Twenty Penetrating Questions Worth Asking in a Serious Interview

The quality of your job interview can be no better than the quality of your questions. Although my interviews are thorough and challenging, I've had interviewees tell me it was the most rewarding interview time they ever spent. 

The purpose of a question is to provide the interviewer with as much information as possible. Here are 20 questions that will accomplish those goals. 

1. Based on what you now know, describe your level of interest in our position (initial commitment check). 
2. Discuss your familiarity with our organization. 
3. If you were in my place, what would you look for in the person filling this position? 
4. Describe how you spent a typical day in your previous (current) position. 
5. What were your most significant accomplishments in your last (current) position? 
6. What three responsibilities did you enjoy most in your last (current) position? 
7. Tell me specifically why you left (want to leave) your last (current) position. 
8. Describe your last/present supervisor. 
9. Describe the nicest compliment you've received and why you received it. 
10. What have you been criticized for? 
11. If I picked up the phone right now and called your last supervisor (use name if available) what would he/she say about you? 
12. Describe the perfect boss. 
13. Are you ready to be responsible for your own results? 
14. What personal and professional achievements are you most proud of? 
15. What are your most important personal goals (away from the office)? 
16. What are your most important professional goals? 
17. To what extent have you participated in the creation or execution of a strategic plan? 
18. What are you willing to do to be successful in the future, that you haven't been willing to do in the past? 
19. Why should we choose you? 
20. Based on your current level of knowledge about this position, describe your level of interest (concluding commitment check). The strength of their response to this question is critical. 

Please note these questions are all indirect, thus discouraging a yes or no answer. And every one is designed to get the interviewee to do the talking.