Questions Job Seekers Should NOT Ask in the Interview

A few weeks ago we told you all how to ‘turn the tables on the interviewer’ by asking intelligent, knowledgeable and considered questions to impress your interviewer and give you an edge over other applicants.

To equip you with the right questions, it is essential you also are aware of questions you should not ask in the interview.

What does this company do?

Always do your research on the company prior to the interview. Being prepared will ease your nerves and may help you anticipate some questions. Linking back your responses to the core business activities will strengthen your case and impress your interviewer. Not knowing what the company does may come across as insulting to an interviewer and this may seriously hurt your chances of progressing to the next stage.

What is the pay?

The purpose of the first interview is to see how you present yourself, your skills and experience and to gain a greater insight into how you might fit into the company. In other words, are you the right fit for the culture and role within the company? If you progress to the next round, questions around pay and remuneration are acceptable but hold out until this time.

What are the hours?

When you start asking eager questions about the hours and work schedule in the first interview, this could cause the interviewer to doubt your level of commitment to the role. No one wants to be known as the person who leaves at five o’clock on the dot, regardless of progress made. Unless there’s the possibility that you would be working “shift work” you should stay away from time related questions.  Other similar questions that you should avoid are:

• How many breaks do you have and for how long?
• Can I work from home?
• Am I required to be in the office every day?

What are the benefits?

Similar to the pay question, this could signal to interviewers that you are more concerned with ‘perks’ of the job, rather than what value you can bring to the role and what value the job can give you in terms of career progression, job satisfaction and engagement.

Final Tip

Your first interview is a time to demonstrate your expertise and skills, as well as learn more about the company and position.  Stick to questions related to the company and the job responsibilities.  By doing this, you will leave a great impression on the interviewer and this will increase your chances of progressing to the next round and finding out the answers to the questions mentioned above!

Make sure some of your questions are related to the mission vision strategy of the company – enough so that you can intelligently talk about ‘where the company is going’ and infer the competence and competencies it will require to get there – which is where you come in! Be careful of asking purely operational questions as this may indicate that you need an operational plan to function, rather than follow a strategic plan.

Job Search Advice Nobody Tells You

Struggling to show your interviewer or potential employer the unique contribution you can make to their organisation? Well, never fear. The team at Snagajob have got you covered for the tips, and we at Career Exchange have you got you covered for your next job in allied health! 

1. Practice the drive or transport route to your interview

This will allow you to plan how much travel time you will need and also ease those pre-interview nerves by knowing where you are going.

2. Don't be better, be different

Play up your unique skills and attributes or things you have done that are likely to impress your interviewer (volunteering, travel, extra-curricular activities, starting a side business) 

3. Patience is a virtue

Finding the perfect job is often not as easy as it seems because if the job appeals to you - it will likely appeal to others too! Realising that the job process may take longer than anticipated will help you overcome any rejections more easily and give you more of a chance to reflect and improve for the next opportunity.

4. Listen and learn

Listen to the feedback interviewers give you. Learn from the mistakes you and others make and apply that to your job search. The more you know, the easier the process will be.

The Top 4 Qualities Desired by Managers

There is more to you than just your skills and experience. What your interviewer is really trying to work out is how you interact in a workplace situation.  Make sure you demonstrate these 4 qualities that are desired by hiring managers in your next interview.

1) Self- motivation: 

Employers want to hire someone who has the drive and enthusiasm to succeed in whatever task they do. Show the interviewer your desire to be successful and how you can set goals in order to get the job done. It’s all about high energy levels and productivity! Things that you can talk about in an interview that demonstrate self-motivation could be:

• being a an active member of a professional organisation
• taking part in a short course to enhance your professional development
• being involved with a volunteer organisation
• taking on extra responsibilities in previous positions, or
• providing an example of a personal goal that you have set yourself and worked hard to achieve. This could be anything from sporting achievements, saving for a house or even fundraising for a charity.

2) Flexibility: 

Your abilities in adapting to new and changing environments are key to making a big impression on your potential boss. Therefore, try to demonstrate situations where you have shown flexibility in the workplace. This could have been that time where you adapted to a new procedure in the workplace, were open to change, picked up extra hours for the benefit of your team or when you persisted through unforeseen issues on a project. Demonstrating these things will highlight that you are not resistant to change and can move with the business.

3) Creativity: 

Employers are sizing you up, trying to figure out if you can add value to their workplace. Even if your job isn’t an inherently creative one, there were probably still a myriad of times where you have had to think outside the box. Think of a time where you added value to the way in which your workplace functions. Chances are you had to be creative and generate a new strategy or idea. Take advantage of this and show your potential employer how you can bring fresh ideas to take their company to the next level.

4) Integrity: 

Employers want to hire people who are honest and reliable. Focus on providing examples of when you have dealt with sensitive and confidential issues; or, when you have had to handle an ethical dilemma. Perhaps one of the greatest ways to show your integrity is to remain authentic and honest throughout your application and interview. In other words: be yourself!

So, get ahead of your competition the next time you’re going for that big job interview by demonstrating these 4 desirable qualities.