Don’t Ask These Questions At Your Job Interview in Malaysia

Job interviews are your chance to make a strong, positive impression. Make it count by avoiding these questions in your interview.

By Kimberly Chang on 2023-11-27 at 7:12 AM

Updated on 2024-06-07 at 1:47 AM

What Not To Ask At Your Job Interviews

While not asking any questions during the interview is a bad sign to employers, asking the wrong questions may completely ruin your chances. 

Be wary of asking questions that show you haven’t done enough research or those that show you’re only interested in what the company can provide you. 

Below are some questions to stay away from to avoid landing in the reject pile:

1. “Are there any opportunities for me to move to other departments in the future?”

If you ask this question, you might as well tell the employer “I am not completely interested in this role.” You might think this question shows you as an all-rounder and someone who is happy to do what the company needs, but when you apply for a role, you are expected to be fully committed to it if you are hired. 

Ask this instead: “What is the next promotional opportunity for the role, and what would the career path look like?”

This question shows that you are committed to growing with the company and are thinking about your long-term career goals. It reflects your ambition and dedication to the role you are applying for. By framing the question this way instead, you can avoid asking the wrong question during a job interview which might make you seem uninterested or unprepared.

2. “What makes your company different from your competitors?”

They might have asked you “what sets you apart from other candidates” but now’s not the time to turn the tables on the employers (if ever). This is one of the questions you shouldn't ask in a job interview, because when you apply for a company, you are expected to have done basic research on what sets their products and services apart from their competitors. Asking this question will only show you as someone who is ill-informed (even if you aren’t).

Skip asking this question entirely and instead conduct extensive research on the company as well as their competitors before the interview. Doing so will not only help you prepare for the nature of the industry but you can also demonstrate your interest by asking more substantial questions about what they do. 

3. “Can you give me feedback on how I did for this interview?”

Though your intention may be to display yourself as someone who is open to feedback, you might want to avoid asking this question during the job interview. Asking this puts the interviewer in an awkward position. They might assume that you are fishing for validation. Do understand that hiring managers may need an internal discussion and some time to review the interview before making a hiring decision.

Ask this instead: “What is your ideal candidate for this position?”

This question lets the interviewer further describe the person they are looking for for this role. You can then take this opportunity to relate the qualities they mentioned to your own strengths and qualifications, further cementing your relevance for the position. 

Keep in mind that timing is vital for this question. We recommend that you keep this question until the very end. Asking this question too early on will seem like you’re requesting a cheat sheet.

Other Questions to Avoid Asking At A Job Interview

Other questions to avoid because they can paint you as someone who is only interested in how the company benefits them are: 

1. “Can I work from home?”

While remote work has become more common, you want to avoid asking this question too early in the interview, because it can give the impression that you are more interested in personal convenience than contributing to the company. It might suggest to the employer that you prioritise your comfort over the responsibilities of the role. This can be seen as a red flag, particularly if the company values in-office collaboration and presence.

Instead, focus on understanding the company's culture, work environment, and expectations first. You can bring up the topic of remote work once you have a clearer picture of the company's operations and after you've demonstrated your qualifications and commitment to the role.

For instance, you could say, “I noticed that some companies have flexible work arrangements. Can you tell me more about how your team operates and whether there are opportunities for remote work?” This approach is more tactful and shows that you are interested in understanding the company's working style while subtly inquiring about flexibility.

2. “What is the salary for this job?”

Discussing salary prematurely can make it seem like you are more concerned with compensation than with the role itself or how you can contribute to the company. While salary is an important aspect of any job, bringing it up too early in the interview process can give the impression that you are primarily motivated by money rather than the opportunity to work with the company and grow professionally.

Instead, a good job interview tip in Malaysia is to focus on showcasing your skills, experience, and enthusiasm for the role. Demonstrate how you can add value to the company and why you are the best fit for the position. When the employer brings up the topic of salary, which usually happens in later stages of the interview process or once an offer is on the table, you can then discuss your compensation expectations.

3. “What are your benefits?”

This is another question to avoid asking early in the interview process, as it can make it seem like your primary interest in the job is what you can gain from it, rather than what you can contribute. While understanding the benefits package is important, focusing on it prematurely can give the impression that you are more concerned with personal perks than with the role itself and the company's needs.

Employers want to see that you are passionate about the job and the company's mission. If you ask about the benefits too early, you risk appearing as though your motivation for the job is driven by the perks rather than the opportunity to grow and contribute within the company.

Instead, wait until later in the interview process or until the employer brings up the topic. This typically happens during the final stages of the interview or when discussing a job offer. At that point, it is appropriate and expected to ask about the benefits package.

4. “How many leaves would I get?”

This question might suggest to the employer that you are already planning your absences before even securing the job, which can be perceived as a lack of commitment or enthusiasm for the position.

While it is important to understand the company's leave policy, it's best to wait until later stages of the interview process or until you have received a job offer to discuss such details. At that point, it is appropriate to clarify the leave policy along with other employment terms.

Never ask these questions during your first interview unless brought up by the employer. Though it’s completely understandable to want fair compensation, initiating these topics too early on might put you in a bad light.

To make a good impression, it’s important that you first demonstrate the value you can bring to the organization so that they will consider you for the role in the first place. The details of employment can come after you’ve made it to the next stage of the interview process.

The employer will usually bring up details of the employment at the final interview or in writing when they issue the offer letter. As long as you haven’t signed the letter, you can still try negotiating the terms with the employer. 

If you want to learn how to negotiate your salary, we have you covered in this article.

By Kimberly Chang on 2023-11-27 at 7:12 AM