At some point during a job interview, the interviewer is likely to ask the applicant if he or she has any questions. This is can be a terrific opportunity to show your knowledge of the company, your enthusiasm about the job, and your thoughtfulness. So, don’t blow it with inappropriate questions!!! 🙁
Jen Hubley Luckwaldt of PayScale offers her top five questions NOT to ask:
- “What does your company do?”
- “Can I do this job from home?”
- “How much vacation do I get?”
- “Do I need to work overtime?”
- “What’s the salary for this job?” [The pay range can be learned through research instead of asking]
In today’s vernacular, these should be considered: Duh, what were they thinking?
To read more from Hubley Luckwaldt, click the image below.
Photo Credit: nongpimmy/freedigitalphotos.net
My current boss answered most of those question during the interview, so I didn’t get the chance to make those mistakes. The only one she didn’t answer was my paycheck, and I decided not ask about that for until after I realized I couldn’t figure it out from my first paycheck. I’ll keep in mind the other ones for my next interview though.
I agree that these questions seem “obvious” not to ask, but if a person is in an interview that seems to be going well, it is easy to get swept up in the moment and think too far ahead! It isn’t always easy, but sometimes we just have to stay in the present and focus on what it right in front of us.
For both my previous job and current job I never really had a formal job interview, but these questions were addressed by the employer. Any interview can be a nerve-racking experience, and it may be easy to get distracted or lose focus. I would also imagine that the first and last impressions during the interview are most important, so it would be best to not ruin it with the wrong question(s).
It is important to have pre-prepared questions for any job interview. While there is the chance that they’ll be answered during the interview, questions about company environment, inner workings, etc. are sure to demonstrate that you are interested in working there. The best questions to ask are informed ones about specific parts of the company, as this lessens the potential learning curve and shows you took the time to learn about the place where you want to work.
I can completely agree with this post and during an interview that is the one question I dread being asked at the end. I have always been told to ask at least two questions at the end of an interview but in the moment its terrifying thinking of the right kind of question to ask. In addition, I don’t know why anyone in the right mind would already ask about the amount of vacation they get that early in the game…
I completely agree with this post, because theres some things you just do not ask in an interview. However, when I was in a meeting for my summer job with the administrators, they asked me if I had any further questions; when I did not they questioned me if I wanted to know about the pay for the job. Also, I agree because if I am just getting the job why would I already worry about vacation time, but sometimes people can ask the darnest questions.
I definitely agree that these questions should never be asked during an interview, especially if you want the job but I also believe that reading an article such as this one would be just as relevant for a potential employee as it would be a potential employer. A potential employer may want to answer some of these questions because they are ones that a potential employee would want to know! Some can be answered easily through a bit of research but, for example, perhaps a certain employee needs flexibility in their work location. In the job posting or interview it could be more clear with phrases like “strictly in-office” or “location flexible” so that it is easier for an employee to realize whether the job is right for them or not.
While most of these questions are usually answered in a typical interview, you should go into the interview with an approximate answer for each question. Never go into an interview blind; it is of paramount importance to research as much as possible the position for which you are applying. Instead of these questions, consider asking about the environment of the company, or ask the interviewer what he/she likes most about the company.
These questions are obviously questions that should not be asked during an interview. You should definitely take advantage during the interview when the interviewer asks if you have any questions, but use that opportunity to show you are not a slacker and are enthusiastic to take the job. The questions that you ask not only tell you about the company, but it tells your future employer so much about you. The questions you ask can help employers figure out the type of person/worker you are.
I agree with this post because people shouldn’t be asking if they can work from home or have vacation days when they haven’t even gotten the job yet. This will make the boss not want to hire you because you are already trying to find a way out before you get hired! Also, most people answer all of these questions during the interview without you having to ask. When I go into an interview I usually try and research as much as I can ahead of time so I know what the company is about and I’m not asking questions like “What does your company do?”…
It is definitely important to plan questions ahead of time, and more importantly to research the company you are applying for. The interviewer likes to see that you took the time to learn about the company and have at least some background knowledge. Questions such as vacation time and salary are inappropriate for an interview; that information is normally given after you’ve been hired.
Often times no matter how amazing your resume is, if you can’t deliver during the interview you aren’t going to get hired. Before I go for a job interview I always make sure to look up the company and find out as much information as I can. I print multiple copies of my resume because you never know how many bosses there is that may interview you. I’ve found that most of the time they will tell you up front what the salary is and a brief description of what you will be doing. They will even sometimes tell you about the company itself.
Obviously those are stupid questions to ask. SInce I’m graduating in May, I’ve already had a few phone interviews in hopes of landing myself a job. It’s important to do your research on the company beforehand. You can really impress the interviewer with meaningful questions about the company.
Previously we learned about marketing ourselves to look good to prospective employers. One thing that definitely helps on an interview is knowing what to ask and what not to ask. I believe researching a company is the most helpful. Know what the company is and objectives will help you to think of questions you may be asked by employers and help you have a successful interview.
Job interviews can be very stressful so a post like this can be a life saver for many young adults like myself. The original post has much more information and I recommend everyone to check it out. I am aware that a weak interview can be the difference of getting the job so why not do everything in your power to prepare yourself for something that can change your life. Great post!