Don’t let these 3 questions derail your interview
Dear Sam: I am starting my job search — the first time in more than 10 years — and I feel rusty when it comes to interviewing. I know I’m supposed to ask the interviewer questions, and I wondered if that would be a good time to ask about compensation and benefits. — Steve
Dear Steve: When a job interview is coming to an end and an employer asks if you have any questions, the answer should always be “yes.” If you don’t have any questions prepared, you are missing out on a valuable opportunity to show that you’ve done your research and to ask some critical questions that could help determine if the company is a good fit for you. However, asking the wrong questions is an even bigger mistake. Asking inappropriate and careless questions, such as the following, can curtail your job interview and destroy your chances of landing the job.
1. What does this company do? You should always do your research before a job interview. At the bare minimum, you should know the key functions of the company. Similarly, you should have a basic understanding of the job duties you will be expected to perform, so make sure you review the job description carefully.
2. What is the salary for this position? It is best not to bring up salary during the first job interview. The purpose of the first interview is to “sell” yourself to a hiring manager and to learn more about the company. Wait until you receive a job offer to start discussing salary.
3. How soon can I take a vacation? Questions about time off should be avoided so as to not send the wrong message about your work ethic. If you’re trying to get an idea about how many hours you’ll probably work during the week, you can instead ask, “What does a typical day/week look like in this role?” This will give you an idea about the hours involved with the position.
— Samantha Nolan is an advanced personal-branding strategist and career expert and is the founder and CEO of Nolan Branding. Do you have a resume, career or job-search question for Dear Sam? Reach Samantha at dearsam@nolanbranding.com.
For more information about Nolan Branding’s services, visit www.nolanbranding.com, or call 888-9-MY-BRAND or 614-570-3442.