Questions You Should NOT Ask at an Interview

John Krautzel
Posted by •


Asking questions at a job interview demonstrates that you are engaged with a potential employer while giving interviewers insight into your personality, passion, goals and communicating style. However, there are some questions that you should avoid completely during this face-to-face time because they could ruin your chances of landing the job.

Any questions posed during a job interview should focus on the practicalities of the job and the organization. This gives you hints as to how the company works and how you fit into the company culture. As an added bonus, asking questions shows the employer you have what the company looks for in a new hire. Avoid questions with answers that only benefit you as opposed to the firm.

1. "What Is the Company's Maternity/Paternity Leave Benefit?"

Questions about benefits, and even salary, come later in the job interview process. Land the job first, then discuss benefits. Legally speaking, an employer has no right to ask about a family situation, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Therefore, avoid bringing maternity/paternity into the interview conversation.

2. "What Hours Do I Work?"

The job description should hint as to the hours of the position. Find out this information by connecting with a few employees at the firm rather than asking this question during a job interview. Simply expect that your work hours may vary by a few hours depending on project deadlines, time of year and staffing levels.

3. "Could You Tell Me Something About the Company?"

You should already have some basic knowledge about the company if you did your homework before the job interview. Read the company blog, perform a news search, look at the latest stock prices and read company press releases. Make an immediate impression on the interviewers by asking how you can help with the new merger or some huge project the company just landed.

4. "How Quickly Do Promotions Happen?"

Instead of asking how fast you may get your supervisor's job, why not stick to how you can earn the respect of your new boss? Ask a few questions relating to making your position more successful than your predecessor's.

5. "Does Your Company Monitor Computer and Internet Usage?

Asking this question makes your boss instantly suspicious of your activities before you even clock in for your first day. Simply do not open this can of worms.

6. "What's the Compensation Package and Benefits?"

Leave the money talk for the end of the interview process when the company makes you an offer. Before you sign on the dotted line, sharpen your negotiating skills, as the HR manager may alter the contract. The main interview focuses on how you fit into your role with the firm.

7. Don't Repeat a Question That Has Already Been Answered

Listen carefully to the interviewers, and pay attention. Try not to ask a question that someone already answered previously, because an interviewer may pick up on that and realize you did not pay much attention.

In general, refrain from asking any questions that talk about your own personal gain. Establish a working relationship with your future boss during a job interview, and expect the benefits of working with the company to arrive after that.


Photo courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 
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  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    @Jeffrey yours is a very typical tale these days. Sorry to hear it. First of all, do NOT apply at jobs for which you don't have any targeted experience - such as janitorial, etc. Your application is just going to go in the round file because you can't show the experience on your resume. I know it sounds ridiculous but that's the way it works today. You are wasting your time. Spend your time networking. Find former colleagues or supervisors and get in touch with them. Let them know that you are looking. Ask if they will submit your resume. More attention is paid to resumes that come in through a current employee. Try for a supervisor position that comes with training and see if that might help. As for education, you don't necessarily have to get a degree. You could get a certificate in something such as medical billing and coding or something in restaurant/hospitality. As for your question about age/experience - unfortunately it is true in today's job market. Companies don't want to pay older, more experienced job seekers what they are worth. And they feel that, even if they did hire you, as soon as something better comes along you will be gone. Your option is not to give up but to look at the job search from a different direction and seriously consider getting a certificate or some other current college education. Best of luck.

  • Jeffrey W.
    Jeffrey W. •

    I've been working fulltime since I was 18 and now am 32. Switched jobs 4 times within the 14 year span. Each time finding a job was a breeze. I have 7 years experience in hospitality and restaurant and 7 years experience in merchandising and retail. I cannot find a job for the past almost half a year. I've applied to more then 50 places and this included very low end job like janitorial services, parking lot cleaning, cashier and more. I've tried supervisor positions (with training, no experience) and still no luck. I've applied to countless pubs and restaurants and many merchandising positions where I have good experience in. There seems to be many, many job openings in these areas because I never seem to have a hard time finding one or one that I qualify for. I've had a few interviews which pretty much ended up "Don't call us, we'll call you" pile, but seemed to go by smoothly and without a hitch. I feel like I'm at the end of my road here. Is there such thing as being to "old" for a position or actually having TOO much experience? Is that even possible...I know employers are not suppose to take ethnicity and age into account but I seemed to have hit some kind of barrier. I don't have much education and don't have money to go back.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    @Cecelia thanks so much for that. It's so true. We have always been taught that no question is a bad question. Well, we should add to that.. except when you are interviewing! Asking about perks during an interview is just bad taste. Most job postings already indicate the perks and many of them include the salary or at least a range. So even before we apply to the position, we know a lot about it. Going into an interview and asking what we already know just makes us look ill prepared and, you are right, will result in a thanks but no thanks. Being prepared ahead of time and asking intelligent, on-point question could pretty much cement the deal.

  • Cecelia J.
    Cecelia J. •

    @Christopher c.@Janet S. I disagree. There ARE bad questions & in many fields where one might be trying to differentiate oneself from the masses, asking a question that is considered ill thought out, or that has already been answered might signal to some that you are not paying attention. Asking about maternity leave may signal you're planning to begin or extend a family and should the employer hire in hopes of a major contract coming, you might not be able to be counted on as much as would be demanded of that particular job. Asking an employer to explain to you what the job entails may signal you havent read or researched the job enough, however asking them to clarify a part of the job that you're unsure of is different. I dont think its true that there arent bad questions. I feel to to get a job these days, you must be as on point as you can, and asking questions that might indicate you arent will probably hurt you. Good luck!

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    @Marion it's hard to answer the "what's taking so long" question because so many variables go into it. Maybe you are not applying for the right positions. Maybe you are not asking the right questions during an interview. Maybe your resume needs to be updated or rewritten. Maybe the market is saturated with people with your same qualifications and there are no real openings. Maybe you are need to network. Maybe, maybe, maybe... it's hard to say. There are so many variables that go into the job/hiring process that your question can not be answered here. But you know your situation. Are you applying to anything and everything or are you only applying to jobs for which you are 100% qualified or are you stretching yourself - reaching for positions that you think are out of your realm. Only you know the answers. Ask yourself some of these questions. Get a third party to review your resumes. Check with the local community college or library and see if they have someone that you could do mock interviews with to try to determine if that's the reason. So many things that you can do to change this negative into a positive and find a job that's right for you. All the best to you.

  • Marion M.
    Marion M. •

    What is taking so long for me to get a job

  • christopher c.
    christopher c. •

    there is no bad question ask anything you need to know

  • janet s.
    janet s. •

    agree

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