Three Questions to Avoid in a Job Interview
When I was a recruiter, I was asked a lot of smart questions that made me say, “Wow, this candidate is great.” But I also heard a lot, which made me wonder who this person was taking advice from in an interview – or if this person was seeking help at all.
This post was originally published on the Muse website .
The truth is, while hiring managers expect you to ask questions , there are many topics that you should never bring up. For starters, here are some of them that you might find exciting, but will not make you sympathetic to the interviewer.
1. “How often does the team hang out after hours?”
It’s only natural to want to work with people you would drink with after work. Because, as you know, the reality is that you spend more time with your colleagues than with most other people in your life. But asking the recruiter to talk about what happens after the clock makes it sound like you care a lot about the happy hour scene. Again, you have to care about the culture, but it doesn’t do you any good, even if it’s a company known for having a good time.
What to ask instead
Instead of asking how hard the team works, try something like this: “I would like to hear more about how the team works together, how would you define the culture of the company ?” This answer often leads to discussion of fun traditions or weekly happy hours, but it makes you seem much more anxious about finding the right match than the original wording.
2. “Do I have a job?”
Okay, you might not be as straightforward as you are here, but back in the days when I was hiring you would have been amazed at how long it took people to get me to say, “You’re awesome!” But here’s the thing: even if you think you’ve made a connection with your interviewer, it’s important not to start digging around for compliments or reassurances that you are going to continue the process.
What to ask instead
Again, looking for compliments is a good way to distract the recruiter. Instead, ask, “In an ideal world, what should a person in this role do to make life easier for their manager?” By asking this question, you will not receive an answer to your question – sorry! – but instead focus on what you can do for the company. And at the interview stage, it is very important to understand how active you will be. (The negotiation stage is when you start thinking about yourself!)
3. “If that doesn’t work, would you consider me as another discovery?”
I have stated repeatedly that the interview is not over yet when the hiring manager misses it. In fact, I often invited people to new jobs because they were really cool, but at the time the role in question was not suitable for them.
But these people had one thing in common: they never asked me to do this during the first interview. Because those who bluntly pleaded with me to remember them for other positions made it difficult for me to imagine getting the other person to date them, let alone consider them full time in our company.
What to ask instead
There is no great way to ask, “I am desperately trying to get in the door any way I can. Will you put me on another job? Unless you want to sound crazy. Instead, at the end of the interview, reinforce your interest in the company again.
Say something simple, such as, “As a longtime fan of your organization, I am delighted to meet you today.” A short statement that summarizes your passion for the company can leave a positive impression, even if the interviewer knows the job isn’t right for you. Add a quality thank you note and you can easily be considered for other positions.
Finding the right interview questions is not easy. But half the battle is knowing which ones to avoid. Therefore, before you start asking what comes to mind, think more carefully about the impression you want to leave. And if you run into trouble after your brainstorming session, fear not – we have a list of 51 interview questions you should ask.
3 interview questions you’ll want to ask (but definitely shouldn’t) | Muse