Questions NOT to Ask in the First Interview
By: June Coffey
Tags: Interview Preparation, Interview Tips, Recruitment, Career Development, Interview

6 little questions could stand in the way of you landing your dream job…

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

I always call the client right after I get feedback from the candidate. 85% of the time the candidates think they have done really well.

Unfortunately, sometimes the call goes something like this:

June, the interview was going so well but then they asked about…

Can you please find us someone else?

To make sure that this does not happen to you and to make sure you make the most of your first interview. I compiled a list of top questions not to ask in the first interview.

Some of these will seem odd, almost counter-intuitive. Please keep in mind that these are not my opinions, I have been in recruitment for 15 years. On average I send about 5 people on interviews each week and get all the feedback, so these are feedback from thousands of interviews that I have heard personally. And of course, I work with other recruiters and we share notes.

This could make the difference between someone landing their dream job verse not.

Top 6 Questions NOT to Ask in the First Interview:

1. Salary, Bonus, Stocks, Stock Options, or anything to do with the compensation.

I know this is one of the most important thing you have in mind. However, if you ask about this in the first interview, it will make you come across as someone who is only monetarily driven. We all need to get paid to work, but employers will pass on candidates who seem too money motivated. Their fear is if they hire you and you get more money elsewhere, you will be gone.

It takes 1.5 times the salary to train someone, so this is a very costly mistake that most employers will avoid.

Salary, bonus, and all things compensation related will come up in the later interviews, let it do so naturally. Do not ask about it in the first interview.

2. Vacation and benefits

Very similar to salary and compensation. The reality is you want to come across as someone who is there for the role, the team, and the company. Asking about vacation in the first interview will once again make them wonder about your motivation.

3. Hours of operation

There are ways to ask about hours of operations without being very direct. For example, what time do most people come into the office or sign-on (if remote)? Or what time do most people stay till? Ideally not together.

Why do you not want to ask about hours of operation in the first interview? Because you do not want to come across as someone who is watching the clock. Are you here to work or punch a clock? This will be the reaction of your audience, unfortunately.

4. Training

Training is an odd one. 10 years ago, asking about training in an interview makes you seem keen and interested. About 3 years ago that changed. If you ask about training in the first interview, you come across as someone who is unsure of their skills and their ability to learn.

Fear not, all employers know that no one can do the job they have hired them to do without training, so training is just part of onboarding.

Keep all the confidence you have instilled in your audience about your abilities and skills and do not ask about training in the first interview.

5. Career Progression

This one is like training, it used to be a good question to ask. It used to make you look ambitious and willing to take on more responsibilities.

Now when candidates ask about career progression in an interview, it sets off alarm bells.

I have heard hiring managers tell me when someone asked them about it in an interview, they worried right away because it made them think that the candidate has not even landed this job and they are already trying to get the next one.

It showed a lack of interest in the role they are interviewing for.

6. Why this job is open

About 25 percent of the time it is because it is a brand-new position. However, 75 percent of the time is because someone left them in a lurch, or they had to let that person go. The latter is not a good story. You have built so much positive momentum in the conversation before that point, please do not ask them about it.

Allow the meeting to end on a high note.

There you have it. 6 questions not to ask in the first interview. Emphasis on the first interview. As you can see, these are all pretty important points, and most people would want to know before accepting a job. But asking about it in the first interview is not the right time.

Hope this helps, if you are interview, also check out:

Good luck!