At the end of a job interview, I was asked if I had any questions. I asked about the benefits. I didn’t get the job and a friend said that’s because it was the wrong thing to say. Is she right? Did I blow it? What should I have said?
Its impossible to know if that’s the reason why you didn’t get the job, but your friend is correct — it was the wrong thing to ask. The questions at the end of the interview should be a natural extension of the interview itself, and be more about the company, the job, the industry, or even questions about the interviewer’s own experience. Anything that gives you an opportunity to engage and demonstrate your value for a few minutes longer. Benefits questions are for after you get a job offer. That said, by the time the interview gets to that point, usually he or she has already made up their mind about you, and if they decided they wanted to hire you — or advance you to the next round — it’s unlikely that they would change their minds just because you asked about the company benefits.
I accepted an offer at a company and just that same day, I was offered an interview for a different job. I explained that I had just found a position. Then, the job I accepted fell through due to a change in company policy. It’s been a month now. Can I ask if the interview offer still stands?
Why not? When you’re looking for a job, there is no reason to stand on ceremony. Circumstances change, things fall through or don’t turn out to be what you expected them to be. Just be up-front and honest and always make the prospective employer feel like you really want to work for them. Let them know why you want to work there, and don’t make it look like you’re just reaching out because the other one fell through. Just like in a relationship, no one wants to feel like they are a consolation prize.
Gregory Giangrande has over 25 years of experience as a chief human resources executive. Hear Greg Wed. at 9:35 a.m. on iHeartRadio 710 WOR with Len Berman and Michael Riedel. Email: GoToGreg@NYPost.com. Follow: GoToGreg.com and on Twitter: @GregGiangrande
