Greg Giangrande

Greg Giangrande

Lifestyle

Go to Greg: How many interview questions is enough?

At the end of the interview, when you’re asked if you have any questions, is it possible to have too many questions? What’s the right number?

The answer, my friend, lies in the first line of your question: “At the end of the interview . . . ” The END. That means the interviewer is done with you. It’s over. They’ve made their decision. They are now only being courteous by asking you if there’s anything important that wasn’t covered that you’d like to know in the remaining five minutes. Have a question or two relevant to the discussion — be it industry-, company- or job-related. Then say, “Thank you,” and prepare to smile, shake hands and leave. Your work is done, and hopefully you’ll get the job or at least a callback.

My staff wants to have a Halloween party with everyone coming to work in costume. I want to be a fun boss, but something tells me it may not be such a good idea. What do you think?

Think of your being conflicted as an angel on your left shoulder dressed in a white nightie telling you it’s not a good idea — and a she-devil wearing a skintight black leotard with plunging neckline and holding a pitchfork on your right telling you to go for it — it will feel good. (My 8-year-old, Gwyneth, showed me the costume she picked out called “Edgy Little Red Riding Hood.” She’s 8! Poor thing just won’t be celebrating Halloween this year.) People don’t know how to dress for summer Fridays, and so you know some idiot in accounting will get his freak on and think showing up as the Times Square Naked Cowboy is funny. All you need to do is serve spiked punch, and you’ve got the makings of an October office freak show — perhaps second only to that annual career-killer called the holiday party! Do your staff a favor: Save them from themselves, and tell them they each can bring a treat to share instead — or let them out early to join the Village Halloween Parade.