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| Ask questions, but make sure that they're the right ones.Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/flickr |
By Rachel Gillett, BUSINESS INSIDER
When you're in the hot seat, there's a good chance that your interviewer will turn the tables at some point and ask, "Do you have any questions for me?"
[post_ads]When you have the floor, you'll want to take full advantage of the opportunity to show that you've done your homework and determine if the job is a good fit.
But it's imperative that you put just as much thought into what you ask as you do your responses to their questions. That's because your queries may reflect your knowledge of the company, work ethic, level of professionalism, and interest in the role.
"In the first interview, you'll want to be sure to ask the right questions. Ask about the job and company; not questions that can come off as self-serving and give the impression you may not be a team player or be willing to give 100%," Amy Hoover, president of the job board Talent Zoo, tells Business Insider.
"The sole purpose of the interview is to determine if you are a good fit for the company, and if it's a good fit for you," she says. "All the other issues and concerns should be addressed during negotiations after the job offer has been made."
Here are 23 questions you'll want to avoid during the first job interview, as they may do more harm than good:
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1.
When you're in the hot seat, there's a good chance that your interviewer will turn the tables at some point and ask, "Do you have any questions for me?"
[post_ads]When you have the floor, you'll want to take full advantage of the opportunity to show that you've done your homework and determine if the job is a good fit.
But it's imperative that you put just as much thought into what you ask as you do your responses to their questions. That's because your queries may reflect your knowledge of the company, work ethic, level of professionalism, and interest in the role.
"In the first interview, you'll want to be sure to ask the right questions. Ask about the job and company; not questions that can come off as self-serving and give the impression you may not be a team player or be willing to give 100%," Amy Hoover, president of the job board Talent Zoo, tells Business Insider.
"The sole purpose of the interview is to determine if you are a good fit for the company, and if it's a good fit for you," she says. "All the other issues and concerns should be addressed during negotiations after the job offer has been made."
Here are 23 questions you'll want to avoid during the first job interview, as they may do more harm than good:
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1.
'What does your company do?'
Questions like this will make you look unprepared. To avoid that, never ask anything that can easily be answered with a Google search.
2.
'What will my salary be?'
Hold off on the money talk.
"Candidates have to walk a thin line between gathering information they need about a company and assuming they are going to get the position," Jesse Siegal, a senior managing director at The Execu|Search Group staffing firm, tells Business Insider.
Asking about money too early in the process sends the message that you're arrogant and rude.
Hold off on the money talk.
"Candidates have to walk a thin line between gathering information they need about a company and assuming they are going to get the position," Jesse Siegal, a senior managing director at The Execu|Search Group staffing firm, tells Business Insider.
Asking about money too early in the process sends the message that you're arrogant and rude.
3.
'What are the hours?'
Asking this question betrays a punch-the-clock mentality. It's better to go over details like this once you have the job in hand.
Asking this question betrays a punch-the-clock mentality. It's better to go over details like this once you have the job in hand.
4.
'How soon can I take a vacation?'
Planning your time off before you've even gotten the job sends the message that you're not committed to the work.
5.
'Will I have an expense account?'
There's really no reason to ask this in the interview. Plus, it sends the wrong message.
There's really no reason to ask this in the interview. Plus, it sends the wrong message.
6.
'How quickly could I be considered for a promotion?'
Focus on the job at hand.
Focus on the job at hand.
7.
'What happens if I don't get along with my boss or coworkers?'
The interviewer may wonder if you've had problems with colleagues in the past — and they may even assume that you're difficult to work with.
8.
'What are benefits like?'
It's better to save this question for the end of the process, when it's more clear that you'll receive a job offer.
"Often, companies post information about their benefits on their websites in order to attract candidates, so it may be possible to find this information without asking in an interview," Siegal says.
It's better to save this question for the end of the process, when it's more clear that you'll receive a job offer.
"Often, companies post information about their benefits on their websites in order to attract candidates, so it may be possible to find this information without asking in an interview," Siegal says.
