Don't Get Played: 10 Job Interview Questions You Should Be Asking

Online articles may mislead you for the benefit of others. Based on my experience of interviewing over a thousand job applicants, let's address the false advice of avoiding certain questions.

Asking the right questions can help you find job positions that are a good fit and eliminate those that lead to unnecessary regret

Note: There’s much more to the below topics. Our Empowered Community, Inc. nonprofit programs are always free and let you learn about your true worth, handling salary negotiations, approaches, and interviewing skills before they are needed. Contact Us.

IT'S A MISTAKE TO NOT ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1. WHAT DOES THE JOB ENTAIL or 

   WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN A CANDIDATE?

Rationale for not asking: This question shows you haven't done your research.

Why it’s bad advice: Many companies don’t put the necessary effort into supplying candidates with detailed, accurate job descriptions or expectations. Often, they’re doing what’s quick or using copy/paste to get job postings online. Without a good understanding, you may be interviewing for a job you don’t want or responding to interview questions from an incorrect perspective.

What you should do: Even if you think you have a good understanding of the job, asking these questions demonstrates your interest and attention to detail. Toward the beginning of the interview, explain your understanding of the job role, and ask for clarifications and more details to better understand the position. Also, ask "What does a successful candidate look like to you?" This information will better equip you to answer their interview questions.

2. WHAT DOES YOUR COMPANY DO?

Rationale for not asking: This is a basic question that indicates a lack of preparation. 

Why it’s bad advice: Nowadays, companies do many things and offer many products and services. As an example, UPS is known for being a transportation and logistics company. Many people don’t know they utilize most programming languages and advanced computer technologies. Without that information, you may miss out on additional opportunities.

What you should do: Research the company beforehand to show the interviewer you did your diligence. Then, ask them to explain what the company does that most people wouldn’t readily know from looking online or researching them.

3. WHAT'S THE WORK SCHEDULE or

    WHAT'S THE WORK-LIFE BALANCE FOR THIS ROLE?

Rationale for not asking: Asking this can suggest you are more concerned about work hours and personal time than the job itself.

Why it’s bad advice: It’s a red-flag when employers aren’t willing to discuss work schedules or they consider work-life balance as a luxury rather than a necessity. Nowadays, it is widely recognized that reasonable work hours and a healthy work-life balance is essential for employee well-being, productivity, and job satisfaction. Furthermore, not asking about this can lead to a mismatch between a candidate's expectations and the company's culture, leading to employees leaving the job prematurely.

What you should do: After you've established a rapport with the interviewer, you can start to explore the company's culture and values. A good time to bring up work schedule and work-life balance is when discussing the role and responsibilities. Ask about the typical workload, expectations, and opportunities for flexibility.

4. CAN I WORK FROM HOME INSTEAD OF THE OFFICE?

Rationale for not asking: This question can imply reluctance to engage with the team.

Why it’s bad advice: Given the rise of remote work, it's unusual for companies not to offer at least some flexibility. Remote work can lead to increased productivity, better work-life balance, and cost savings for both employees and companies. A company that doesn't offer remote work options may have a micromanagement culture or outdated management practices.

What you should do: Even if the job posting mentions remote work options, it's still important to ask about them during the interview to gauge the company's flexibility and commitment to remote work. That said, you should learn about a position's work-from-home policy before the interview, either from the job posting or by contacting Human Resources. If you can only discuss it during the interview, build a rapport with the interviewer first. Then, explore the company's culture and policies when discussing the role. Ask about typical work arrangements, expectations, and opportunities for remote work. If necessary, you can also bring it up during salary negotiations.

5. WHAT IS THE SALARY?

Rationale for not asking: Bringing up salary too soon can make it seem like money is your only motivation. Wait until the employer mentions it.

Why it’s bad advice: It's important to understand the salary range to ensure the position aligns with your financial needs. Why waste time interviewing for a job that falls far below your expectations? It's inappropriate to have an employer dictate all aspects of your salary. If you permit it, many companies will low-ball the offer and use tactics to gain advantage of your starting salary, vacation, bonus, etc..

What you should do: First, go to websites like salary.com, glassdoor.com, payscale.com, etc. to understand salary ranges / midpoints, benefits, and more. This will help you better understand what positions pay based on your experience. Most legitimate job postings will disclose this information upfront. Beware of those that don’t. Due to abuse when making job offers, New York and other states now make it illegal for interviewers to ask you about your current or prior salary earnings and benefits. Your past earnings history has nothing to do with what you should be paid in the new position.

6. HOW MUCH TIME OFF WILL I GET?

Rationale for not asking: Asking about time off can give the wrong impression.

Why it’s bad advice: Letting an employer determine how much time you get off without having a discussion is likely to short-change your personal benefits. Some employers will default to you getting only 10 days off when you first start working for them. However, if you have significant work experience, that can be inappropriate. Consider a company policy where time off increases with tenure. If an employee joins with five or ten years of relevant experience, they should be entitled to the same time off benefits as a long-term employee with that experience level.

What you should do: Even if the job posting mentions time off benefits, it's still important to ask about them during the interview to gauge the company's flexibility and commitment to work-life balance. Preferably, you should know about a position’s time off benefits and flexibility before an interview occurs, either from the posting or by checking with their Human Resources department or other reliable company employees when possible. Otherwise, it may need to be done after a job offer is made and during salary negotiations. Either way, if you don’t properly negotiate your benefits, it would be rare for a company to do that for you.

7. WHY SHOULD I WORK FOR YOU?

Rationale for not asking: This can come across as arrogant.

Why it’s bad advice: By not asking this question, it prevents candidates from assessing the company's values, culture, and mission. Gaining this insight can help you determine if a company aligns with your own goals and aspirations.

What you should do: Addressing this question demonstrates your interest in the company and your commitment to making an informed decision. Towards the end of the interview, state that you’re excited about the role and how you can contribute to show your interest and put the interviewer at ease. Then, restate the above question as, “What makes your company and this position stand out to job seekers?” This may help you learn about the company's unique selling points, such as its reputation, growth opportunities, or innovative projects. It also lets you understand the interviewer’s self-awareness of the industry and how they treat employees so you can make an informed decision about whether to accept the job offer.

8. HOW SOON CAN I GET PROMOTED?

Rationale for not asking: Asking about promotions can come across as presumptuous.

Why it’s bad advice: Not knowing this information hinder’s a candidate’s ability to assess the company's commitment to employee development and advancement. It can help you determine if the company offers the opportunities you are seeking.

What you should do: Even if the job posting mentions career growth opportunities, it's still important to ask about it during the interview to gauge the company's commitment to employee development and advancement. Towards the end of the interview or during the job offer ask, “Assuming solid job competency, performance, and ambition to get ahead, what professional development opportunities are available, along with reasonable time frame expectations, for promotions?” This will give you some insight if the company meets your career aspiration needs. 

Alternative ways to phrase this question include:

a. “Given a strong commitment to the company and ability to deliver results, what opportunities for professional development and advancement are available within the next [time frame]?

b “What are the typical career paths for someone in this role, and how long does it usually take to advance to the next level?”

c. "Please tell me about the company's commitment to employee development and the opportunities for advancement within this department?"

NEXT STEPS

We hope this blog has provided you with new insights to evaluate job opportunities, ace interviews, and improve job offer outcomes. Our goal is to empower you to succeed in your career and achieve your life goals. Reach out to us for more support.