What Do You Want to Know About an Employer?
What Do You Want to Know About an Employer?
When you search for your next job, you’re looking for more than a job that fits your skills and a paycheck. As much as employers are looking for candidates who are a great fit for their team and corporate culture, candidates are looking for a great fit for themselves, too.
Interviewers do research on candidates by reading resumes and checking references, then they ask interview questions designed to give them information about your people skills, problem solving, work ethic, integrity, and your knowledge of your industry. You should research your prospective employer with the same interest before your interview, and take advantage of the opportunity to ask questions about the company during the interview. Not only do you make a better impression as an interested, engaged candidate, but you learn more about whether the prospective employer is a good fit for your needs as an employee, too.
Research
Areas to investigate online before your interview.
Stability. How long has the company been around, and how well are they doing? A quick check online can tell you quite a bit about the longevity and stability of a prospective employer. Your tolerance for risk is personal. Some candidates love the idea of working for a start-up that may soar or fail, others prefer longevity.
Integrity. Search the company name online and see what comes up. A series of articles about labor disputes, consumer lawsuits, recalls, or workplace accidents may be cause for concern.
Ask
The following are areas of concern to many employees. Design your own questions, or ask a few of the ones listed below and listen carefully to the answers from your interviewer. While your main purpose as a job candidate is to impress the interviewer with your qualifications, your other purpose is to determine if the company in question is a good fit for you. A good fit benefits both sides!
Corporate culture. While this term is rather vague, it’s a way of defining how it feels to work there. Do they have Value and Mission Statements? What do they value most in their employees?
Turnover. What’s the average length of employment in the company? High turnover may mean an unhappy workforce, or few opportunities to advance. If you’re looking to learn and move on, it’s not an issue, but many candidates are looking for a stable job of 5 years or longer.
Work/Life balance. How much work are you expected to do for the salary listed on the job ad? Are employees expected to put in many hours of overtime? Is there flexible scheduling? Are sick or personal days part of the benefits? Asking brief questions about this area of concern is wise, as it can affect your quality of life.
Growth opportunities. Are there opportunities to learn? Does the company make an effort to hire from within? Will there be leadership or growth opportunities for this particular position? While some candidates may be interested in a single, stable position, most are hoping to grow over time into bigger and better jobs within the organization.
