You don’t like to brag, but you do consider yourself an expert interviewer. When mingling with friends at cocktail parties, people tune you out you regale guests with tales from the “Interviewer’s Chair,” as you (and only you) like to call it. Your questions are thought-provoking, revealing, on point, and even witty (two out of five of last night’s dinner companions agree!).

But wait just a minute. What happens when the tables are turned? Are you prepared for the dozens of questions swimming around in job seekers’ heads — many of them questions you are not in fact prepared to answer? Are you ready for the moment a potential future employee asks the question that makes your head spin as you slump dejectedly in your Interviewer’s Chair, searching for the answer?

You need to be ready for any questions job seekers may throw at you, whether through pre-interview inquiries, actual interview questions, or post-interview probing while a candidate is debating whether to accept your offer.

After all, there are a lot of job seekers in the market right now fighting for attention, but they expect employers to offer them the right reasons to accept a position. Today’s job seeker is savvy and informed — and you need to be too. Here is Part 1 of the 7 job seeker questions you didn’t see coming and tips on how to handle them.

1.       “What is your company’s involvement with social networking?”

Alternately, How are you ahead of other companies in a Web 2.0 world? If you’re the type getting breaking news from sites like Twitter, this question may not throw you. But if you think Facebook is the name of a new Stephen King novel, you might need to take some time and learn about businesses and social networking. What is your company doing to join the online conversations going on all around you? If you’re not involved in social networking, don’t try to sugar-coat it; be honest with candidates.  Instead of having to give “Nothing” as an answer, though, why not use this opportunity to learn about it and start getting involved? If you’re not sure where to start, check this out.

2.       “How would you describe your company culture?”

Your company culture can mean many things, but is generally defined as your employees’ collective values and practices. What do you and your employees hold to be important? Think about those things that describe the essence of your working environment and the employees who work for you. If you could describe the ideals and values of your company in five sentences, what would you say? Ask others within the company how they would define your current culture. Does it vary wildly from yours?

For more on defining and describing your company culture, see this and this.

3.       “What kinds of philanthropic opportunities do you offer?”

More and more companies are getting involved in volunteering efforts big and small. And with the current state of the economy, many recent grads and those back in the job market are turning to volunteering.

Does your company have a fundraising cook-off? Are you involved with Habitat for Humanity? Do you send employees to tutor students in the neighborhood? The types and depth of commitments will vary depending on your employees’ interests, but the important thing is that you are doing something to reach out to the greater community.

Philanthropy feeds into employee morale, and it’s also a great way for employees to bond and get to know each other outside of the “work” environment. With so many aspects of our economy looking dim right now, getting outside of work and focusing on others in need may be just what your employees need. So start looking around. And the next time that your next curious job seeker or interviewee asks how you’re involved in the community, they may not be able to make you stop talking.

More to come in Part II — 7 Job Seeker Questions You Didn’t See Coming