The Most Dreaded Part of Job Search! Avoid these 10 Questions that May Get You Negative Points

Do not ask random questions related to your own self interest because it would mean that you are just bothered about your needs and don’t care about the company and its goals.Interviews are nothing else but buying and selling of services; you are selling your skill set which the employer is gauging based on your experience you claim to have in your CV and by poking you with questions. Similarly, you, as an interviewee, have done your study with regards to the company and the job role so you too need to poke the interviewer with questions to ascertain any queries that you have. The sole purpose of an interview is to find the right guy for the job; all other issues can be taken care during negotiations. Following are some disastrous questions you can ask to completely spoil your chances at the job.

What does the company do?

Were you out shopping and suddenly walked into the interview? You need to do your homework before coming in. This is the lamest question to ask. Use your smart phone, google has answer to everything.

Any thing related to job role

The job role has been described to you when you were called for the interview, if it hasn’t, then it’s your duty to find out before coming for an interview. This is expected of you!

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Anything related to salary structure

You can’t ask the interviewer how much salary they are offering or the components of the salary unless he has asked you for it. Usually salary negotiations happen at the second or third round. First round interviews are for selecting the right guy, only then would the company see if they can afford the guy or not. When the interview call had come the caller had taken note of your pay pack only then has this opening been offered to you, which means they will be giving you a higher package, but you need to be patient for the company to ask you that. Trust me your patience would be rewarded.

Anything related to work hours

You haven’t been selected yet and if you ask for flexi timing, or if you would be required to spend long hours then it gives the message that you are a work shirker. It could be that you are a new mom and don’t want to work long hours but the company would be concerned about its own deadlines and projects. Do not ask if you can work from home at the outset, there are positions where work from home is possible but you need to first join.

Promotion or raise

Though you may be careerist and ambitious this question however gives the indication that you are in for the money only, you need to prove yourself at your job first only then can you expect a promotion.

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Background checks

Asking when will you call my references or if you guys actually do back ground checks will immediately get the other person suspicious that the so called checks are all fake. Else why would you be so concerned?

Poor performance

Never ask them how they handle poor performance because it would mean you are a poor performer and are looking for escape routes even before joining the organisation.

Internal Job Opportunities

Do not ask if there are other job opportunities while you are applying for an opening. It implies that you are not interested in the current opening and are wasting your as well as their time. Do not ask if you can be transferred to other departments, even if transfer options are available, you can avail them only after joining in and proving yourself.

Rumour or Controversial Topics

If a company has got into any controversy or if there is rumour about it, check on line, do your research but do not ask the interviewer about offhand things, ask to the point things, that is, concrete and specific questions, you do not want the interviewer to get all defensive and uncomfortable. If your concern is genuine and based on facts then you will not cause discomfort and be able to get resolution to your query too.

Personal question

Never ask personal questions to the interviewer. You have come for professional reasons so stick to that, even if the interviewer turns out to be an acquaintance, respect the cause for which you have visited him.
Another general tip is never to ask a question starting with a why; it tends to make the other person defensive. Like instead of saying “why have you recently fired 100 people?” you can say “there’s news of layoff of 100 people, is the company trying some new strategy?”