There are certain things you can and cannot ask during a job interview, regardless if you are fresh out of college or a seasoned veteran. Some questions are important to have answered but sitting in front of your potential GM or department head is not the place to ask them. On the other hand, there are several questions you can ask that should perk up the ears of your interviewer to let him or her know there is a potential all-star sitting in front of them.
The Don’ts
Do not ask questions that can and should be answered with your own due diligence. For instance, asking the interviewer who they consider to be their biggest competitor shows you never even researched the company. Take the time to do your own investigations to answer questions such as this.
Save salary and vacation questions for later. This is important information, granted, but asking your direct boss this question is simply not the time. At some point you will be meeting with HR to discuss a job offer, which is when benefits and salary can be addressed.
If you happen to notice significant job openings within the company or have read news stories about layoffs, it can be a very tricky situation. You obviously want to understand if you are on firm ground coming through the door, but that first interview is not the time to ask about it. Again, once the offer is received, this can be discussed with your director, department head, or HR prior to accepting the offer.
Finally, don’t get too pushy when it comes to promotions. Again, you want to work for a company that promotes upward mobility, but it can come off almost as being entitled when inquiring about a promotion before you ever punch the clock for the first time.
The Do’s
Understanding the expectations of both the company and your direct boss is very reasonable during the interview process. An interviewer will often ask where you see yourself in six months, so beat them to the punch. Find out your interviewer’s expectations of the candidate coming in the door and what you will need to do in order to meet those expectations.
Try to ask questions about departmental cross training or collaboration. Is this something that is encouraged at the property and exactly how do they go about making this happen? In this industry, your job description is merely a guideline to the position, not written in stone. This could be both an area of concern and/or opportunity, depending upon your mindset walking through the door.
Dig deeper into the company’s vision and mission statement. Get a better understanding of the company’s core values and how they are used to influence staff members. More importantly, make it clear you share those same values and want to be part of that “type” of company.
Are you having problems finding the ideal opportunity to showcase your skills and talent in the hospitality industry? Did you know Joseph David International is one of the top hotel recruiters in the country? As such, we have opportunities with companies around the country looking for candidates just like you! For more information about our candidate services or to see current opportunities available, click here.
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