What to Ask--and Not Ask--During a Job Interview

In business, they often say that there are no bad questions—but, actually, there are. That's especially true when the questions come from job candidates who are apparently clueless about knowing what is—and isn't—appropriate to ask of a prospective boss. With that in mind, OfficeTeam, a staffing services company, compiled the following survey of outrageous inquiries from job applicants. To provide a more positive perspective on this topic, OfficeTeam has also come up with several smart questions that will help you impress a hiring manager, and we're including them here. "Job seekers can set themselves apart by asking intelligent questions about the company and the position," says Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Before interviews, candidates should thoroughly research the employer and come up with inquiries that demonstrate interest in and knowledge of the organization. It's also useful to pose questions that will shed light on the corporate culture, and what it takes to be successful in the role." More than 650 HR managers took part in the research.