The interview process is stressful, but you’ve done your due diligence. You researched the company, presented impeccable resources, and answered all of your interviewer’s questions to the best of your abilities. Now it’s time for you to send some questions the other direction. Just remember to be prepared, as there’s a fine line between acceptable lines of inquiry and questions you should never ask in an interview. If you’re not sure where your boundaries lie, here are some questions that should not leave your mouth.
19 Questions to Never Ask in an Interview
We’ve broken down 19 questions you should never ask a potential employer during an interview into the five different categories below.
Candidate Evaluation Questions to Never Ask in an Interview
1. Will you look at my social media profile?
Social media can be beneficial or detrimental to landing a job. It’s also fair game for employers. When you ask this question, you’re hinting to employers that you have plenty to hide online. Never post anything public that may weigh in on an employer’s decision to hire you. Before the interview, it’s best to review your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or other social media platforms to ensure you don’t leave anything incriminating. Even if it’s a picture of you knocking back a few pints when you were in college 10 years ago, it doesn’t help your cause.
That said, when social media is used properly, it can help you get a leg-up on the competition. Engagement with your potential employer’s Twitter or Facebook profile demonstrates that you’re interested in their company and are familiar with their company culture. Use social media to boost your employment prospects rather than damage them.
2. Do you check references?
When you throw out this question, your prospective employer immediately sees a red flag. If you don’t want them to call your references, what did you do to negatively impact your prior work relationships? The best idea is to assume that all employers will check your references. With this mindset, you can find the people who will give you shining recommendations instead of the boss who canned you for gross misconduct.
3. Do I need to submit a drug test?
If you’re asking this question, you probably shouldn’t interview for the job. Even employers in states where marijuana is legal don’t want to hear this question during the interview, unless that interview is for a dispensary. In that case, a bit of humor like that probably goes a long way.
Company-Focused Questions Not to Ask the Interviewer
4. When is lunch?
When is lunch, how long is lunch, or any food-related break question aren’t the best questions to bring up during the interview process. If food pops into your mind before the interview, it’s best to find the nearest vending machine to quash the famished beast within you. Some people really can’t deal with hunger pangs, and an interview is the worst time for that side of you to come out.
5. What’s your dating policy?
You might find regular companionship on Tinder, Grindr, or another dating platform, but your Don Juan dating prowess shouldn’t be on the agenda at a job interview. Whether you just saw an attractive individual walk down the hall or you simply want to cover your bases for after employment, don’t make your dating life the interviewer’s business.
Info to Know Before You Go
6. What does your company do?
This may seem like a no-brainer, but oddly enough, it’s something interviewers have heard in the past. Not only is this one of those questions to never ask in a interview, it’s a question you should always know the answer to before the interview.
Even if you’re applying for an entry-level job, do your research before time. Know the history of the company, their day-to-day operations, and anything else you can research on the internet. The more you know about the company, the greater your chance of landing a job.
7. Who are your competitors?
This goes hand-in-hand with knowing what the company does. During your research, you should figure out who their biggest competition is. Not only will this allow you to conduct a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis, but it will demonstrate to the interviewer that you went above and beyond when preparing yourself for the interview.
Compensation, Perks and Benefits Questions to Never Ask in an Interview
8. What will I get paid?
No one wants to undercut their value, but asking about salary and benefits before you’re officially offered a job isn’t smart. When you ask such a question, you’re assuming you already landed the job, which is something your employer will take into consideration. Only talk about salary and benefits after you’re extended an offer. At that point, you can use your negotiation skills to attain your value without leaving money on the table.
9. How much PTO can I expect?
If a company is willing to give you three weeks paid time off (PTO) with the same salary as an employer that only provides two weeks PTO, you’ll go with the better perks. However, asking how much PTO or sick days you get puts doubt into your interviewer’s mind. If you’re already asking about PTO, they wonder if you’re more focused on time away from the office instead of the task at hand.
