to think this was an ill advised thing to ask?

[Babbaganush]

I was on an interview panel earlier, candidate didn't really sell herself and didn't seem to have researched the post. Her only question for the panel was "how much is sick pay?"

She gave herself away there, didn't she?

Have you contacted her references to see if she has a history of being off sick?

Aside from all that- it is a very strange question to ask!

As an isolated question, I'd think it very ill-advised! If it was included in a series of other questions I'd possibly be more inclined to see it as the candidate being a very thorough type. Do you think she genuinely wanted the post, given that she didn't sell herself either?

She didn't get the job, there were stronger candidates!

It was the only thing she asked!!!!

careless!

She would have done better to say 'Can you tell me about the employee benefits you offer?' and if needed prompt with 'Do you have an occupational sick pay scheme'. If you want to ask something like that, you need to give the impression it's so you can weigh that company's job offer up against the countless others you'll be getting, because you're so fantastic .

This is the last thing an employer wants to hear

I suspect she didn't want the job... Is she currently working? Maybe she had to go to prove to the job centre that she is trying to find work...

talk about verbal diarrhoea!

You should never ask about benefits until offer time!

I can never think of sensible questions to ask in interviews... But that is odd. She may be kicking herself for it now though.

Probably had a mind blank, panicked and asked the first thing that sprang to mind.

OP, what's the best sort of question to ask in that situation? I always struggle. Though I wouldn't be that thick

Bluebadee

One interviewee asked us 'is there a question I should ask but haven't?'

Tonald - did they get the job?

I can top that story - I went to an interview once and really didn't like the office and had a bad experience of a worker telling me to fuck off on my way in. Interview was fantastic, you could see the excitement in the manager's eyes I know I would def have got the job, but in any other questions - I asked if I could withdraw my application lol.

Maybe her current job acted really badly when she was ill so she wanted to be sure

It's still not a great question to lead with

Is that a good question Tonald? I quite like it but wonder if it's a bit too "clever".

I find this part of interviews hard too. When I've done my prep and got some really good inciteful questions, it has sometimes felt like the panel were put out at me putting them on the spot, but more inane questions feel either pointless or like things I should have found out before applying.

My usual is; 'What would you say the biggest challenge (or my major achievements) should be in my first 6 months, if I were successful.'
It generally gets a bit of chat....

I never have any questions to ask at the end but that's because I ask things throughout..? Hopefully interviewers don't see it as a problem!

Will remember the sick pay one for next time though

(also my phone just corrected it to dick pay)

Lol Lingotria

I once asked a similar question to the one Tonald mentions, and no, I didn't get the job.

Spam88 Dick pay...I must remember to ask that next time I have an interview. That could be a very interesting take on flexible family working lol

As far as I could tell she did want it, currently working part time, this was full time but school hours. (Standard local authority terms and conditions readily available so she could have easily looked up the sick pay scheme herself)
When the only thing someone asks about is sick pay alarms bells ring!
Most people ask about training opportunities.