND HOW LONG IT TOOK TO GET TO THE POINT OF IMPORTANTANCE THAT IT HAS.
Answered by notty montana

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The most important question is when do you expect to fill this position?
Answered by arsenic

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I usually research the company so i can ask a question about the company's long term goals. That lets the interviewer know that your planning to be there for the long term. Try not to ask more than one question about pay/benefits or other compensation. There will be time for that latter. 3 questions total is a good number and in my opinion, only one should be about compensation. also, ask that one last. Smile, act confident (but not cocky) and I'm sure you will do fine. GOOD LUCK!!!
Answered by GuZZiZZit

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what do employees like best about working here? what will be the biggest challenges for me?
Answered by mbs4174

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DEFINITELY ask all kinds of questions about the company! research their website, etc. and throroughly know all that you can. Beyond just regurgitating something that could have been answered on the website, ask a question that shows you have done your research and are sincerely curious about the answer and details of the company. as a small business owner (restaurant) i immediately dismiss someone who can't answer the question"by the way are you familiar with what kind of food we server?" or never ask me a single question...
Answered by jeniusvi

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1. What would my responsibilities be? 2. Who would be my supervisor and what is his/her management style? 3. Are there many opportunities for growth with the company? 4. What are the overreaching goals of the company? 5. Would the position be hourly or salaried? And how many hours should I expect to work? (Watch out for salary!!!!!) Practice your questions and answers with a friend or in front of the mirror. It is important to sound natural and to be composed and friendly. Best wishes on the interview!
Answered by Lexi

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Kedra, I have worked in H.R. for many years, and interviewed many candidates. The best questions are those that demonstrate insight into the company, the job, and the situation. Research the company. If you know anyone who works there, ask about the boss, co-workers, products, and work. Ask questions about how you can make a difference, and overcome obstacles, how you can be successful. Don't ask about work hours, vacation, etc. Good luck to you.
Answered by BluedogGirl

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1.Ask for a copy of the company organisation chart & see where you are. 2. Ask who is your superior & how is his characters, becoz you going to spent time with him. 3. Ask what is the limits of your authority. 4. Ask how many people had left the company for the past six months, and why they left. 5. IF they ask you if they can contact your previous employer, after you responded, you ask them can you have some of their ( those resigned staffs) contact number so that you can find more about the company. SEE how he responds!!! The way he responds wil tell you something about the company. Good luck!
Answered by ilovethomas

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interview is not meant for the interviewer to ask questions to you alone. it is a sort of discussion or two way interaction. browse about the details of the company on line and try to frame your questions on that basis.the interviewer will be generally glad to hear about his company from you.you can also ask him about your pay and the time of joining the job.but don't do it if it your first interview.you can demand your payment later
Answered by anne j

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ask question about the company. you want to know how is the environment, the people, the job expectation, the working atmosphere, to get the best idea if this is the best job for you and if you would like to work there for a long time. ask as if you want to know someone. good luck!
Answered by 21questions

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I have been an employer for over 18 years and if you asked most of the questions that the people are telling you to ask, I wouldn't hire you. Things that should be brought up sometime during the interview; hours, pay, stability of job, benefits, union or not, any special things you need to do. I'm not being hired the person I'm interviewing is so frankly I dont' want a 2 hour interview with most of it answering a persons questions. YOu should do a google search on the company. Look at some of the good things or innovations that the company has, or just the overall success of it. Make the person interviewing you feel that your excited about the company your trying to get a job from and you would really like to be a part of the team. Call the person Mr. or Miss or Mrs. until that person tells you to call them by their first name. Be very respectful, smile, and be very personable. Dont' interrupt either. Make sure you are a good listener; good listeners' are good learners. LOOK PEOPLE IN THE EYE! In the end smile, and tell the person you appreciate their time and thank them for considering you. If the person is pretty nice, then try to get as personable as possible. Hint's: READ THE ROOM I look around the room very quickly and see what is in the room. Are their trophies, pix of family: (I always used wow, your daughter looks exactly like my cousin Jennifer!) Once in my younger days I saw a Raiders pencil holder at a job interview and I told him how much I loved the Raiders and stories of our family at the games. That's all we talked about and even though I wasn't totally qualified, I got the job and at a higher salary than they originally offered! AGain, I've hired people because they are qualified, I feel comfortable around them; someone that won't be a hard ass or a pain in the butt to others, and a pleasant person. Good luck! I know you'll get it!
Answered by Ice4444

