​​Interview Questions Never to Ask

Spring is peak interview season, so shape up your interviewing skills! Think from the vantage point of interviewers – who are looking to fill an urgent need – and avoid these questions:

1. Never ask a question that you can easily find the answer to. It shows laziness and lack of interest. For public companies, their financials, competitors, top products/services, and litigation matters are all in their SEC filings. For private companies, TechCrunch and LinkedIn can give a plethora of information like rounds of financing and number of employees.
2. Never ask if you can change anything about the job. At the initial interviews, respect the job description! Yes, it can change, but only if the company is comfortable with you and learns your value. Interviews should establish your relevant skills and are not a forum to discuss future roles.
3. Never ask about benefits like telecommuting or time off until you have offer in hand. These questions suggest your priorities are out of order and that you are a needy hire.
4. Never ask about promotions. The interviewer has an immediate job to fill and cannot use someone already looking to move on.
5. Never ask anything that would embarrass the interviewer. For example, if you’ve seen a lot of turnover or if you’ve read less than stellar comments on GlassDoor, don’t ask pointed questions during the interview. The interviewer will just feel defensive. You can ask (sensitively) when you get the offer.

You think you would never ask such self-defeating questions? I have seen poised and seasoned lawyers say them all.  It’s easy to get tripped up when conversation innocuously veers into one of these topics. Get sensitized, and stay on point: that you are right for the job and can help immediately.