What NOT to ask your interviewer

Employers interview job seekers to see if they would be a good fit for the role as well as the company. You should make a great first impression at your job interview for an interviewer to consider you seriously for the role. That involves asking intelligent questions when they give you the opportunity.

You should ask all the important questions about the job and the company to check if the role and the employer are compatible with your values. However, some questions may be deemed inappropriate and will be seen as red flags by the interviewer. Here’s what you should not ask during a job interview:

Inquiring about the salary and benefits

Many employers display the compensation and benefits for a position in the job advertisement. If the salary and benefits are not mentioned in the job description or the company website, you should not inquire about them during the interview. Instead, you should wait until a job offer has been made to discuss salary and benefits with the employer.

Ignorant questions about the company

Employers expect you to do your own research on the company before you attend a job interview. If some information is available on the company website, social media pages, or job description, avoid inquiring about them during your interview. This will show the interviewer that you have not done your basic research on them before the interview.

Questions that indicate you weren’t listening

If the interviewer has just finished describing their latest project, you should not lead with, “Sorry, I zoned out. Can you repeat that?” Don’t ask questions that show the interviewer that you weren’t listening to what they were saying. Instead, ask questions about something relevant to the topic being discussed to show that you are engaged in the conversation.

Asking about vacations

Almost every job comes with PTO and vacation days. Most employers mention the number of PTO days in the job description. If the employer has not provided this information, you should not ask about it during the interview. You can discuss work hours and PTO once the employer makes a job offer.

Demanding to know when you will be promoted

Remind yourself that this is a job interview and not a discussion you are having with the employer a few months after them hiring you. Asking about how you can get promoted will make you seem entitled to the interviewer. Instead, ask about the career advancement path from the position and how you can progress within the company.

Requesting to work from home

If the employer did not state that the job is remote flexible, you should not ask about that during the job interview. The job interview is more about selling your skills to the employer rather than getting to know what you can get out of the company. Discuss the flexible working arrangements of the employer following a job offer.

Asking about other jobs

Employers generally expect candidates to be passionate about the role they apply for. Asking about other job openings the company has during the job interview will indicate that you lack interest in the position and are willing to apply for any open position. Instead, direct the conversation toward discussing your skills and experiences that make you a great fit for the current role.