23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
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," says Jesse Siegal, a senior managing director at The Execu|Search Group staffing firm.
Asking about money too early in the process sends the message that you're arrogant and rude.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
Will I have to work long hours?
This says, "I'm lazy."
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
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.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
Will I have an expense account?
There's really no reason to ask this in the interview. Plus, it sends the wrong message.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
How quickly could I be considered for a promotion?
Focus on the job at hand.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
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.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
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.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
When will I be eligible for a raise?
This may tell the interviewer that money is the only thing you care about.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
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.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
Are you married?/Do you have kids?/etc.
Never ask the interviewer any personal questions.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
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.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
Do you do background checks?
This one may also make the interviewer suspicious.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
Do you monitor emails or internet usage?
This question will raise red flags — something you definitely don't want to do in the interview.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
Will I have my own office?
Does it really matter?
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
I heard this rumor about the CEO. Is it true?
You should never bring gossip into a job interview. It's highly unprofessional.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
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.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
Can I make personal calls during the day?
This one says that you're not 100% focused on your work.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
'Can I sit by a window? It helps with my hourly meditation'
You haven't even been offered the job yet and you're already making special requests? This makes you look cocky and high-maintenance.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
'Would that really be part of my job?'
No job description is ever set in stone, and essentially saying from the get-go that you're not willing to go beyond your role shows that you're not a team player.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
'Can I work from home?'
Most work-from-home jobs will indicate in the job posting that they're remote. If not, you can assume that telecommuting isn't the modus operandi for the position.
It's OK to negotiate work-from-home arrangements, but you shouldn't be doing any haggling until you have the job.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
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 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
Did I get the job?
This question projects eagerness that bridges on desperation and neediness. Plus, it demonstrates you have a lack of understanding for how the working world really works.
23 questions you should never ask at the end of a job interview
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," says Deborah Shane, a career author, speaker, and media consultant. "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 an earlier version of this article.
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