“Do you have any questions for me?”
Ah, the question that signals you’re in the final stretch of a job interview.
Some of us already have a list of questions prepared. Some only think about them during the interview. And some respond with a curt ‘no’ when asked.
In any interview, saying “no” is not the way to go.
However, do we get free reign just because we are asked this open-ended question? Or do the rules of propriety still apply?
The answer is always a yes (to propriety). During a job interview, your goal is to present your most marketable self. So, if you have no questions to ask, you may come off as uninterested and/or unprepared.
As Martin Yate said in ‘Knock ’em Dead Job Interview’, “If you lived in the wild, you’d need to know how to make a fire to survive. But you live in an urban world, and you need to make money. That means you need a job, and the only way to get a job is by turning a job interview into a job offer.”
How? One of the steps is to avoid asking questions that put you in a negative light.
“Job interviews are like first dates.
Good impressions count.
Awkwardness can occur.
Outcomes are unpredictable.”
Related: How to Nail a Job Interview? Ask These 4 Questions
Questions to avoid asking during a job interview
- Do I get my own office?
- Can I work from home?
- Who is the company’s competitor?
- What does your company do?
- Will I have to work on weekends?
- What is the salary for this position?
- When can I take time off for a vacation?
- Can I request for a MacBook for work?
- How late is too late to get into work in the morning?
- How long will I have to work before I can get a raise?
- What exactly will you look for in a background check?
- Do you have a lot of rules about what you can wear here?
- May I arrive early or leave late as long as I get my hours in?
- Would you like to see my references? (may hint desperation)
- Did I get the job?
Further reminders
- Don’t ask about rumours that you’ve heard from an outsider
- Don’t ask the interviewer personal or sensitive questions
- Questions about employee benefits
- Anything that was already answered in the job descriptions
- Questions you can get answered with a quick Google search
- Questions that start with “why” (This is a matter of psychology and “why” questions tend to put people in a defensive mode)
All prepared? Hit the submit button below to find your dream job on Jobstore.com!