This is the 4th time I've been on an interview (legal) where an employer is annoyed over questions. Why?

Rathorien L

There is nothing wrong with asking questions. It could very well be that your interviewers are inept at conducting interviews. Unfortunately it is not uncommon when law firm attorneys interview paralegals. As the corporate department coordinator and paralegal superviser at my firm I conduct the interviews and ever since I took over the job of conducting initial paralegal interviews (from the attorneys) our firms paralegal hiring results and retention rates had a marked improvement.

It would help if you learn to phrase your questions more diplomatically though. Asking why the position is open is a legitimate question which I get all the time. I have no problems aswering because our attrition rate is low and people have always left on excellent terms for reasons like going to law school, moving, or being offered a more lucrative opportunity elsewhere (quite often I can even make the person they are interviewing to replace available for questions). As someone else mentioned, high attrition/rollover rate for a position is indicative of an undesireable position and if an interviewer is evasive or vague when answering this question that should raise a flag with you.

It's a bit blunt to be asking about cutbacks. Cutbacks are a particularly touchy subject with law firms in today's market and you may not get an honest answer to that question anyway (your interviewer might simply be in a state of denial about the possibility of cutbacks or may not even know). You can get an idea simply by asking about what kind of hours the firm expects and/or has to offer. If you're told that the firm has plenty of overtime to offer you can take that as sign that it doesn't foresee any cutbacks, at least not any that would affect your position, in the near future.

Asking your interviewer what they like about working there is kind of an amorphous question that may not even yield any meaningful answer. If he or she is an attorney that is working there and mentions things that you don't get exposed to as a paralegal anyway how does that help you? Ask specific work environment questions instead. Who will be supervising your work projects? Can you go to senior attorneys for questions? Partners? Questions like that can indicate to you how comparmentalized or how congenial the firm atmosphere may be.

Chad P

This attitude does not make any sense...You're supposed to ask questions to show interest...

because they see them self better than you and when you ask the questions it seems like your the boss of them. They want total control.

Not all situations are the same

smedrik

The question period should afford an oppertunity for the hiring manager to promote thier company. Asking why a position is vacant or whether or not they will downsize will annoy them as they are questions which in no way pertain to the job and Do not afford them the opertunity to gloat about the company.

BEfore going tinto an interview research the company, find a few positive points and even if you do know the answer ask the question.

Phrase it as a positive. eg, " I understand it is the goal of your company support the local community, i was wondering if you have any programs or fun raiser in place which give the employees the opportunity to get directly involved"

It is perfectly safe to ask, what the individual finds rewarding about working for said establishment.

It is also perfectly find to express a shared interest in thier area of law, point out an element which you respect or enjoy and ask what has drawn him or her into this field of practice.

Remember people like to talk about themselves and how great their company or firm is. Give them the opportunity to do so.

Margrave

Well, you seem to forget that you are a valuable asset to an employer. It is natural to ask questions to determine your fit within a company. If you encounter an unreceptive attitude toward questions, then you are not a good fit because the corporae culture does not suit you, and your creativity will be stifled, and you won't do your best work, and consequently you will be uncomfortable with the job, the company, and yourself.

So keep asking. The office that is receptive to questions... well that is the keeper.

Shane

My sister was in Human Resources for many years. Her last position was Exec HR Director, but now is an employment lawyer. The questions you ask are more than legitimate! I personally always asked (as you) why is the position open AND how many people have been in this position which depending on the response is a huge indicator if you should take it (I interviewed with Warburg Pincus two years ago and 3 people had held that position over the course of 2 years. Big sign to run for the hills.) I certainly wouldn't ask "What do you like most about working here?" I would change it to "Can you please tell me a little bit about the work environment?" If you ever interview anywhere and they are reluctant or annoyed at you asking questions it is not a place you want to work. Signifies to me it may not be the best of work environments and I can only imagine how they will react to the new employee if he or she has a question about there work due to lack of training.

jobbend

Questions for the sake of questions are not good. If you are asking about expansion/cutbacks, you are delivering a message that says, Hey, I'm here if things are good, I'm an opportunist. But if things go south, I might not be so interested - and will look elsewhere". Not the message you want to send in an interview.

When you craft questions for an interview, you need to do some homework and make them relevant to the company. What you ask should let someone know that you know something about the company, and are interested in what they do. For example, if you are interviewing as a secretary for an attorney, you might ask: "Can you tell me about what didn't work with the last person in this position?". If you went on their website and saw something that they specialize in and want more information about it, that is something to investigate.

Regarding a hiring manager telling you not to ask any questions, I'd be asking the hiring manager: "Why?" The answer might give you some insight as to if this company/person is a good fit for you. If someone were to tell me not to ask any questions, I'd be wondering what they are hiding from, and why . It would make me probe.

You're asking some questions you should already know. Why the position is open you already know. They need more help. Expansion or cut backs is something that employers can't tell you right away, but they wouldn't be hiring if they were laying people off. Why do you care what the interviewer likes about his job the most. You already know what you like about that line of work, otherwise you wouldn't be looking for a job at an attorneys office. Your questions should be simple, when can i start, what are the working hours, negotiating the salary. you'll figure out the rest once you get to know the people you work with when you get the job. honestly i wouldn't hire you if you were asking unnecessary questions. i wouldn't think you were too serious about the position. you may take the job and look for something else. just keep it simple, ask the big questions once you befriend coworkers. they'll tell you the truth, managers tend to bend it.

hope this helps

lollipop6

you are. i think it's the fact that it's an attorney- who's used to asking all the questions and likes short, simple statements. It's just the company in your presence, not you.
LOL

Tezzy baby

why would u question the man who is hiring you all u have to do is smile and nod your head

Sam Fisher

i'd simply ask how soon they'll want me to begin. And if they ask
- 'no more questions?' I'd say
- i have and will continue my research (on the company) and I also like finding out on my own Sir!

warning: it may work or backfir badly!

Rachel B

yeah i know that its good to ask questions, especially if its a high end job.
but if its like a casual sales job, and you figure the interveiw/manager is really unperfessional, theres no point, unless u really want to ask something.

but thats just my opinion, maybe the ppl felt like you where asking to many questions, maybe make them more suttle.?

hope that helps

alex

those are kind of nosy & unimportant questions,...except for the one about expansion/cut back- and the interviewer prob doesn't know the answer to that

wait till you get the job...then ask away

Olla

I agree with lollipop...i think its more with the fact that you were asking an attorney questions, who usually asks all the questions.....

but i think you might want to ask simple questions, questions that do not intimidate a person but i think for an interview, you might want to make short statements other than ask questions, statements to put the person in front of you at ease...
"like a great place you have got here" and its also about the person in front of you...he/she if for example he doesn't smile and always looks stern then its better to keep quiet and put on a friendly face....

Chrys

actually it's NOT a good thing to question people who want to hire you...it's the WRONG way to come across to someone. Like THEY have to measure up to YOU, not the other way around.

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