Tread Carefully! Dangerous Questions to Ask in a Job Interview

A job interview is like a blind date. You and the employer have the basic facts about each other but don’t know if there’s any real potential until both parties meet face-to-face with one another and ask/answer probing questions. If you’ve ever been on a blind date, you know it can be a special kind of disaster. Human beings are capable of extraordinary moments of unexplainable stupidity, and few things prove it with the clarity experienced on a bad blind date – or a job interview.

During your typical job interview, the interviewer will ask the candidate if they have any questions. This question is a test. You should never say “no.” It would be best if you had well-researched and thought-out questions ready. Your questions will demonstrate a genuine interest in working for the company and that you took the time to prepare for the interview. However, during an interview, sometimes we don’t think and ask questions on the fly.  

At some point, everyone has put their foot in their mouth during a job interview. Sometimes both feet. Here is a list of tried-and-true questions you should never ask at a job interview. Since the questions are all equally bad, they are not ranked.

• How much money do you make? A job interview is not the time or place to discuss its salary range, so it logically follows that it’s also not the time and place to intrude into the interviewer’s private financial life. Personal money questions would be awkward anywhere, but it’s the kiss of death in a job interview.

• Are you single? The game is not always on. The game needs to be off during job interviews and, subsequently, work hours in general. Making suggestive comments to your interviewer is not professional or appropriate, and you will most likely fail in getting a second job interview (or a date).

• What are you doing this weekend? Even if this is an innocent question, it’s not professional or appropriate to ask your interviewer questions about their private life.

• How long will it take before I have your job? Some people think this is funny. It’s not. Even if said as a joke, threatening the livelihood of your interviewer will not help you win friends and influence people. 

• Do I have to answer calls after work? And will you pay for my cell phone? Even if your job requires heavy cell phone use and the company does pay for it, this type of discussion should take place after you receive an offer and are negotiating your compensation. Boundaries are important but wait until the right time to discuss them.

• Can I work remotely (if the job posting doesn’t say that you can)? In-office vs. remote is a hot button issue right now. Businesses don’t know what the post-pandemic office looks like, and there isn’t likely to be a universal solution. Be cautious about asking questions about remote work unless the job description clearly states that the position is remote or partially remote. Otherwise, assume the job is in-office, that the employer spent a great deal of time arriving at that decision, and that it’s not going to change for you.

• Can I bring my pet to work? There are no words. Even if you’re interviewing for a job as a veterinarian, or you have a pet Emu that loves to snuggle, the job interview is not the time or place to ask about special accommodations for your pet. Seriously, this is a job interview. Your pet? Stop. Now. Unless you are interviewing with Chewy.com.

Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.