After I conducted an interview the other day, I asked the candidate if they had any questions for me,
and I waited for the dreaded question:
“Do you have any reservations about hiring me?”
I hate this question.
I know why candidates ask it. Every article about interviewing tells candidates to “ask for feedback” in
the interview, so that the candidate can “address any issues” in the interview. So, why do I hate it so
much?
Because it puts the employer on the spot. The fact is we can’t give feedback to the candidate, because if
given poorly, it opens the door for potential lawsuits and complaints. There is zero benefit to the
company for giving feedback to a candidate, and the company must consider the employees already on
payroll. Also, the candidate typically isn’t truly open to feedback at this point because they are under so
much stress. From my perspective, pointing out someone’s flaws while in an interview is just cruel. How
do you say to someone “I can’t hire you because you come across as a complainer”? What the candidate
will say is “I’ll change” because they want or need the job. Bottom line: no one wins in that situation. It
is incredibly uncomfortable for all parties involved.
The way I avoid this question during an interview is by naming the elephant in the room: “We have to
talk about you behind your back before I can answer that question.” And usually, everyone laughs, and
we move on.
I don’t know who decided that this question was a must for candidates, but it does NOTHING to
promote a good working relationship with your potential employer. If you are a candidate looking for a
job, don’t ask this question. And if you are an employer who is asked this in an interview, name the
elephant and move on.
Being uncomfortable is not a good thing in an interview, so don’t promote it.
Power thought: Do you have any reservations about hiring me? None that I can discuss with you.