Beware of Lists

Top Ten Lists

I see so many articles and posts suggesting questions that you really need to ask on an interview. Top ten questions to ask! Don’t leave the interview without asking these important fifteen questions. Seriously?

What is important is that you ask the right person the right types of questions and be aware that some of them will present you in a way you did not intend.

For example:

How often are performance reviews given?
Are salary adjustments geared to the cost of living or job performance?
How does the company measure success?
What exactly does the company value?

Relevant Questions

All good questions, but if you ask them all, you are really asking: when am I going to get my first pay increase, how often will I be reviewed and given a pay increase, and what do you base my increases on. One of these questions should open a discussion and hopefully result in additional information, however, all of them will make you appear to be only focused on the salary and nothing else.

Another example:

Is this a new position or am I replacing someone?
May I talk with the last person who held this position?

What are you hoping to learn from these types of questions? Do you want to know if the company promotes from within? Or do you want to know if there’s an issue with the boss and no one stays in this position? Perhaps you are hoping to learn both, but it’s highly unlikely anyone will answer honestly if there is an issue and there is high turnover in this position.

Ask questions that are relevant to your situation of the interviewer who is most likely to know the answer.

Questions about the specific work should be addressed to the hiring manager. Questions about benefits and company culture are likely to be answered better by the human resources professional or peers.

Lists can be helpful as suggestions, but don’t think you need to ask them all.