What Questions Should You Never Ask in a Job Interview?

Most job seekers know that when interviewing for a job, asking intelligent and well-thought-out questions is an integral part of the applicant evaluation process. Approaching a job interview with a variety of questions on topics such as company and departmental goals, culture, mission and values, why the position is open and what is expected of the successful candidate who fills it all speak to the applicant’s preparation, and foreshadow the level of dedication he or she will show if hired.

However, there are a number of questions that are best avoided in the preliminary interview stages. While some may cover relevant topics and provide information necessary for candidates to make an intelligent decision on how to approach the next step in their career, these questions may send the wrong message to employers who, above all else, simply want to gauge candidates’ knowledge of and interest in working for the company. Let’s take a look at a few questions that should be left to later stages of the interview process, or sometimes avoided altogether.