Eight questions NOT to ask at the job

interview
Colleen Clarke

The phone call you have been waiting for finally arrives for a job interview. Are you
ready? Have you researched the company? Are your Situation/Action/Result – SAR-
stories articulate and snappy?

The interview is not a one way conversation. An experienced interviewee should be

prepared to ask the interviewer questions as they go through their time together. Prepare
the questions you are going to ask the hiring manager in your next interview, as questions
are expected; but, stay away from these:

• Salary: Never, as in never, ask what the position pays. Until a hiring manager
determines your fit and expertise they may be flexible with salary, don’t give
away your asking price or ask how much the job pays – they just might be willing
to pay more than you are expecting.

• Vacation time/Benefits/sick days: Don’t expect an offer if you are already

suggesting you need time off. Wait until the contract is signed before mentioning
pre planned trips or personal leave.

• Time in lieu/overtime: If you are on salary, expect you will be working 40 - 44

hours without extra compensation; the higher the salary, the more overtime is
expected and not compensated for If you want to negotiate time in lieu once the
offer has been made, do it then.

• Expense accounts/car expenses: Don’t think of an expense account as additional

income, it is taxable. Expense remuneration is pretty standard across the board
within a company and it is not usually discussed until an offer has been accepted.

• Health issues: You are under no obligation to disclose past illnesses or

disabilities that do not pertain to the job responsibilities as outlined in the job
description - don’t bring them up.

• Past conflicts: Don’t speak negatively of past positions or bosses. Keep the
reason you left explanation as general as possible. It is perfectly fine to say your
values were not congruent with that of the new manager or management or that
there were personal differences. You also don’t want the interviewer to think you
will ever speak ill of them.

• A higher up position: Don’t interview for any other position than the one you
applied for. If you have ambitions of moving up, great, but stay focused on what
 you can contribute NOW. Don’t ever tell the interviewer you would eventually
like their job.

• Personal stuff: The interviewer is NOT your friend; do not share any personal
information no matter how well you think you are “bonding.” The answer to “tell
me about yourself” is not how many children you have or your favorite holiday.

Keep in mind that you want to focus on what you can do for the company, not what they
are going to do for you.

Colleen Clarke

The following are some of the most commonly-asked interview questions, along with
suggested approaches for answers. It is important that job candidates practice these
responses until they are able to handle all the questions effectively.

Why do you want to work here? How can you help our company? Why should we
be interested in you?
Answer is always based on information you’ve researched in advance about the company
and their needs.

If you were choosing someone for this job, what kind of person would you select?
Answer is to generally state your own general qualifications, without being too
“obvious.” Leave out the details.

If you could have any job, which one would you want at this company?
Answer has to do with the most general description of the job – NOT A SPECIFIC
TITLE.

What weaknesses do you have for this job?

TRAP QUESTION. Never state anything negative! Answer is to ponder for a while and
then state that you can’t think of any weaknesses that would compromise your
performance at this job; or negatively impact your performance of the job’s
responsibilities.

What do you expect to get in this job that you haven’t gotten in you
current/previous job?
TRAP QUESTION. Do not say anything negative. State that your current/previous jobs
have met or exceeded your expectations. With the new position you would hope to have
broader responsibilities and make greater contributions.

What do you see as your future here?

I would expect to be contributing at higher levels and have increased responsibility over
time.
Are you considering other positions at this time?
TRAP QUESTION. Simply say “yes.”

How does this opportunity compare?

From what I’ve heard so far, very favorably … and I would like to learn more.

What other companies/opportunities are you looking at now?

As I’m sure you can appreciate, I’m not at liberty to say as I am still in discussions with
these companies. I need to protect their privacy, as I would for your company under
similar circumstances.

What are your short and long term goals?

Short range: To secure an appropriate new position where I can apply my skills and
experience to increase the company’s productivity and profitability.
Long range: Assume more responsibility and make greater contributions over time for my
employer.

What motivates you?

Focus the answer on your core values, and also on the values and priorities of the
company you are interviewing with (which you should have identified through your
preliminary research).

What have you done to improve yourself during the last year?
Talk about professional development, training programs, educational curricula, study in
your field, on-the-job training, skill-building, relevant books you’ve read, etc.

How do you spend your spare time?

