Five questions you should never ask at an interview
There’s nothing worse than having no questions to ask at the end of an interview…
Actually, there just might be. In fact, asking something inappropriate or unprofessional is often more harmful than asking nothing at all – and can send all the wrong signals to recruiters. It could even be the reason they decide not to hire you after an otherwise great interview.
We’ve already covered what you should be asking at an interview, but here are a few questions you should definitely steer clear of:
What does your company do?
Think asking someone what their company does is a great way to get the ball rolling? Think again.
All this question really says to a recruiter is that you can’t think of anything worthwhile to ask and, more importantly, that you haven’t even deemed the interview significant enough to spend a few minutes on a search engine looking the company up.
So don’t ask anything that you could have learned by researching the company. Instead, focus on the specifics in more detail to help demonstrate you’ve done your homework.
What you should be asking: I saw that your company has recently done X. Can you tell me a little more about this?
How to prepare for an interview
Pre-interview checklist
Can I move into other areas of the business?
As disinterested questions go, this one is right up there.
OK, so perhaps you see the position you’re applying for as a springboard to something else, but that doesn’t mean you should tell the recruiter that. You might as well just go the whole way and ask ‘If I’m not right for this job, do you have any other vacancies you think I might be right for?’
Take your current audience into consideration and try exhibiting your drive and enthusiasm for the position you are applying for. Trust us, it will be a lot more impressive.
What you should be asking: What are the promotion prospects? What opportunities for development are there?
Five career goal questions, and how to answer them
How to: Make a career plan
How much sick pay do I get?
So you’re at the first interview, and you’re already planning your first absence?
When it comes to sick pay and annual leave, it’s probably best to leave them alone, or at least until you receive an offer. Otherwise it just looks like you’re pre-empting being away a lot. And no hiring manager wants to see that.
Unless you have a specific medical reason for asking, leave this one well alone.
What you should be asking: Nothing that relates to sick pay or holiday at this stage.
Excuses, excuses – one in six Brits admit to faking it for a day off
What’s the nightlife like?
For some of us, the social aspect of a company is an important part of our working lives.
However, as the old adage goes, there’s a time and a place for everything. And the time for asking about the best places to go out in the area is not during your first interview.
Finding out more about the team or asking an open-ended question about company culture is fine, but let any other social aspects come up naturally when you have the job.
What you should be asking: How many other people are there in the team? What’s the best thing about the company culture?
