There’s No Such Thing as a Stupid Question, Right? WRONG!!!

We have been told our whole life, “there is no such thing as a stupid question.” Well, when it comes to interviewing, that statement is just... false. The truth is, when it comes to being interviewed, there are stupid questions that candidates sometimes ask the recruiter. Okay, well, let’s soften this article so that any sensitive people out there don’t just stop reading. If you have an uncomfortable feeling right now, then chances are you are one of the people who have asked a dumb question during the course of an interview. That is why this article exists, to help you ask intelligent questions about the company to which you have applied.

When you ask intelligent questions, you show the recruiter several things.

• You understand what the company does, and how it makes money.

• You can help the company get better, because your questions show a level of insight to the challenges they are having.

• You care about the company and its success as much as your own.

Now, of course, when you are interviewing with a new company, this last statement may not really be true, but it’s important to make the interviewer feel this way. In this day and age, there are too many self-absorbed people.  The younger generations tend to have the attitude of “what can this company do for me, not what can I do for this company,” and that could really hurt them in the interview. Yes, we are all selfish and self-absorbed at times, but displaying this characteristic during an interview will create major red flags for a recruiter.

When you ask less intelligent questions, you also show the recruiter several things.

• You don’t have the self-discipline or motivation to research on your own.

• You don’t really care about what the company does, so you aren’t really passionate about working here.

• You have not thought deeply about what you want to do; instead, you just want to do something, which means there is more risk in hiring you for the long term.

Here are some questions you should never ask a recruiter or hiring manager during an interview if you have already applied to a role.

Can you tell me about your company?

I have received this question to my question of, “why do you want to work here?” The response I got was, “well, I was hoping you could tell me that.” Or “I am not really sure what you do, can you tell me about your company?”

Are you kidding me? You want me to describe to you what the company you applied to does? If a recruiter gives you an unplanned call and you never applied to the company, then yes you can ask them to tell you about the company, but if you have taken the time to fill out an application and apply to a position, never ask this question, or any version of it.

This is a stupid question. Do you realize hundreds of people are most likely applying to the same role? The majority of the applicants are going to have researched the company. Don’t be one of the few that haven’t.  If you haven’t, don’t make it obvious.

How many days of vacation do I get?

This is a good question during the later rounds of the interviewing process, but never ask this question in the first 5 minutes of the interview. Also, never word it like that either. Frankly, stay away from all topics that have to do with your personal wants. A good recruiter will make sure those items are discussed, but allow them to bring those topics up in their time.

There is something called timing when it comes to questions. Feel the flow and rhythm of an interview. If the recruiter starts talking about perks and benefits, then you can work in a “selfish” question, but if the recruiter is talking about earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and then asks if you have any questions, chances are he/she is asking if you have any questions related to the financials of the company. Not truly “any” questions.

How much does this position pay?

The topic of compensation is going to come up, but in my opinion, allow the recruiter to bring it up. A good recruiter will bring it up pretty early in the process to ensure no one’s time is being wasted. If you are finishing up with the first interview, and it has not been brought up by the recruiter, then there is a way you can ask if you’re concerned or on the fence about the role. Ask the question in a way that lets the recruiter know why you are asking it.

For example, “Thanks for taking the time to talk with me, and I really enjoyed our conversation. I think my skills are right in line for what this position is looking for, but it sounds like this role, might be more geared toward a junior person. I am a little nervous that the compensation might not match what I am currently making. Can you provide me with any insight into the compensation package, as I think I bring a lot to the table, and would be able to make a big difference to help the company in a short amount of time?”

That question tells me as a recruiter, you understand the problems and scope of the job, but at the same time need to be sure you will be compensated adequately for the role to which you are applying. Also, by asking this after the initial conversation, like it’s stated above, you are letting the recruiter know what you expect. This will allow him/her to get any approvals early on if needed, or at least be aware, so they can keep the hiring manager’s expectations in check.

Can I work from home?

If you have to ask this question, then the answer is “no.” If it’s not in the job description as a “remote position” or “work from home opportunity.” Then chances are you will need to come to the office every day. Don’t ask a question that will make the recruiter have second thoughts about your commitment and ability to fit in with the team and culture.

No Questions!

Typically, an interview will end with the recruiter asking if they can answer any last questions you may have.  I think some people may see this as a burden they are putting on the recruiter, so they just say “no, maybe I will at a later time,” but this sends the wrong message.  You should always have at least 3-4 questions prepared in advance of your interview.  Doing some research on the company and reading over the job description are great places to lead you to appropriate questions.  If a recruiter has just spent 45 minutes on the phone with you, and you cannot come up with one single question, it can come across as you are just not that excited or interested in the role.

Take Away

At the end of the day avoid questions that make you look selfish, uneducated about the company, or rigid to change. If you want to ask a specific question, see if you can justify why the question is important for both you and the recruiter. If you can, then ask it with the justification. Chances are it will be better received then just asking it selfishly.

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For more tips on interviewing, please review previous articles on: https://howtogetthejob.blog/