Asking the Right Questions For A Career Move
Making a Career Move
Whether you are thinking about a career move, already applied to a few jobs, or just keeping an eye on what opportunities are available right now, it’s necessary to think about what you value in your next company. So how do you prepare for when you get the email or phone call that your next potential employer wants to meet you? Here are our insights into how to ask the right questions for your next career move!
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Asking the Right Questions
Interviews usually only last about 30 – 45 mins. That’s a short period for you to determine if this company is the right fit for you and make a positive impression with your interviewers. So how do you accomplish all of that as quickly as possible? Start by doing your homework!
Do Your Homework
Start with Google to find the company’s website and social media pages. Try to answer any basic questions you may have based on their website information. Don’t forget to research your interviewer through the company website or LinkedIn as well. Having your interviewers see you view their Linkedin Profile before the interview shows that you are excited and serious about the opportunity!
Have a question you couldn’t find online or want to know before interviewing, ask us! That is one of the many benefits of working with imatters as your recruiter. In many cases, we can share more information about the company or position to determine if it’s a great fit even before your interview!
Next, write down a few of your questions or must-haves. During the interview, ask questions that help guide your decision and show the interviewer that you are a critical thinker. Deloitte describes this as asking questions that leave an “additive impression” with your interviewers.
1. The Company Basics
Understanding the company basics like hours of operation, PTO, company values, or direction over the next few years can help determine if the company and position are the right fit for you. Here are a few questions to learn more about the company’s values and direction beyond what you find in the job posting!
How did your company adapt during COVID to benefit your employees?
All companies were challenged over the past year by COVID 19, and many adapted their policies. Do these company policies fit with your wants and future goals? According to a report by Monster the top three areas of policies changed during COVID-19 were remote flexibility, health policies/protocols, and training staff/skills training. In contrast, three policies still listed as areas of improvement were: salary protection, communication transparency, and career development.
Does the company have changes planned for the next few years?
Understanding a company’s growth plan can help you identify career opportunities or valuable skills you already have. For example, a company planning to expand its current location in the next two years would benefit from a candidate that is an early adaptor to change or a natural leader within a team.
2. An Employee Focused Culture
90% of employees surveyed in MetLife’s 17th Annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study (2019) shared that culture is important. Amazingly almost 80% of employers agreed! So, how does the company you are interviewing with support and build an employee-focused culture? Here are some questions to ask!
How is the culture here unique? Or, how is working here different from other companies you have worked for?
Instead of asking a question that prompts a response about culture policies or efforts, this question asks for the personal opinion of your interviewers and, in most cases, provides a more realistic interpretation of the company’s culture.
What other departments does this position work with most closely?
If collaboration and relationships with coworkers are important to you, try asking more questions about your specific team or cross-department communication.
3. Opportunity for Career Advancement
MetLife’s surveys also showed that 91% of employees value career development opportunities when looking for a job. Furthermore, as surveyed by Monster, employers said that ⅓ of employers believe the skills gap has increased compared to a year ago, showing a crucial need for professional development in the workplace. According to Monster, dependability, teamwork, problem-solving, and flexibility were the top skills employers looked for in 2020.
Has your role changed since you’ve been here? Or, how has the position I’m applying for changed since your last hire?
Asking one of these questions can provide insight into recent company changes, growth, or red flags.
What training programs are available to your employees? Or, do you offer an employee allowance for professional development courses or certifications?
Instead of asking a simple, what type of professional advancement opportunities are available, try asking a more direct question about the variety of professional development opportunities available to you.
What positions have successful employees previously in this position grown into?
Another great question is how others previously in this role have grown. Are they still with the company, or did they grow to a higher position at another company?
Ready For Your Career Move?
Find your next career move by checking out our job board or joining our Career Alert Email List to learn about more opportunities as we add them. Want to learn more about preparing for your next interview, read more on our blog about Winning the Interview Game!
imatters is excited to help you grow your career!