Interview Questions

Job Description
What is the job title?

What is required in this position?

Can you give me a brief description of the job duties?

Will I be expected to move any heavy furniture or equipment, and if so, what equipment is used? What and how much will I be lifting and moving on a regular basis?

Will I be expected to generate my own customers?

Hours
What hours will I usually be working? When might this vary?

Which shifts have openings?

Overtime
Is overtime paid as time and a half?

Is there mandatory overtime?

What advance notice is given if there is mandatory overtime?

How often is it required?

Is voluntary overtime available?

How often is it available?

Paychecks
What wages/salary will I be receiving?

What will my beginning wage rate be? Hourly wage or salary? If hourly, what is the hourly rate? If salary, how many hours are expected per week?

Will I be paid for all the hours I work, or will some hours that I work be deducted from my paycheck?

When is payday?

How often do I get paid? (Daily, Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly)

Will I ever have to wait until after payday to cash my check?

Does the company participate in Direct Deposit for paychecks?

Does the company require Direct Deposit for paychecks?

Does the company pay cash/“under the table”?

How are raises determined? Is there a predetermined schedule for pay raises? If so, when and for how much?

Labor Unions
Is there a union? Is it mandatory to join it?

Is there a union initiation fee? How much, and when and how do I pay it?

What are the union dues?

Lay-offs
How often do you lay off employees?

How long are employees usually laid off?

Employee Satisfaction
How often do employees voluntarily quit?

Why do employees usually quit?

Are the majority of the company's employees satisfied with their jobs? Why or why not?

Employee Termination
How often are employees fired?

Why are employees usually fired?

Is there a set policy for determining when employees are fired? (Specific number and severity of violations/offenses)

Distractions in the workplace
Is music or the radio played in the workplace?

Are there any televisions in the workplace?

Are any pranks played in the workplace?

Are any pranks played outside the workplace but in the course of employment?

Job Security
Is the job permanent or temporary? If temporary, for how long?

Is the job full time or part-time?

If I come to work and there is not enough work for me to do (power outage, utility failure, shipment did not arrive yet) what happens?

Safety
Are there any potential safety hazards associated with this career?

Are there any outstanding OSHA violations? If so, what are they?

What chemicals might I be exposed to in the course of my employment?

What other hazards might I be exposed to in the course of my employment?

Are the MSDS sheets available?

Does the company have workman's compensation?

Does the company provide the necessary safety equipment? (masks, gloves, safety glasses)

Will I be expected to do something unsafe in the course of my employment?

Honesty
Will I ever be expected to steal in the course of my employment?

Will I ever be expected to lie in the course of my employment?

Will I ever be expected to cheat in the course of my employment?

Will I ever be expected to be deceptive in the course of my employment?

Will I ever be expected to break the law in the course of my employment?

Will I ever be expected to exceed speed limits in the course of my employment?

Would you consider your company upright and honest? (No underhanded dealings, scams, or defrauding clients; fair with employees).

Benefits
Are there any benefits, and if so, what are they and when do they begin?

Does the company participate in the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act)?

Which holidays are observed?

Will I receive paid holidays? Beginning when? For which holidays?

Will I receive health insurance? Beginning when? What plans may I choose from? What kind(s) of insurance?(Medical, Dental and Vision)

Will I receive life insurance? Beginning when? For how much?

Are there any retirement plans or pensions?

Is there an employee discount?

Are there any other employee benefits?

Breaks
When may the employees take lunch breaks?

How long are the lunch breaks?

Will I ever be expected to not take my lunch break?

Will I ever be expected to take a late lunch break?

Will I ever be expected to take an early lunch break?

Will I be interrupted or still on call during my lunch break?

Are other breaks also provided?

Are they paid or unpaid breaks?

When may the employees take these breaks?

How long are these breaks?

Will I ever be expected to not take these breaks?

Will I ever be expected to take a late break?

Will I ever be expected to take an early break?

Will I be interrupted or still on call during my breaks?

Miscellaneous
Will I ever be expected to intentionally irritate or aggravate other employees or individuals?

Is there an employee manual?

Is there anything I should familiarize myself with to better prepare myself for this career?

Is there anything I should research to better prepare myself for this career?

Will I be expected to provide any of my own equipment or insure myself? What about safety equipment (masks, gloves, safety glasses)?

Will I be expected to generate my own customers?