There is nothing worse than not asking any questions after you finish your job interview. Truth? Not necessarily. Asking inappropriate or unprofessional questions may work against you more than complete silence. We have already written about what questions to ask during a job interview. This time we suggest when it is worth biting your tongue, so that the questions you ask do not leave a bad impression on us.
5 questions you should never ask in a job interview
What does this company actually do?
Do you think this is a good warm-up question? Think it over. This question only illustrates that you are unable to come up with a worthwhile question about the company and, more importantly, that you are not taking this recruiting seriously enough to do your most basic homework. The golden rule is: don’t ask questions that you can answer yourself with a simple Google search. Instead, focus on specific questions that will demonstrate that you have not only done your homework, but are also genuinely interested in working for this company and position.
What alternative question should I ask: I learned from your website that x ( you launched a new product on the market / you started a partnership with the company x / the company x became a new client ). Could you please tell me more about this?
Can I move to another department?
I guess you really want not to get her job! Even if you treat working in this position as a springboard and you really look for an alternative position in the company, don’t flaunt it. You might as well ask directly, “If I am unfit for this position, will you suggest another one for me?” Consider whether your interlocutor will be satisfied with this presentation of the matter. Show enthusiasm for the position for which you are currently applying. It will make a better impression.
What alternative question should you ask: What opportunities for development and promotion does the company offer?
How many vacation days does the company offer?
Are you going through the first stage of conversations and you are already planning your absences? If you want to raise the issue of holidays, wait until you receive an offer from the company. Otherwise, you may not receive this offer: you have not started work yet (or become a favorite in the competition for the position), and are you already dreaming about vacation? No recruiter wants to hear this. If you are not asking a question for medical reasons, please hold off on the next step.
What alternative question should I ask: Don’t ask questions about absenteeism.
What is the social life in the neighborhood / company like?
For many of us, the social aspect of work is very important. We want to be sure that we will feel good in a place where we spend a lot of our time. However, there is time and place for everything. That’s right: the time and place to ask about bars in the neighborhood will come, but not during your first interview. A better strategy is to ask open-ended questions about your team or company culture.
What alternative question should you ask: How many people work in the team responsible for this project? Can you tell me something more about the company’s culture? What are its greatest advantages and what could be improved?
How did I do?
Asking this question after the meeting is over may ruin your chances of receiving an offer or moving to the next stage. Regardless of how confident you feel and how positive the atmosphere is between the interlocutors, asking how you did will put the chancellor in an awkward position. Moreover, he will not be able to share with you the information you would like to receive anyway. A much better idea will be to inquire about the planned course of the next stages. Don’t forget to send us an email thanking you for the meeting and your time.
What alternative question should you ask: What is the ideal candidate for this position? When can I expect your decision on the next stage of recruitment?
It may seem obvious not to ask the above questions, but you will be surprised how often they are asked in meetings.
As an added bonus, focus on listening carefully. This way you will avoid embarrassing situations like asking questions that have already been mentioned and for which you should know the answer.
Also remember the importance of being well prepared. Coming to an appointment with a list of pre-thought questions will help you avoid embarrassing silence – if you feel unsure, ask any of the questions and focus on listening to the answers.
