Page 54 - 301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview, Second Edition

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD NEVER INITIATE

Five Rules for Using Humor

1. Poke fun at yourself only, nothing else.
2. Follow the interviewer’s lead.
3. Don’t force it.
4. Never use sarcasm at any time.
5. If in doubt, don’t.

viewers tell jokes because they are uncomfortable or don’t know
what else to do. In either case, resist the temptation to create a false
rapport by exchanging jokes. It doesn’t advance the interview, and
little good can come of it. Do listen to the subtext of the joke and
come back with a question that indicates the joke gave you a serious
insight into the situation:
I appreciate the way you said that. It’s true, isn’t it, that communica-
tion breakdowns come in the most unexpected ways. And while it can
sometimes be funny, communication breakdowns impose real costs on
the organization. Company-wide intranets offer substantial benefits to
cross-departmental communications. At my last job, I led the team
that developed . . .
If you must tell a joke, make sure it is short and pokes fun at your-
self or some general issue of work. If it’s about the job-interviewing
process, so much the better. Never tell more than one joke, no matter
how much you are coaxed.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER

Because individuals relate to individuals, it’s natural that applicants
want to know about the interviewer. The interviewer also happens
to be the most immediate representative of the company they hope
to join. Is it appropriate to ask questions about the interviewer’s his-
tory, opinions, and experience?

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