Congratulations! You got the interview. Once you get past the excitement of being invited to an interview with a company you were secretly wishing would call you, it is time to get to work and prepare for your big moment.

This time of year I find myself offering interviewing tips on a regular basis to students who are looking for full-time jobs or summer internships.

Bottom line: The preparation methods are the same.

 It all starts with research, practice and a professional appearance.

It may go without saying that you should practice your responses to the typical interview questions:

“Tell me about yourself,” “What are your strengths?” and “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

But what about the questions you ask the interviewer?

Yes, you actually do want to ask, not just answer, questions. Some of you may be saying to yourselves:

“Won’t it seem like I wasn’t listening or did not do my research if I ask a question during an interview?”

Quite the contrary, actually. Asking questions can demonstrate your genuine interest in the organization and the position for which you are interviewing.

Of all the questions a hiring manager may ask you during a job interview, the one that could be the most important and most crucial to your success — and trickiest to answer:

“Do you have any questions for me?”

This simple question can baffle those of you who already feel they have achieved the utmost level of preparation.

However, asking questions provides the perfect opportunity to set yourself apart from other applicants interviewing for the same position as you.

My best advice? Plain and simple: Do not say “No” when they ask that question.

Recruiters admit they get a sense of the candidate not being prepared or having done no research when they don’t have questions to ask. One local recruiter shares this:

“If a candidate comes with questions for me, it shows initiative. I get the feeling they have truly taken the time to look at the position and the company. It gives me a better insight into what that candidate may be like.”

Asking smart and relevant questions allows you to guide the conversation as well as expand upon your related skills and experience.

A good way to think of questions to ask is thoroughly researching the Web site.

Many times, examination of the Web site will generate questions to which you want to know the answer.

In addition, there is bound to be something you want to know and can ask that you won’t find on the Web site.

Another way to come up with questions to ask is to tie in your past experiences.

Maybe volunteering has been a big focus in your life and you want to know if volunteering and community involvement is important to the organization.

Avoid asking questions about compensation and benefits until an offer has already been extended.

Consider these questions as you are preparing for your big interview.

Make sure to write them down so you don’t run the risk of forgetting what you wanted to ask.

How would you describe your company’s culture?

I noticed on your Web site that you were a $1.8 million bank last quarter. What are the biggest challenges facing your company in the next several years?

What are the most important priorities for this department?

While researching your organization I learned you recently [fill in the blank]. Can you tell me a little bit more about this development?

What do you enjoy most about working here?

These questions should be helpful in your interview success.

Probably the most important question you can ask is:

“What is the next step in the process?”

If you forget to ask this question, you may walk away from the interview wondering when they will contact you.

Finally, at the end of the interview, take a moment to reiterate your interest about the position and the organization.

Thank the interviewer for his or her time, and be sure to follow up with a note of appreciation.

A list of each career services office can be found at www.career.iastate.edu.

Tammy Stegman is a Career Coordinator in the College of Business, Raisbeck Career Services Center.