Ask not what your employer can do for you...
Seymour told you about all of the right questions to ask during an interview, but while interviews are a two-way street, so are your questions. There are a few sensitive topics that should never be discussed during an interview, many of which automatically slip out of the inexperienced or incautious interviewee's mouth and ultimately cost them the position. "What can you do for me?" and "Why should I choose this job over (X)?" are as common as they are potentially disastrous, as are unsolicited questions regarding pay, vacation time, or bonuses. Questions like this make potential employers question your dedication. To paraphrase JFK, "Ask not what your employer can do for you -- ask what you can do for your employer." You'll seem serious about the position if you do this, even if you're just fishing around.Remember, you're always at your interviewer's mercy, and while the answers to questions regarding how a job will benefit you sometimes beg to be asked, they're best reserved for when you've actually landed one. If you aren't satisfied with your employer, you can always turn them down - you're still young. The key is to let them know that you're dissatisfied with them as an employer after it's too late for them to be dissatisfied with you as an employee.
Labels: interview blunders, interview questions
Posted by Brian on 12/17/2008 02:37:00 PM
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I was in a group interview setting one time and a girl actually turned down the second round because she wanted to "weigh her options," as she was applying for multiple jobs. The rest of us in the room, including the employer, were a little shocked that she was so honest... but then again thankful that there was one less person vying for the position. I couldn't agree with you more that it's important to keep certain information to yourself until AFTER you land the job. You never know what you could be turning down if you make such a silly mistake so early in the interview game!