10 Human Questions Interviewees Should Ask

Yes I know it appears that I’m hung up on lists lately. 175 Top this. 7 Habits of that. But this idea presented itself and I couldn’t resist.

The idea came from someone I know who hates the modern-day workforce. From his brain__ to his mouth__to my ears, ideas flow frequently. So when he said, “you know, the question I want to ask in an interview is ______, but I know I can’t,” I thought of four more questions immediately.

His question (which I'm opting to not share) was sad. It made me think about the anxiety of interviewees and how interviewers have most of the advantages in that environment.  

I also think that interviewees don't do enough to balance out the process. They let the employer say the organization has a great culture, great benefits, great everything. But rarely do they test this with real solid questions.

It's one thing to ask questions about the job ("What's a normal day like?") or benefits ("When am I fully vested?"). Employers expect this and interviewers are prepared to answer these questions. But it's out of the ordinary to ask, "Is my boss going to be a jerk?"

One certainly could be that bold. But I think interviewees could be better served by asking less abrasive but yet pointed questions. I think an interviewee should get to the heart of an organization, its culture, and its human side. I made a list of ten questions that I think could do the trick.

Question 1: If I decide to have sexual reassignment surgery, will there be an issue with the bathroom I use?

Question 2: If I need to take FMLA, will I be told it’s in my best interest to not take all 12 weeks?

Question 3: Are you more concerned about me looking busy or my job outcomes?

Question 4: Are you going to tell me I’m doing a great job, give me a 1% raise, and post the company’s record-breaking billion dollar earnings?

Question 5: Rank in order of importance: the employees, the customers, the stakeholders.

Question 6: If I’m sexually harassed or if I suffer from discrimination, are you going to bury my complaint and tell me that I have a perception problem?

Question 7: On a scale from 1 to 5, how difficult is it to make decisions on which health insurance you offer? 

Question 8: If I get up from my desk and computer to stretch my legs and walk around after sitting for hours, will I be reprimanded, ostracized, or frowned upon?

Question 9: What websites does your company block?

Question 10: If this company was a breed of dog, which one would it be?

I admit question 10 is a little abrasive. But I think it should be used if an interviewer asks something similarly nonsensical that cannot be tied back to any job that exists, or ever existed anywhere in the world.

I also admit some of these questions are hard to ask. But I also think they could be hard to answer. So I direct more of my complaint to the organization that is afraid to answer these questions.

If your organization could answer all of these questions in an honest mature manner, I applaud you.

If you can't, then I hope you can't acquire good talent and your lack of humanity comes back to bite ...

Like a big dog.