9.
'When will I be eligible for a raise?'
This may tell the interviewer that money is the only thing you care about.
This may tell the interviewer that money is the only thing you care about.
10.
'Can I arrive early or leave late as long as I get my work done?'
Don't try to make adjustments to the schedule before you've even been offered the job.
11.
'Are you married?/Do you have kids?/etc.'
Never ask the interviewer any personal questions.
Never ask the interviewer any personal questions.
12.
'Will I have to work long hours?'
This one is even more telling to interviewers than simply asking about your hours, as it will almost exclusively be perceived as your refusal to do what it takes to get the job done.
This one is even more telling to interviewers than simply asking about your hours, as it will almost exclusively be perceived as your refusal to do what it takes to get the job done.
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13.
13.
'Do you check social-media accounts?'
Job seekers should always assume that their prospective employers will find and view their social-media accounts.
"Asking about whether employers will check raises huge red flags for the company, who may wonder if a candidate will be a threat to the company's image," Siegal says.
"Asking about whether employers will check raises huge red flags for the company, who may wonder if a candidate will be a threat to the company's image," Siegal says.
14.
'What's the employee discount like?'
"Inquiring and asking for perks is so 'me, me me' — an unfavorable trait," etiquette and civility expert and "Don't Burp in the Boardroom" author Rosalinda Oropeza Randall tells Business Insider.
"Inquiring and asking for perks is so 'me, me me' — an unfavorable trait," etiquette and civility expert and "Don't Burp in the Boardroom" author Rosalinda Oropeza Randall tells Business Insider.
15.
'Do you monitor emails or internet usage?'
This question will raise red flags — something you definitely don't want to do in the interview.
This question will raise red flags — something you definitely don't want to do in the interview.
16.
'Do you do background checks?'
This one may also make the interviewer suspicious.
This one may also make the interviewer suspicious.
17.
'Will I have my own office?'
18.
18.
Does it really matter?
'Can I make personal calls during the day?'
This one says that you're not 100% focused on your work.
'Can I make personal calls during the day?'
This one says that you're not 100% focused on your work.
19.
'I heard this rumor about the CEO. Is it true?'
You should never bring gossip into a job interview. It's highly unprofessional.
You should never bring gossip into a job interview. It's highly unprofessional.
20.
'What are grounds for termination?'
It's not a good idea to get the interviewer thinking about firing you before they've even hired you.
It's not a good idea to get the interviewer thinking about firing you before they've even hired you.
21.
'When are you due?'
"If you imply a woman is pregnant when she isn't, there is no recovery. It's a colossal insult," Darlene Price, author of "Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results," tells Business Insider.
"Besides, this observation (whether true or false) is too personal to mention for a first time meeting," she says.
"If you imply a woman is pregnant when she isn't, there is no recovery. It's a colossal insult," Darlene Price, author of "Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results," tells Business Insider.
"Besides, this observation (whether true or false) is too personal to mention for a first time meeting," she says.
22.
'How did I do?'
This one puts the interviewer on the spot. If you really want feedback, wait until you get the offer or rejection, and then ask in an email what you did well or could have done better.
23.
'Did I get the job?'
You don't want to appear too eager.
Bonus: The worst question of all is the one you never ask.
"Not asking questions can be just as bad, or worse, than asking terrible questions," Deborah Shane, a career author, speaker, and media consultant, tells Business Insider. "It can reveal a lot about your communication skills, personality, and confidence — and it can leave the interviewer with a bad impression of you."
Jacquelyn Smith contributed to a previous version of this article.
More from Business Insider You don't want to appear too eager.
Bonus: The worst question of all is the one you never ask.
"Not asking questions can be just as bad, or worse, than asking terrible questions," Deborah Shane, a career author, speaker, and media consultant, tells Business Insider. "It can reveal a lot about your communication skills, personality, and confidence — and it can leave the interviewer with a bad impression of you."
Jacquelyn Smith contributed to a previous version of this article.
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