Interview Questions Job Seekers Need to Ask

What to Say and What to Avoid Key to a Successful Job Interview

Oct 14, 2009

Asking the wrong questions on an interview can destroy the candidate's chances for employment. Here's what every job seeker needs to know about interview questions.

To many, the job interview is one of the most harrowing, nail-biting life experiences a person must face. With all the preparation – resumes, cover letters, and practicing answers to the employer’s interview questions – the process can quickly become so intimidating that the candidate forgets to draw up a list of questions to ask the company. Here’s what to ask, and what not to ask the interviewer.

Interview Questions To Ask

When inquiring about the duties of the new opportunity during the job interview, focus on the position itself and the company rather than things like salary or benefits. The candidate needs to get a good feel for what the job entails, and the employer needs to know the person has what it takes to succeed.

For example, “What are the requirements of this position?” The hiring manager may provide new information that was not included in the original job description. “Why is this position open?” is commonly asked as well, shedding light on positives such as company growth or negatives such as mismanagement.

Asking, “What are the business goals of your company?” signals to the employer that the candidate is proactive and interested not simply in drawing a bi-weekly salary, but also in what the organization does and what it stands for. An effective technique is to print the About page(s) from the corporation's website and set the printouts on the table during the interview, working off of them and asking the hiring manager detailed questions while writing notes in the page margins.

Conversational questions such as, “How long have you been with the company?” and, “Do you like it here?” shows the interviewee that the job seeker is a personable team player who is interested in both people and the organization. They also provide an insider’s look at the positives and potential negatives of working at the corporation (e.g., long hours or difficult personalities).

At the end of the meeting, always gather contact information from each person to send them a thank you letter the following day. Ask what the next steps in the process are, and when the candidate can expect to hear from them. Other interview questions to ask include:

Interview Questions to Absolutely Avoid

The job seeker should generally avoid inquiring about anything not related to the organization’s business goals or specific duties of the position. No matter how well the meeting is going, never appear overly confident that the job offer is already on the table – the employer will view this as a huge negative. Also, never become overly casual, even if hiring managers are as friendly as can be.

Examples of inquiries to avoid include salary, benefits, and personal questions regarding politics and/or religion. Never act like the company has already offered the job, and never bring up salary unless the employer does so first. (Typically the employer requests an estimate of the candidate’s required salary during the initial phone screening, which the person should provide as a range, for example, $40K-$50K/yr.).

Never ask about a telecommuting policy. While of course it would be great to avoid traffic jams and two-hour commutes, this gives the employer the impression that the candidate is not a team player and would rather goof off at home. Rather, petition the organization for a telecommuting policy after being hired. Lastly, never ask the employer about their hiring and firing decisions – they will take it as an affront and a second-guessing of their business acumen.

The key to any job interview is to be relaxed, yet proactive and professional. By asking questions related to the organization and the requirements of the position, smiling often, and avoiding inquiries regarding salary, benefits, and telecommuting, the candidate can walk into the company’s offices with confidence.

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