Intro
No matter the nature of a job interview, it’s extremely important to come in to your interview with questions to ask. Having questions to ask your potential employer shows interest in the position you’re applying for, and can ultimately help you land the job.
With this being said, not all questions are equal. Some questions can aid you in landing that dream job, while others will put you at a disadvantage compared to other candidates.
This article will discuss five interview questions you should and shouldn’t ask during a job interview.
Questions You Should Ask
- Any question that inquires about specific details concerning the company that could not be easily discovered online.
-- Examples: What are some ways that the company recognizes high-achievers?
- Can you explain the company culture to me?
- What the company would want out of you in the foreseeable future
- Asking the interviewer what they like about the company. It not only makes the interviewer more receptive, but it allows you to decide if the company would seem like a good fit for yourself.
- “What is a typical day on the job like? Walk me through a shift for someone in my role.”
- “What traits or skills does someone who works in this position need?” If you believe that you have these skills/traits, convince the interviewer of such.
Questions You Shouldn’t Ask
- Anything related to compensation. Pay can be discussed once a formal offer is made.
- Questions that could easily be answered through a simple Google search.
- Anything that would imply you’re looking for special accommodations— like work-from-home, flex hours, etc.
- Anything that hints at impatience or insecurity on your part— asking if the employer wants to see references prematurely, asking about references coming into a position, etc.
- Any type of question that hints at future absence from the workplace— e.g. maternity/paternity leave
Conclusion
These are just a few examples of what should and shouldn’t be asked during an interview. Much of it is common sense and context-based, as different interviews will be conducted in different ways.
Beyond the actual questions asked, keep in mind interview etiquette. One point of order is finding the balance between asking too few and too many questions out of your interviewer. While there is no definitive rule of thumb, it’s probably best to ask only relevant questions at the appropriate time.
Which brings up another point: it’s ideal to ask questions at the end of your interview. This way the actual interview isn’t interrupted, and you have a better idea of what to ask.
Don’t feel bad if you aren’t able to ask everything that you have in mind. Asking the most pressing questions is important at first; if you have a subsequent interview, you can ask the rest.
Best of luck in your job hunt!
