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By law there are a few questions that employers are not allowed to ask you in an interview, there are no laws on what you can ask an employer, but for your careers sake there’s a few you should definitely give a miss. I myself have done a couple of hum-dingers and they all resulted in a proverbial door slamming on a job.

See below some examples that are definitely on the no-no list:

How much is the salary?

Nope! Negotiate your salary when you have been offered the job. You want to show that you are super passionate about the job you are interviewing for; ooze commitment and love for the job when in an interview, even if your only burning question is pay. For hirers’ it shows you love your career and are a team player, and want more than mere money. If you are offered the job your obvious commitment may also be translated in a higher pay offer.

What does the company do?

Right here, you’ve just shot yourself in the foot,. This clearly tells the interviewer that you have not done your research and you know nothing about the company. Always remember to research a company inside and out before you come for the interview, ask friends and families things they have heard. Check about any recent news on the company, keep up to date.

Can I keep my side hustle?

Unless you have a job that requires you to sign a non-side commitment agreement (most don’t) then there is no need to bring this up. Employers will think you are taking on too much with a job and a side hustle, and that you will burn yourself out – they want total commitment. However your hustle is important, not only for your long term development but your bank balance and sometimes even your sanity. My advice would be to not ask and continue, but always make sure you do your full time job 100% .

Am I able to work from home?

I adore working from home, my home office and homemade sandwiches are the perfect remedy for a busy day at the laptop – but only ask for this once you have the job and have a proven track record. About 4 months is the usual time-frame when your employer trusts you not to spend your day in bed. Asking this at the interview stage will raise a red flag, your interviewer may think you’re not committed or why you don’t want to spend time with your new colleagues or new office when you haven’t even started.

Can I change positions within the company after working within this role for a while?

This indicates lack of interest in the current job and you must show that you are 100% committed in staying in the role, this question isn’t bad but it’s not something you should be asking at such an early stage.

How quickly can I get promoted?

Although this is a good question to ask, you should ask this after you have been hired as it implies you would want to move on to something else.

What happens if I am late?

This already sends signals that you have bad time keeping, if you are someone who is always late then you need to work on this. The purpose of an interview is to sell yourself in the best light possible so avoid anything that will make you appear as a bad choice.

 

Why not try these questions in an interview: What working culture do you have here?,  Do you offer continued training?, Can you tell me about the team I would be working with?

Let me know how you get on!

Catherine

Catherine

Catherine works in international marketing and events, she has a passion for sharing her knowledge to help others in their career. A keen traveler she has lived in New Zealand, China and England, and explored a lot more of the world; Catherine describes herself as a cup half full and embraces her busy life at 100mph.

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