Don't Ask These Questions In a Job Interview

by Dice Staff Dec 14, 2023 4 min read

So you’ve landed the job interview! Congratulations—you’re going to do great. But as you assemble your list of questions to ask during the interview (and answers to give), keep in mind that asking certain questions can potentially harm your chances of actually landing the position.

In the following article, we’ll break down some of those wrong questions that can raise proverbial red flags for recruiters and hiring managers. We’ll also list some questions you should definitely ask during the interview process, which will collectively show you’re engaged and interested in the job.

Questions to Ask

No matter what role you’re applying for, asking these questions can show the hiring manager or recruiter that you’re interested in the company and role. You’ll want to use these questions to open up a broader discussion about your skills and experience, and how you can ultimately succeed in the role.

"What are the biggest challenges the team is currently facing, and how can I contribute to solving them?" Depending on the answer, you can take the opportunity to describe how you approach and overcome challenges.
"Can you describe a typical day in this role and the projects I'd be working on?" This will hopefully yield important information about the company’s workflow; use it to evaluate whether your ways of working align with those of the broader team.
"What opportunities are available for professional development and career growth within the company?" Training is more critical than ever to tech professionals. If the company has a robust system of training and education, that’s a good sign it’ll help foster your career.
"How does the company foster collaboration and teamwork within the tech team?" Depending on the answer, you’ll learn quite a bit about the company’s culture and values.
"What are the company's core values and how are they reflected in the day-to-day work culture?" Again, culture is critical at companies. Is your potential employer collaborative or cutthroat? Do you like its approach?

Questions to Avoid

Meanwhile, these questions can show you’re not really interested in the role or what you can actually do for the company. While asking these won’t necessarily wreck your chances of landing the position, they might prod a hiring manager or recruiter to favor other candidates.

"What are the salary and benefits package like?" Yes, we all like getting paid. But asking this question can show you’re more interested in a paycheck than the role itself. Plus, you don’t want to kick off any kind of salary discussion before you have a firm offer on the table; that’s when you have maximum negotiation leverage.
"Can I work from home all the time?" Yes, more companies have adopted remote and flexible work... but many executives prize in-person collaboration. Suggesting you don’t want to come into an office—ever—suggests you might not interact well with teams.
"Who are your main competitors, and what are their weaknesses?" Always keep discussions positive; focus on what you can do for the company, and what the hiring manager sees as the team’s strengths.
"What's the turnover rate like? Do people stick around?" You don’t want to give the impression that you think the company is on the verge of collapse, or that the team isn’t managed well.

Key Takeaways

Preparation is key to any job interview: you’ll want to spend as much time as possible preparing stories that show off your experience, researching the employer, and polishing your skills. In addition, keep these tips in mind for your big day.

Design all your answers to show how you used your skills and experience to deliver quantifiable results for your previous employers, and how you’ll do the same for this company.
Avoid questions about your desired salary, or any kind of gossip about a previous or current employer.
Frame your questions to be proactive and positive. Even if you have to describe a defeat, frame it as a valuable learning experience.
Strive to ask “deep” questions about the company’s workflow, goals, and projects (and by “deep,” we mean things you can’t glean from a two-minute review of the company’s website).
Be professional, even if things go a bit off the rails.

By asking insightful questions and avoiding potential pitfalls, you can impress the hiring manager and pave the way towards a great position. If you “win” the first interview, you’ll be well-positioned to take on a second one.

Questions to Ask

"What are the biggest challenges the team is currently facing, and how can I contribute to solving them?" Depending on the answer, you can take the opportunity to describe how you approach and overcome challenges.

"Can you describe a typical day in this role and the projects I'd be working on?" This will hopefully yield important information about the company’s workflow; use it to evaluate whether your ways of working align with those of the broader team.

"What opportunities are available for professional development and career growth within the company?" Training is more critical than ever to tech professionals. If the company has a robust system of training and education, that’s a good sign it’ll help foster your career.

"How does the company foster collaboration and teamwork within the tech team?" Depending on the answer, you’ll learn quite a bit about the company’s culture and values.

"What are the company's core values and how are they reflected in the day-to-day work culture?" Again, culture is critical at companies. Is your potential employer collaborative or cutthroat? Do you like its approach?

Questions to Avoid

"What are the salary and benefits package like?" Yes, we all like getting paid. But asking this question can show you’re more interested in a paycheck than the role itself. Plus, you don’t want to kick off any kind of salary discussion before you have a firm offer on the table; that’s when you have maximum negotiation leverage.

"Can I work from home all the time?" Yes, more companies have adopted remote and flexible work... but many executives prize in-person collaboration. Suggesting you don’t want to come into an office—ever—suggests you might not interact well with teams.

"Who are your main competitors, and what are their weaknesses?" Always keep discussions positive; focus on what you can do for the company, and what the hiring manager sees as the team’s strengths.

"What's the turnover rate like? Do people stick around?" You don’t want to give the impression that you think the company is on the verge of collapse, or that the team isn’t managed well.

Key Takeaways

Design all your answers to show how you used your skills and experience to deliver quantifiable results for your previous employers, and how you’ll do the same for this company.

Avoid questions about your desired salary, or any kind of gossip about a previous or current employer.

Frame your questions to be proactive and positive. Even if you have to describe a defeat, frame it as a valuable learning experience.

Strive to ask “deep” questions about the company’s workflow, goals, and projects (and by “deep,” we mean things you can’t glean from a two-minute review of the company’s website).

Be professional, even if things go a bit off the rails.