Say something inoffensive, apolitical and innocuous. (reading, exercise, travel, home
projects, gardening, family activities, home projects, etc.)

Tell me about your health.

My health is excellent.

If you could re-live your last 15 years, what changes would you make?
Nothing is perfect, but overall I would say that I’m quite satisfied with the way my life
and career have developed – so I wouldn’t make any significant changes.

Tell me about your greatest achievement/disappointment in your life.

Give one personal example (like meeting your spouse and getting married; putting
yourself through college and graduate school; or saving-up to buy your first house, etc.).
Then give your best professional accomplishment story. As for the disappointment, give
an answer similar to the one above, implying that “overall, I would say that I’m quite
satisfied with the way my life and career have been developing, so I really can’t think of
any major disappointments.”
What did you like best/least about your last job?
TRAP QUESTION. Never state anything negative! Explain what you liked best. Then
say that while every job has its challenges, you have been fortunate enough to learn and
grow professionally in each of the positions you have held.

In your last position, how much of the work did you do on your own, and how much
as part of a team? Which did you enjoy more?
Talk in terms of your flexibility and adaptability – your ability to work in whatever mode
seems appropriate to the situation. Make it clear that you have been equally effective in
teams or working independently, as each case demanded. You enjoy both; it’s more about
what will work best for the project and the company at that time.

What are some of the more difficult problems you have encountered in your past
jobs? How did you solve them?
Tell two or more pre-prepared accomplishment stories. Keep it POSITIVE!

Did you ever make suggestions to senior management? What happened?

Say “yes.” Tell some accomplishment stories and results, in which you positively
influenced senior management.

At your previous job(s), what did you think management could have done to make
you function more effectively as an employee?
TRAP QUESTION. Never state anything negative! Say that the employer was very good
in providing resources and support to your position, and that you have no complaints
about this.

What has kept you from progressing faster and farther in your career?
TRAP QUESTION. Never state anything negative! State: “I don’t know what could have
given you the impression that I am dissatisfied with the progress and pace of my career. I
am quite satisfied with where my career is at this point in my life. However, I am ready to
take on greater challenges.”

What else should we know about you?

Tell one or two more of your best accomplishment stories. You can also repeat how well-
suited you think you are for the opportunity, and how interested you are in the job.

Tell me about the best/worst boss you’ve ever had.

TRAP QUESTION: Never state anything negative! Say that while every boss has been
different, you have worked productively with, and learned something from, each one. (Be
prepared to give some examples of what you have learned.)

Everybody likes to criticize. What do people criticize about you?

TRAP QUESTION. Never state anything negative! Say that you can’t think of any
criticisms you have received from colleagues on the job. Of course, there have been areas
for development – such as when your supervisors would have given you your “employee
review,” and they might have made a suggestion for improvement. State that you have
always taken these kinds of suggestions seriously and have taken steps to make the
improvements that were requested, and that this has made you stronger as a professional.
(State at least one example).

Everyone has pet peeves. What are yours?

TRAP QUESTION. Never state anything negative! Turn this question around, by talking
about your high professional standards. Your only “pet peeves” are with yourself –
pushing yourself hard and not accepting mediocrity, for example – or how you are always
striving to reach your full potential on the job, etc.

What is your leadership style?

Talk in terms of your flexibility and adaptability – your ability to lead in whatever mode
seems appropriate to the situation. Explain that it’s more about what approach will work
best for the project and the company at that time. Give an example or two, demonstrating
different leadership styles, using your accomplishment stories.

Are you geographically mobile? (or) Are you willing to put in a lot of extra time?
Ask for clarification – what exactly does the interviewer mean? Then, according to their
answer, either say, “that would be no problem at all,” or tell them “you’d like to give it
some thought and get back to them within 24 hours.”

You don’t have the experience/background for this position. How could you handle
it?
Say you’re confused by their comment, that you’re quite confident that you DO have the
experience and background for this position, and that you’re a very strong match for the
responsibilities. Ask what specifically concerns them about your background; what’s
missing in your experience? (Sometimes the interviewer is just testing you.) Re-state
your qualifications as needed, tying your accomplishment stories to the employer’s
requirements.

You’re overqualified for this position, aren’t you? (even if you are slightly
overqualified)
State: No – I see a lot of challenges in this opportunity, and I’m sure that I would find the
work extremely interesting. Give some examples of what you mean, and talk about the
new dimensions of experience and skill that you would bring to the position, almost as
though you would expand the level of contribution in this job, thus making it more than it
is at present.