10. Will I ever have to work late?
Among questions to never ask in an interview, this one ranks near the top. You might have kids or other obligations, but asking if you’ll ever have to work late is a telltale sign that you aren’t cut out for the position. You immediately tell your interviewer that work takes a backseat to other aspects of your life. It will appear working late, to you, is a nuisance rather than a benefit for your professional life or the company.
Even side-skirting this question with something such as “Do you pay overtime?” isn’t acceptable. If you have any concerns about your personal life, once again, wait until a job offer comes your way before you address the situation. Often, a company will work with you if they value your skills and you have a child or elderly individual to care for.
11. Can I work remotely?
Unless the job description explicitly states that the position has flextime or an eventual potential for telecommuting, don’t bring up remote work at an interview. You must first prove your worth and productivity to the company before you can ask to work from home. Once you’ve earned trust and gained experience, only then is it acceptable to convince your boss with a pitch that demonstrates how telecommuting benefits everyone.
12. Can I leave early or arrive late (or something in between)?
If you need to drop your kids off or pick them up at school, a genuine person can empathize with your situation. But asking whether it’s okay to leave work or alter business hours to suit your schedule indicates that you’re more concerned about work-life balance than the company’s goals. This is yet another question that shouldn’t come from your lips, even if you’re thinking it.
13. Can I bring my dog to the office?
Pet-friendly workplaces have become all the rage in startup companies, and many restaurants and bars also let you bring in your furry friend for a meal or a pint. That said, it’s still rude when you automatically assume that your collie or Pomeranian has a rightful spot in your office or cubicle. Even if the thought of leaving your dog behind for a full eight hours leaves you full of dread, you should still wait until after you’re hired to drop this furry bomb of a request.
14. Can I have my own office?
This is perhaps the first question asked by the most entitled of the entitled. It assumes that you’ve gotten the position, while also putting your needs ahead of your co-workers. Even if you hate cubicles, you shouldn’t think that the window office is ready for you to move right in. Tenured workers and those with seniority might find you a bit annoying.
15. Can I share my employee discount with friends and family?
This question surmises that you will get an employee discount, which isn’t always the case. To make matters worse, you’re taking the company’s perk and automatically using it for personal gain instead of treating it as a benefit. If possible, avoid any questions about discounts for you, your family, the guy down the street, or anyone else until after you’ve been hired.
Situation-Inappropriate Questions to Avoid During an Interview
16. Where’s the bathroom?
Go to the bathroom before the interview. Unless it’s an emergency that could derail any prospects for the job you’re interviewing for, hold off on all latrine inquiries until after you shake hands with the interviewer.
17. So…did I get the job?
This question makes you sound arrogant and impatient. Not only are you assuming that you already have the job, but you also are ignoring the hiring processes that each company uses. If you think the interview went well and you want to get more information, asking something like, “What’s the next step in the hiring process?” instead.
18. Any questions about getting fired or disciplinary action
It seems strange that a person would bring up ideas about getting fired at a job interview, but it happens more often than you might think. Wondering how late you can show up without getting fired, how many no-shows you can have without receiving disciplinary action, or what you would have to do to get the axe may seem like a playful gesture, but rest assured, your interviewer isn’t laughing.
19. When will I be considered for a promotion?
You may have spent the money to get a degree from a top-notch university, worked your butt off to attain top grades, and done a side job to boot, but this is a question you should never ask in an interview. It comes off as an entitled inquiry, and makes you seem uninterested in the position you are actually interviewing for. Even if you feel like an outstanding candidate for the job, keep this one to yourself.
Sometimes the things you don’t say make all the difference. It’s not just restraint or good manners; it’s an art form. Armed with this knowledge, you can make a lasting impression on your potential employer. The next stop might just be your next dream job.
Are there any other questions you don’t think you should ask an interviewer? Connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to tell us. We’d love to hear from you!
iStock Photo Credit: MangoStar_Studio
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