5 Worst Questions Interviewers ask Interviewees

As job-hopping and quiet quitting are becoming the new normality in the workplace, millennials and Gen-Z is embracing the opportunity to explore new positions and career options. Not only is career growth the main motivation for the new generation of workers, but salary and compensation is the number factor to take into consideration when job hunting. The Great Resignation not only involved people leaving the workplace but entering into new work environments. Employers are constantly hiring, leaving people to apply to literally hundreds of positions with few answers. The anxiety of hearing back from a job you believe you are qualified for begins to rise when you are invited for an interview.

Interviews can be compared to first dates after meeting someone online. Interviewees dress their best and put on their best smiles. It was the best time to show who you are and explain how the company can benefit from your skills. Once the interview starts, the moment can lead to becoming a “great first date” or “the worst date ever.” First impressions count employers! Here are 5 of the worst questions to ask your interviewees to make the meeting positive.

This question is too generalized to even answer. What would you like to know? In my opinion, you already have the interviewee's resume and application in front of you. We know that you do not care what the person does in their free time, nor where they are from. Sometimes this statement alone can lead to biased judgments at the start of the interview. Even though employers believe this statement is an icebreaker, it is best to revise it as, “Can you walk me through your resume?” It allows the person to shine and explain their work history in their own words.

I once was in an interview to become a Bilingual Leasing manager. I was out of work for 4 months due to medical reasons, and the job hunt became discouraging as each application was denied. I was excited that I obtained a job interview, and to make it even better, the office was 5 minutes from my home. It was the perfect commute. I felt as if the interview was going smoothly until they asked about my job gap. I simply stated that I was not comfortable discussing the reason why I was unemployed for 4 months. I just simply explained due to medical reasons, I was not able to work for a while. The interviewer asked if I was ready to go back to work because she “understands” that it is hard to get back into work after a long “vacation.” She assumed that I stopped working for another reason and did not believe my answer of being on medical leave. She asked me, “How do you feel?” After assuring her 3 times that I was capable of going back to work and that I was physically okay, her business partner asked the same question. I knew they were trying to get me to open up about how was my medical condition. I stood up and walked out of the interview understanding that the work environment was not a good fit for my standards. Employers… focus on their skills, not their job gaps. Life happens and if they attend to meet with you, just know they are interested in the position. 

Usually, this would seem like a normal question to ask the potential candidate, but in all reality, they are more interested in the compensation for the hiring position. Just like you wish to see what the candidate is willing to offer the company, they wish to see what they will be receiving from you, the employer.

I will answer this question. “I don’t know.” Honestly, if we set our minds to achieving our goals, we will most likely achieve our very own answer to this question. This question is actually unrealistic because no matter how much we as humans plan our future, life can bring surprises. 

Whenever an employer asks me this question in an interview, I immediately think, “Because I need a job.” Other candidates will think of a different answer, before explaining it professionally. This question seems aggressive and pushed because an interviewer should be open-minded about what each party has to offer. Yes, this question indeed closes the interview by allowing the interviewee to “sell” their skills and experience, but 90% of the time, you already gained information about their experience from the entire interview process. The real question is, what can you as the company offer this potential new employee?

Employers, if you wish for your candidate to choose you, revise some of these questions or replace them with creativity to allow a more open dialogue.