Clever Questions to Ask a Hiring Manager to Uncover Potential Red Flags

During the interview process, the employer asks the employees regarding any questions they have in their mind regarding the company and the job role of the employee.  This allows the employee to ask any type of question to the HR manager to make yourself aware of the expectations of the employees and the employee. The following article provides some of the different questions which can be asked to identify the potential red flags in the company.

What is the importance of asking questions to the hiring manager?

Asking questions to the hiring managers is essential as it helps gain in-depth knowledge regarding the company and the employee's position in the company.  The question asked to the HR managers helps showcase the employee's work ethics and provides an opportunity to showcase the understanding of the company and the industry.  This is also important for making the candidate stand out from other applicants for the job role in the company and positively impacting the minds of the HR managers.

Some questions to avoid asking the HR manager during a job interview:

1. What is the business of the company?

The employee must conduct in-depth research regarding the company before applying for the job opportunity. The information can be gathered from browsing the company's website and provides detailed ideas regarding the company's work.

2. How can I take off?

The question negatively impacts the employer's mind that the employee is not concerned with the company's work and only with taking leaves.  However, asking about the orientation procedure can help create a positive image in the minds of the recruiter.

3. Is there work from home opportunity?

It is essential to avoid this question as it is generally presented in the job description. In case it is not mentioned, it is evident that the employee needs to work from the office.

4. What is the time to get a promotion in the company?

The question is very tricky for the employee as it helps in showing that the candidate is ambitious. However, it also creates an image that the employee is not interested in the current job position of the company.

5. What are the different benefits provided by the company?

The candidate can discuss the company's benefits only after getting the offer letter from the company. However, the employee can ask for insurance, sick leave and vacancies before joining the company.  Asking these questions results in the impression that the employee only wants to join the company for the benefits provided to the employees.

6. What is the salary?

This type of question is considered adequate only when the employee gets the offer letter from the HR manager. Salary negotiations are very sensitive and must be discussed only at appropriate times.  If the salary is different from what is expected, it can be discussed with the employer before accepting the offer letter provided to the employee.

Tips for asking questions to the HR manager during the interview process:

• Considering the priorities: When asking questions to the HR managers, the employees need to focus on their priorities and ask only relevant questions to the HR manager. This helps make the questions relevant to the interests and professional goals of the employee.
• Showcasing the desire to learn: Asking questions for an interview is essential as it helps showcase the employee's excitement regarding the job role in the company. However, it is essential to avoid questions which create an image of combative. Instead, asking questions which show curiosity is considered to be very helpful.

Some of the significant questions which can highlight the red flags regarding the job position in the company:

1. What are the different challenges associated with the job position?

Asking the hiring manager about the role of the job position in the company helps identify the different responsibilities and workloads the employee needs to meet when working there.

2. Why the job position is vacant in the company?

What are the reasons for opening the job position of the company? Is the last employee who was promoted. This shows the company provides growth opportunities to the employees working there.

3. What is one thing you want to change in the company?

Answering this question makes the HR manager provide information regarding the company culture and work environment.  It also helps provide inside details about the company's structure and communication channels used in the company. It provides information regarding some red flags that must be considered for the company's job role. 

4. What do you think about work-life balance?

Every company has a different approach towards the flexible working schedule of the employees. In case the employee already has a clear goal, it is beneficial to jump to the question before accepting the offer letter.  If the HR managers use the phrases, remote or flexible work schedule, the company has a positive attitude towards work-life balance.

5. What resources are provided by the employer to help the employees in the company?

It is considered very significant for companies to invest in employees to increase their productivity. Along with different packages, ask the HR manager about the various training provided to the employees regarding the job role in the company.  At least the companies should provide information regarding employee performance reviews and feedback systems. 

6. What is the communication structure in the organisation?

Communication is considered very significant when working in a team, and the communication process becomes even more critical in the case of remote or flexible work schedules. The company should conduct regular meetings and check-ins. to establish proper communication among the different members of the team. Last-minute meetings result in increasing the anxiety of the employees. A transparent and clear communication network helps improve trust and provides proper distribution of workload with the help of open communication. 

7. What are the parameters of success in the given job role?

The employee needs to be aware of the possible outcomes the company aims for in the particular job role.  On which criteria the performance of the employee will be measured. For instance, if the job is for the position of a content editor, how many pages of content must be edited daily?