You landed the interview. You showed up early, not just on time. You wore a suit, you didn’t spill your coffee down your shirt. You answered every question they asked with specific, concrete details. You wowed them.

But you look at the clock … there are still ten to fifteen minutes between you and the end of your interview time slot.

Ten to fifteen minutes, and all they have left is, “Do you have any questions?”

Questions?

Of course, you have questions. Well, really one question. Did I get the job?

Somehow, you know that’s not the kind of question they’re looking for.

When it comes to acing the question-asking portion of the interview, the magic doesn’t happen in that last ten to fifteen minutes. Instead, the magic happens the moment you submit your resume. That’s the moment that resume prep ends, and your interview research begins.

You’re going to create a spreadsheet, you’re going to gather information. By the time you walk into that interview, you’re going to know the cost of living for the area vs. the proposed salary, the origin story for the company, and the essential tasks required for the job. And you’re going to know how to ask the right questions.

The secret to asking a good question is curiosity and knowing something about your audience.
You need to appear interested, but not clueless. Invested, but not desperate. Intelligent, but not a know-it-all.

Is this starting to sound like advice for a blind date?

Maybe blind dates and interviews have more in common than meets the eye.

You’re looking to build a relationship with these people. They may be your future bosses or colleagues. They are the ones who will represent who you are to the rest of the company. If you want to give them something good to represent, go in there knowing at least three questions you want to ask, and come up with a fourth based on the interview.

When it comes to your pre-planned questions, start by looking at what the company says about itself. Look at their website, their brand statement, and the ways they are looking to grow. Do they partner with community organizations? Do they have some kind of outreach program? Do they list something about market expansion? Research these organizations, their community, and that new market… Develop a question or two based on what they’ve made available, and where you’d like to help them grow further.

Another question or two for your quiver comes from where you want to be in a few years. You survived the question about your long-term goals and five-year plan… so turnabout is fair play. Ask about how they mentor and grow their employees. What is the career trajectory for the last person to hold your position? What was most surprising for them when they started working for the company? What have they learned as a part of working with this team?

Asking a question is only frightening if you’re asking an audience that doesn’t care. These people care. They want to find the right fit for their company, they want their team to be a success. Come in with a few research-based questions in hand, and you’ll show them you’re committed to their growth. You’ll show them that you’re employee material.

​Story by Emilie Duck

By Guest Blogger: Amanda Marksmeier

My husband’s phone went off for what seemed like the hundredth time that evening. He asked if I could check it since I was closer. Feeling like the picture of the dutiful wife, I obliged and read the text message out loud. He stated his reply and looked at me expectantly. Suddenly my husband and Don Draper seemed to have a lot in common. 

Jokingly, I considered adding “unofficial military spouse secretary” to my resume. However, as I turned the idea over in my head, becoming an administrative professional didn’t feel like such a leap after all. In fact, it sounded like a leap that could add to my resume and my paycheck.
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As military spouses, we manage schedules, make appointments, keep track of budgets, pay bills, and address countless crises that arise with little to no notice. We shift childcare pick-up, purchase supplies, prepare for multi-state (and overseas) moves, and navigate technology as we try to keep up with our spouses, family, and friends. And, to top it all off, we sort out that darned pen that exploded in the wash (sometimes we even handle the plumbing).

When we talk among ourselves, we shrug and consider ourselves normal. This is what we do to make sure everything runs smoothly, no matter how many obstacles we may encounter. But, when you take the long view, the skills we use to keep this military life running are exactly the kinds of skills that get administrative professionals paid.

Administrative professionals manage schedules, payroll, invoices, and projects; they often oversee critical situations and act as office gatekeepers. Any of this sound familiar? Work as an administrative professional is versatile and can be found in virtually every industry, so it’s a great career choice for military spouses. Administrative professional positions also provide two key elements military spouses need: growth and portability. You can find online administrative positions as well as in-person jobs, no matter where the military sends you.
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If you have experience and are looking for an administrative professional job, or are looking to hone the kind of skills administrative professionals need, consider the following opportunities:

• LinkedIn® Learning: This platform will give you access to thousands of training courses from Microsoft basics to data analytics. Learning these skills will help you advance your chance as a potential administrative professional and refresh your skills if you’re feeling a little rusty. This feature is a part of the LinkedIn® Premium package. While it is pricey, you can try before you buy with their free 30-day trial—and Veterans receive a free one-year membership to LinkedIn® Premium.
• Ed4Online: This is a platform that offers a ton of professional development and career training courses. You can take a course on QuickBooks® Pro or complete an administrative assistant online program.
• Check with your installation’s ACS, MWR, local libraries, or community colleges—they may have opportunities for you to strengthen your administrative skills.

Landing a job while being married to the military can seem like an impossibility at times. If you aren’t up to your ears in boxes, you’re trying to navigate interview covert operations (i.e. answering why there are so many jobs on your resume… with a smile).

While I negotiate my salary and benefits package as an unofficial secretary (I’m thinking pay in wine and chocolate, with a weekly dinner I definitely don’t have to cook), you may want to consider a career as an official administrative professional. After all, you already have some real-life experiences that make you an ideal fit for the job.

In the meantime… Thank you to all the administrative professionals who keep America's industries running, and thank you to all the unofficial secretaries who keep our military families going strong!