No one likes being asked the following questions when working in startup:
1. Anything Related to Salary or Benefits
“Company benefits [and salary negotiations]
don’t come into play until an offer has been extended,” says Kohut. The same
principle applies to sick time and vacation days. It’s best to avoid any
question that sounds like you assume you already have the position—unless, of
course, your interviewer brings it up first.
2. Questions That Start With “Why?”
Why? It’s a matter of psychology. These
kinds of questions put people on the defensive, says Kohut. She advises
repositioning a question such as, “Why did the company lay off people last
year?” to a less confrontational, “I read about the layoffs you had. What’s
your opinion on how the company is positioned for the future?”
3. “Who is Your Competition?”
This is a great example of a question that
could either make you sound thoughtful—or totally backfire and reveal that you
did zero research about the company prior to the interview, says Jacqui
Barrett-Poindexter of CareerTrend.net. Before asking any question, determine
whether it’s something you could have figured out yourself through a Google
search. If it is, a) don’t ask it and b) do that Google search before your
interview!
4. “How Often Do Reviews Occur?”
Maybe you’re concerned about the company’s
view of your performance, or maybe you’re just curious, but nix any questions
about the company’s review or self-appraisal policies. “It makes us think
you’re concerned with how often negative feedback might be delivered,” says
Kohut. Keep your confidence intact, and avoid the topic altogether—or at least
until you receive an offer.
5. “May I Arrive Early or Leave Late as
Long as I Get My Hours In?”
Even if you make it clear that you’re
hoping for a flexible schedule to accommodate a legitimate concern such as
picking up your kids from daycare, Barrett-Poindexter advises against this
question. “While work-life balance is a very popular concern right now, it’s
not the most pressing consideration for a hiring decision-maker,” she says.
“Insinuating early on that you’re concerned about balancing your life may
indicate to your employer that you are more concerned about your needs and less
concerned about the company’s.”
6. “Can I Work From Home?”
Unless it was implied in the initial job
description, don’t bring it up. “Some companies will allow you to work from
home on occasion once they see what a productive employee you are,” says Kohut.
But an interview isn’t the time to be asking for special favors. Right now your
top priority is selling them on you first.
7. “Would You Like to See My References?”
“Interviewing is a lot like meeting someone
for the furst time,” says Barrett-Poindexter. “It’s important to entice with
your value and attract them to call you for the next ‘date.’” Offering up your
references too soon may hint at desperation. Plus, you don’t want to run the
risk of overusing your references.
8. How Soon Do You Promote Employees?
“An individual asking this question may
come off as arrogant and entitled,” says recruiter Josh Tolan of SparkHire.com.
9. Do I Get My Own Office?
This is an uncomfortable one, says Tolan.
Of course you may wonder about it, but will something like this really play
into whether you accept a career opportunity or not? If so, he says, it may be
time to rethink your priorities.
10. Will You Monitor My Social Networking
Profiles?
While a valid concern in today’s culture,
this is something best left unsaid. “It gives the impression you have something
to hide,” says Tolan. Play it safe and don’t post anything (especially
disparaging things) about your company, co-workers, or employers on Facebook,
Twitter—or anywhere on the internet, really.
And yes, even if you’re not “friends” with
anyone at work. These kinds of things have a way of getting around.
