What do you ask when interviewing a company?
I think we can all agree that interviewing is a two way street. Though maybe a little more heavily weighted towards the employer, we also get to ask questions to determine whether the company is a place where we want to either start or continue to develop our careers. That’s why our question this week focused on you as the interviewer of a new employer; “What is the one question you always ask during interviews to make sure the job is right for you?”
One common theme that emerged was what the company has to offer you. From on the job development, to community involvement to, yes bonuses, it was important for you to know how a company will support you and your career and maybe even some of your interests:
Elizabeth: What are my opportunities for growth within the company?
Jeremy: What steps and investment will you make to ensure I grow, develop and become an even more valuable asset to the company.
Barakat: Will the company provide me the necessary room for creativity, innovation, & to improve myself?
Dustin: The ability to cross train and learn new job functions. I'm always looking to expand my knowledge base and move forward in my career. You can never know everything, but having the foundation and basics help out, and the right tools (Bing, TechNet, USENET, etc..) help solidify your performance.
The most interesting question came from Arsham when he asked: If the local paper were going to run a four-page article about your company’s culture, what would be impossible not to include?
Now that’s a good one! Interviewers are always putting us in creative situations and asking us to solve problems or think imaginatively. It’s interesting to put the company in that situation and to see how they respond. It can give you a good idea of what the people are like at the company, what they value and whether or not it is a place that can match your own innovative thinking.
5 Comments
Janet said:
Arsham's question is perfect for an interview. The other examples you gave focus on the potential employee (what can you, the employer, do for me?) and Arsham's question focuses on the employer. This is what an interviewer wants to see - how can this candidate help our company (and me, as a supervisor) look great!
zak said:
In a conversation about interviewing, someone shared that they always ask about the companies biggest pain points (which you're probably already somewhat aware of if you've done your research) and follows up to ask them how they're working to solve those problems. Their approach gives you a better feel for the culture and responsiveness/proactiveness of the company than you'd get asking them to describe it outright.
Nate Oliver said:
Hello, I think I'd have more than one question, to be sure. But if I were to prioritize, for me, I'd want to know how much autonomy I have? I enjoy working with people and collaboration - but I often find myself with very complex projects and one too many cooks in kitchen, if you will.
Best, Nate Oliver
Microsoft Excel MVP
Cody Musser said:
I think it is really about the questions you have for the company more than anything else. They show you're informed, inquisitive and passionate about your field. I just applied for a Microsoft position, and comically, I think were I to get my interview I'd have *more* questions than someone might have for me, hoping to figure out what Microsoft envisions for the (newly defined) role and where they'd like it to go.
Ron said:
I#d also like to know what information we can ask of our employers, which would counter-balance their demand for our SS#, passport number, previous employers & other personal information. More specifically, is there a corporate watchdog where we can find out information on company's ethical behaviour, including public tax records which can be accessed? I would not like to get involved with a company that doesn't pay taxes or exploits people or natural resources around the world.