bad interview question?

[shahalam]

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So do you all think that after an interview is over and the interviewer asks, "Do you have any questions?", it is a bad idea to ask "How could I have improved on this interview?" I've heard different people say different things and I know my peeps at SDN won't let me down 🙂

 

[CarleneM]

So do you all think that after an interview is over and the interviewer asks, "Do you have any questions?", it is a bad idea to ask "How could I have improved on this interview?" I've heard different people say different things and I know my peeps at SDN won't let me down 🙂

i do not think at the end of the interview is an appropriate time. imagine if you were the interviewer and got asked that! it is such an awkward question and I think it would also convey a sense of insecurity and that the interview was a practice interview or something. its like going on a date and at the end asking "how could i have improved upon this date?" total awkwardness even if you did a really good job. if you don't get in, then perhaps you could contact your interviewer for feedback. i interviewed people for jobs and someone did that to me over email after they didn't get the job. since it was over email, i had time to come up with a tactful and hopefully constructive response. but putting people on the spot at the end of an interview just isn't a good way to go. you don't want to be remembered as the applicant that made the interviewer squirm in his/her seat.

 

[sfbear]

I agree that it's a bad idea. It gives the interviewer the impression that you're just practicing and want to know how you can improve for the schools you really care about. If you want feedback, get your interviewer's contact info and ask them (after you find out if you're accepted, waitlisted, whatever) how much impact your interview had on the outcome and how you could improve. I'd say do some mock interviewing and ask your question at the end of those interviews. Good luck.

 

[Pembleton]

I don't think it's a good idea either. It makes you sound insecure.

 

[UCLAstudent]

I agree ... bad question.

 

[DeterminedMD]

Ive heard others (not this forum) suggest asking that. But I havent at any of my interviews. Just doesnt feel right. Comes off as a practice interview. And I think it puts the interviewer in an awkward position

 

[kenmc3]

I have a background in marketing and psychology so let me put it this way:

When you finish the interview you don’t want to ask the interviewer to think of all the bad things you did… Now the last impression they have of you are all the negative ones.

So I don’t think of it as a question of appropriateness I think of it as bad marketing.