10 Interview Questions You Should Never Ask

By Author: Speed Up Hiring
Total Articles: 4
Comment this article

Many questions you might be inclined to ask in an interview aren't appropriate. You should not, as a general rule, inquire about how the company will benefit you. Instead, ask about what you could provide to the organisation if you were to be recruited.Here are some of the questions you must totally avoid asking during interviews.

1. What are the working hours?
The employer may even have doubts about your ability to perform and believe you are lazy rather than a responsible and trustworthy employee if you end up asking such questions before getting recruited. If the employer has a flexible scheduling policy, you will be briefed on the job's benefits once you receive the offer letter.

2. What does the position pay?
Salary discussions are often a part of the interview or practice for interview process, but like most things, it’s all in the timing. Avoid asking about compensation in the early rounds of interviews. Employers will typically broach the subject once they feel confident that you would be a good fit for the job. Only raise the compensation discussion when you’ve received an offer or when ...
... you have received strong signals that an offer is imminent.

3. When can I expect a promotion?
Such questions simply makes you appear uninterested in the position at hand and anxious to move on to something better.Instead, you could ask, "What are some of the prospects for advancement with this position?" or "How can I know if I'm going to be successful in this position?"

Questions like these demonstrate that you're willing to put in a lot of effort in the job you're applying for, rather than making it appear as if you're merely waiting for a better opportunity to come along.

4. Do employees get discounts?
Everyone enjoys a good employee discount, but inquiring about it during the interview may give the impression that you are simply interested in the free goods. Employee discounts and other benefits should only be considered after you've been offered a job.

5. Can I leave early if I get my work done for the day?
Even if you make it clear that you’re hoping for a flexible schedule to accommodate a legitimate concern it is advised not to raise this question.While work-life balance is a hot topic right now, it isn't the most important factor for a hiring manager. Early on, insinuating that you're concerned about balancing your life could signal to your boss that you're more concerned about your own needs than the company's.

6. Can I work from home?
Work from home is great but requesting the same indicates that you don't perform well under supervision, don't want to work with others, or have a complicated schedule to work around.

If it is a remote position, it would probably already be mentioned in the job description.Employees who have worked for a company for a long time may be offered the option to telecommute on occasion, but this is not something you should request during your interview.

7. When Can I Take Time Off for Vacation?
You haven't even been employed yet, and you're already making vacation plans? That is one approach to demonstrate to employers that you are uninterested in working for them.

Inquiring about time off before accepting a job offer, on the other hand, merely indicates to employers that you will not be a totally devoted employee. Questions about leave and perks should be saved for after you've accepted the employment offer.

8. Who are your main competitors?
If you want to bring up the subject of competition, ask something like, "What distinguishes your company's business model from that of your competitors X and Y?"To demonstrate not only that you understand the industry but also that you've committed time to preparation for this interview, mention the competitors by their name and grasp their key operations.

9. Does the company monitor employee email or social media accounts?
You should never ask this of an employer during an interview or an interview online practice, even if you are fortunate enough to receive a job offer. You may simply be curious, but questioning a company's surveillance policies makes you appear to have something to hide.

10. What do you like least about working here?
While this is an excellent question, you should not ask it during an interview. It may give the impression to your interviewer that you tend to focus on the negative aspects of the firm, or worse, that you are phishing for them to criticise the company. If you're worried about the role because you know it'll be especially challenging for some reason, try framing the question differently such as, “What is the most challenging aspect of your job?”

When a recruiting manager asks if you have any questions, they're trying to figure out how you think and how interested you are in the job. If you don't have any questions, they can get the impression that you haven't given the procedure any thought and aren't interested in the job.Above all, keep in mind that only by asking questions will you be able to determine if this is the perfect job for you.