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i would ask ,if the interviewer,What exactly makes u think u fit in here and what makes u different from the pack of unemployed group of people out there who need the job.
Answered by donralph

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background of your direct supervisor, or manager expectations of the position how is performance be evaluated
Answered by kennberly

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No matter what position you are looking to attain (even for a high-profile job), you do not want to seem like you are grilling or pressing the interviewer. There is a delicate balance to be maintained. Some interviewers allow moments for questions while others do not. This is for a reason for this (personality/technique differences). You will know when/if there is a right time to ask questions. Of course you want to know what the income level is for the position, it should be stated in the first interview, whether you asked about it or not (standard procedure). If it is not brought up in the first interview, and you are called for a follow-up, that is the time to bring it up. Impressing your interviewer is an important thing, but can happen in many forms. You must get the feel for their personality and interviewing technique and decide from that (you will see what the interviewer seems to be fishing for in a matter of minutes - go with your gut). Some are concerned about your interest about the company or direction that you wish to be headed, while others are focused on your experience and how it pertains to the job. Before going to an interview, research the job as thoroughly as possible, not only it's requirements and duties, but also the company. Take notes or commit it to memory. If you are looking for a specific job (i.e. one that provides benefits or specific hours), don't hesitate to ask about it in the first interview - you will be saving both you and your interviewer time in the long run. A great hint. I have never, EVER, went into an interview without this and NOT got the job...confidence. Act like you already have the job, and you are being questioned about it. Don't go in there acting like you own the company, of course - just act like you have it in the bag and you take pride in your work. That mindset will get you places, I promise. If you go to an interview and happen not to get the job, don't sweat it - it wasn't meant to happen for whatever reason. That is why there are always openings somewhere. You will eventually find what you need and what is right for you. Quit worrying about it and be you, that's what you are best at. If they don't like it, then they don't deserve to have you as an employee. I wish you the best of luck, and hope you find what you want right of the bat! Take care. :)
Answered by polishedamethyst

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Do NOT ask about salary and benefits. Your goal is to receive an offer. Ask questions that show you have a knowledge of the company, and which are company-centered and not you-centered. Ask about your role, responsibilities, authority, etc.
Answered by Bill

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How would you love to have someone in your company which can do multi tasking job??
Answered by josephmaja

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There are some superb answers to you question, which by the way is a very good question. Keeping my answer simple, I'd have to say.... Ask not what the company can do for you, but what you can do for the company...(ring a bell?) Yeah I know sounds simple, but really that's the bottom line. I've always got the job I applied for. Dress for success, and be confident, convincing, and don't ask about any benefits, etc. That will all fall into place after you prove yourself. Best of Luck!
Answered by {JANUS}

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Ur interviewer will ask most of the questions based on ur IQ and don't be nervous while giving the answers.
Answered by deepti s

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Of course there are the standard question you ask about the company and about the job in addition one of the best questions I have ever asked and that has impressed my interviewers is "What are you looking for in a [insert company name] employee" Plus I get some good answers too.
Answered by Ping898

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dont ask anything until u r asked 2
Answered by Robin

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You can ask something about the places of "Advancement" within the company. and NEVER NEVER NEVER ask if it is a union job (if it is you should be able to find that out in your research of the company or they will tell you -- if they don't tell you and you ask about this they will think you are a union activist and want to start one and if they don't have one then they probably don't want one. This is a sure fire way to NOT get the job. Good Luck on the interview!
Answered by gb


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