The Right & Wrong Way to Ask Questions on the Job

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         Asking the right question takes as much skill as giving the right answer.

                                             - Robert Half

It is often said that the only stupid question is the one never asked.

As a professor, I agree with that idea in the classroom. But as a boss, it’s a different story in the workplace.

We all get excited to learn, especially when we’re learning about something we love. But it’s important to understand that there is a right and a wrong time and way to ask questions when you’re an intern or an employee.

The right way.

Of course, you should always ask questions if you’re confused about something you’ve been asked to do.

Whether you’re working with horses, in the office, or in a lab, clarity is key.

So, if you are not sure on a task you’ve been assigned be sure to clear up any confusion from the start, it’s better to ask too many questions than to make a mistake that could have easily been prevented by asking questions.

This is especially important for people in hands-on situations. When your handling horses or equipment there is little room for error and mistakes can lead to injury for your, the horse, or others.

So if you aren’t sure about how to do something always ask.

The wrong way.

But there is also a wrong way to ask questions.

Never ask questions just for the sake of asking. This sounds trivial but you would be surprised how many time internship and job shadow hosts complain that all the students did was ask questions to the point that it hindered them from getting any real work done.

The goal is to learn from people, not annoy them. And the ability to learn through observation is extremely valuable to busy professionals taking you under their wing.

Back when I was a full time professor, I actually have several people who were popular choices for students to request to shadow with and when I reached out to them they always said, “Yes, I will let them shadow me but tell them not to ask questions.”

It sounded like a joke but they were dead serious.

Remember, whether you are job shadowing, interning, or starting out in a new position, you are there to learn but your learning is secondary to the real work taking place.

So don’t put yourself front and center by asking questions that actually get in the way or take valuable time away from the job that needs to be done.

Also, don’t ask questions to try to sound smart or to get attention.

This happens most often when the veterinarians show up or the trainers are around.

People sometimes bombard them with questions to showcase what they know or show off how eager they are to learn and it actually becomes cumbersome for the professionals to do their job while answering questions and explaining everything along the way.

If you have questions about what is happening that you truly don’t know you can always do some research on your own time to answer them.

Don’t ask questions just because you’re bored or need some attention directed your way.

You would be surprised how much you can learn by simply sitting back and quietly observing what is going on. At this point in the learning process, when you’re out of the classroom and in the industry - it’s not about you.

Whether it’s a surgery, a pre-purchase exam, a lesson, or a training session, my recommendation is watch, listen, learn and if you still have questions - ask later.  

If there is something that you didn’t understand you can always find a time when people aren’t as busy to ask them about it.

The end of the day when things slow down can be a good time for questions versus first thing in the morning or in the middle of a task when people’s minds are distracted.

It is important to mention that some professionals are teachers at heart and you will know them when you meet them.

They usually greet you with questions about yourself and want to find out about your career goals. These are the people that continue asking to see how much you know and how willing you are to learn.

These people as valuable as they are rare.

But by and large most people in the industry don’t want to be bombarded with questions, even good questions, in the midst of trying to do their job.  

So when it comes to asking questions I always say, be sure to ask when you need to know something and listen when you want to learn.

Learning the fine line between good questions and worthless ones is a skill that will serve you well going forward.