Candidates often stumble at the end of an interview when employers ask “Do you have any questions?  Part of preparing for an interview is remembering that thought provoking questions will benefit both the candidate and the employer. An employer’s response to the questions can allow candidates to understand if the company is the right fit. On the other hand, a candidate’s questions will demonstrate their interest in the company. Keep in mind that how an employer responds to these questions can be a key component of your decision-making process.  Make it common practice to take notes and reflect on the answers given, before making a decision. Below are 5 questions that may come in handy at the end of an interview:   How would you describe a typical day for a candidate in this position? Understanding a “day in the life” will help you determine if this opportunity is aligns to your career goals. Make sure that the description excites you and would motivate you to come to work.   What are the attributes that someone needs to have success in this position? Think about the required qualifications and how they match up with your skills. Do you have what it takes to be successful in this role?   What are some of the challenges that someone in this position

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Salary negotiation is a crucial part of the journey throughout career development. As dedicated employees, we want to ensure our hard work is recognized. As individuals pursuing entry level or executive level roles, we each have a “value.” Remember, the goal is to earn as much as we deserve-without running ourselves out of the pipeline! Although negotiating salary can cause hesitation, nerves, and the desire to back down from an awkward conversation- we should remember the following: “The most difficult thing in any negotiation, almost, is making sure you strip it of the emotion and deal with the facts.” This quote by Howard Baker says it all! To negotiate with confidence and ease, have your facts ready to go! Check out my 4 principles below: Know your worth! Be realistic! Conduct a compensation analysis of your industry. Remember to ensure the years of experience and education are comparable. Document your research. You can use resources such as salary.com or glassdoor.com to check what the industry standards are. Show your value! Answer the following questions and prepare your answers. Have you saved a company cost? By what percentage? Have you increased revenue? What were the key contributions of your recent position?  How will you remain an asset for the company you are applying to? Show employers that you are interested in

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