I’ve been casually interviewing, waiting for the right opportunity to come along, and have encountered companies that do not offer paid vacation, and just give the mandatory state minimum sick pay. So I thought I better start asking about these policies, before I forget to ask and am disappointed later. New company today arranges an extremely last minute, day of, interview with me on Zoom. I’m not even sure what this lady’s title is because she never said it, but I think she’s HR. The interview was her and two other people from the department who also didn’t bother giving me their titles. Interview didn’t go especially well or poor, it was just awkward and kind of blah so I’m mentally becoming disinterested but trying to hide it. Then at the end they ask the standard “do you have any other questions” and I remember to ask about vacation policy. The lady from the department that is leading the interview looks completely taken back and briskly tells me to discuss that with the HR lady, or whatever her title is, after the interview and looks a little offended or something. We quickly say our goodbyes and they end the Zoom session on me. I get a call from the recruiter/HR manager/whatever and she starts scolding me and telling me that she’s NEVER had any one ask about benefits in an interview before and that I should wait until I receive the offer first. She then said it seemed that I would be taking “lots of vacations.” I said no, I don’t have any vacation plans and explained my reasoning stated above. She then proceeded to give me “future interview advice” and made me feel really dumb. She did answer my question but made me feel so stupid for asking. My question is: was this really THAT inappropriate to ask at the very end of an interview? I get that it may have sent a bad impression about my work ethic (which was poorly thought out on my end and I realized I won’t be doing that again) but they reacted as if it was shocking to hear. I have another interview tomorrow and they were totally upfront about their (much more generous) benefits package during their initial phone screen!
Thoughts?