good questions for an interviewee to ask?

[NewJeffCT]

I have a job interview coming up and did a google search on interview questions and it seemed like every site was to help me prepare to answer questions. I'm usually pretty good at that part.

But, what I need to improve is when the interviewer asks me, "do you have any questions for me?"

Besides the standard "why is the position open?" and "how many candidates" and "how soon will you make a decision" what else can I ask that is good? I have a couple below, but would like a few more:
(the job is accounting/financial reporting in nature, but generic good questions are great, too, like my #1)

1) What is your organizational structure?
2) Your company has made numerous acquistions the past few years to improve your global strength. How does your company plan to compete long-term in the global economy and do you see a similar amount of acquisitions over the next few years?
3) What role will this position play in the company's Sarbanes-Oxley compliance?

Thanks

[rug]

1. Do you think Bush stole the election?

[NewJeffCT]

2. probably not a good question in my field

most accountants are fairly conservative.

[flvegan]

3. I'm an ENFJ. Will I fit in well with my fellow performers?

Jeebus, I'm gonna puke.

[NewJeffCT]

4. ENFJ?

what is that?

[flvegan]

7. Myers-Briggs "rating" system.

If you don't know, good on ya. It's a personality wedge to put you in a form of "cookie cutter" paradigm.

[petronius]

5. "Do I have to wear the paper hat?"

"It's cool if I smoke a blunt in the break room, right?"

"What's your policy on absenteeism?"

"So, like, if you found out that I had a, um, felony conviction that wasn't on my application, that wouldn't be, like, a problem, right, man?"

"Wanna get it on on this desk?"

[Pale Blue Dot]

6. "Do you always smell that way?"

"What's a decimal?"

"Don't you think girls are, like, so totally groody?"

"No, really, I mean it. Were you frying bacon this morning?"

[necso]

8. Since you're not getting much help,

I'll pitch a few ideas.

First, what not to ask:
Do not ask questions that the interviewer might not be able to answer (at least those questions that might make him look bad).
Do not ask questions that betray a substantial lack of information about the company.
Do not ask overly specific questions about what your future prospects might be.
Do not ask questions that might give away personal indicators (don't want/like travel -- whatever).
Do not ask questions that make you look way smarter, more talented, etc, than the people for whom you might be working.
Do not ask questions that might make the company look bad. (When in doubt, do not ask.)

Second, what to ask:
Do ask (softball) questions about the company's prospects (demonstrates a normal amount of greed/hopefulness).
Maybe(!) ask (softball) questions about the interviewers' experiences with the company (demonstrates "trust" -- and maybe provides an opportunity for a little ass-kissing).
Do ask questions (but not overly deep) about job duties (shows "responsibility") -- but only ask those people who might know (shows "understanding").

And, generally, it's important to see how some "line" is received before posing more questions based on given answers.

Try to leave an impression of a "team player", who, "like everyone else", wants to "prosper" -- but isn't obsessed with it. And give no indication that you might be trouble -- or a threat to somebody's job. And try to keep in mind that asking too many questions may not go down too well (although asking none may make you look unprepared).

And never ask any of these questions:
1) Do you drug test?
2) What for exactly?
3) Can I bring guns to work?
4) Can I run my businesses outta here?
5) How carefully do you guys really check attendance?
6) How easy is it to steal stuff here?
7) Does the company reimburse for hooker-related expenses on business trips?
8) How does the company feel about employees having sex on company time?
9) Do you put out?
10) No, really. -- Do you put out?

[NewJeffCT]

9. thanks

as an aside, when I got out of college, I had an interview at a local company in the Hartford area. The woman in HR asked me this question, "What turns you on?" Now, picture me, a 22 year old guy just out of college speaking with a woman in HR that was maybe 8-10 years older than me... what do you think crossed my mind? But, I paused for a second and answered, "challenges" and then explained my answer.

[necso]

12. I went to an interview once,

where the interviewer turned out to be an absolute knockout (a baseball bat to the head type of knockout). And she was dressed real sexy, showing lots of cleavage and leg, wearing high heels, war paint, etc.

It also turned out that she was trying to scam me into taking some crappy job working directly for her, not the job she had ostensively called me in to interview for.

Now, I have the usual urges -- but I have a thing about them being used as weapons against me.

But damn, she was sexy... and unscrupulous -- a most dangerous combination.

[NewJeffCT]

18. I saw a woman selling cars like that once...

Unfortunately, when I was younger & naive, I was easily manipulated by the sight of an attractive woman in a tight skirt of showing some cleavage... though, I lucked out and she was with somebody else and I had some guy trying to sell me a car. I'm sure the car price would have been $1,000 to $2,000 higher with her selling it to me back then.

[NewJeffCT]

10. thanks

as an aside, when I got out of college, I had an interview at a local company in the Hartford area. The woman in HR asked me this question, "What turns you on?" Now, picture me, a 22 year old guy just out of college speaking with a woman in HR that was maybe 8-10 years older than me... what do you think crossed my mind? But, I paused for a second and answered, "challenges" and then explained my answer.

[billyskank]

11. Do you do naked Fridays here?

:evilgrin:

[fleabert]

13. at the end of the interview...ask this to guarantee the job...

ask them:

what, if any, reasons or concerns do you have in offering me the position at this time?

If there are concerns or questions, it gives you the chance to address them in person, and not let them just assume the answers, and you get offered the job!

If there are none...you get offered the job!

and it lets them know you are confident and smart.

(this question has been cited as the 'clincher', by the employers, for a very close friend)

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. "Do you want your family to still be alive tomorrow?"

:P

Sorry, couldn't resist. I know it wasn't helpful, but some others up above have you given the most excellent advice you can use, so I figured I shag one off.

[Deep13]

15. Jesus, that's horrible.

It's not "to still be alive"

It's "still to be alive" or "to be alive still"

You split the infinitive. :o

[Rabrrrrrr]

16. OMG! I did!

I would have lost the interview!!

:P

[NewJeffCT]

17. several years back

when my wife & I were still dating, she had an interview for a pretty good job and was told she was one of six final candidates. I used to joke with her that I was going to kill the other candidates so she could get the job... she didn't get the job, and then said I didn't follow through on my promise to kill the other five. So, my response was, how would she know I didn't kill the other five? She never heard from them again, and they could have found a 7th candidate later on?