We have all the information we need. We’ll be in touch.

Take the initiative. Ask such questions as: “Where do I stand? Am I being considered as
a strong candidate? When should I expect to hear from you, or would you prefer that I
contact you in a day or two? What is your time-frame for making a final decision? Is
there anything else I can provide to facilitate the process?” etc. Then re-state your strong
interest in the position and your confidence that your background is an ideal match to the
job.
In conclusion, I strongly recommend that you prepare for your interviews by studying
and practicing these answers. Get someone to help you, by doing a “role play,” in which
your friend can be the interviewer and you can play the part of the job candidate. You
will reduce your anxiety, boost your confidence and perform much better if you “know
your lines” in advance! And remember – never say anything negative in a job interview!

Copyright © 2010, Career Potential, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Job Interview Etiquette

Are you or your spouse out of work and looking? If so, use these surefire tips to prepare
and land the job you’re after.
BY DIANE GOTTSMAN

Many people have recently found themselves in the position of looking for a new job.
The following are a few tips to assist you in your job search.

1. Don’t waste the interviewer’s time.Before sending your resume to a company, make
sure you qualify and your skills are compatible with the job post.

2. Be prepared to answer three standard questions.

a. "Why did you leave your last job?" Avoid negative answers. An inappropriate
response would be, "I couldn’t stand my boss and he was out to get me!" A better option
would be, "I was in a position that had little room for growth and have always aspired to
work for a larger company where my potential for advanced training could be realized."

b. "What is your greatest strength?" Your response to this question will give the
interviewer a good indication as to your confidence level and whether you would be a
good "fit" for their company. Be prepared for this answer by carefully reading and
understanding the job post. Focus on your professional strengths—what you can bring to
the company in terms of your particular skills.

c. "What is your greatest weakness?" Honesty with a twist is how you would take a
negative and explain how you are working on turning it into a positive. Saying something
like, "I have more ideas than hours of the day" or, "I am working on learning to delegate
responsibility" are traits that show creativity and determination.

3. Know the interview basics. Bring your resume, a note pad and pen. Your resume
should be specifically tailored to the particular job opening. The cover letter should
include a specific name, "Dear Mr. Smith", not "Dear Sir/Ma’am" or, "To whom it may
concern." Ask appropriate questions:
"What future career path does this position follow?"
"How many employees have been in this position and where are they now?"
"How does this position fit into the growth of the company?"

4. Confidently address any gaps in your resume. Address any gap by explaining what you
did to enhance your job performance during your down time, such as "I have been taking
night courses in business while looking for a job during the day. I have also been
volunteering my time at a local non profit, offering my accounting experience in their
finance department."

5. Be prepared to answer the question, "Why were you fired?" You will derail your
chances of getting the job if you lie or blame your boss or your coworkers. Honesty is
best. "I was admittedly not a fit for my last position. I can, however, confidently say that I
learned a great deal while working there and feel certain that the experience I gained will
benefit my next employer." Or, "My last position was in sales and my strength is
balancing the books and crunching numbers. That is why I am interested in this position."

6. Be creative in your job search.

a. Don’t put your entire effort in internet searches—select an organization that you want
to work for and get involved (intern or volunteer).
b. Offer to be a guest speaker (expert in your field) at different luncheons, giving tips.
c. Join a network that you are interested in pursuing.
d. Visit job fairs and your university career service office.
e. Be bold—ask for the opportunity without a monetary reward.
f. Find a mentor.

7. Make up and good grooming is a must (i.e., no facial hair, visible tattoos, multiple
earrings). Ask someone you trust to provide his or her honest opinion regarding your
grooming and interview attire. Every detail counts when you are competing with several
other people vying for the same position.

8. Follow up with a "thank you" note. Send out a "thank you" note the same day,
reiterating your enthusiasm and interest in the job. Mention that you will follow up in a
few days and look forward to being considered for the position. Check your spelling and
grammar before mailing out the note.

9. Your job may only be a telephone call away. If you have not heard from the
interviewer after a few days, don’t hesitate to call and say, "I am very interested in the
position and wanted to follow up to see when a final decision will be made."

Good luck and happy job hunting.