As a job seeker, your most important task is to gain as much information as possible while selling yourself to the hiring manager. This can be a delicate balancing act between gaining and giving information. But there are a few things you should ask or look out for that can give you valuable insight into the company culture and what it would be like to work there. Here are four questions that will be critical to gaining the most important information from an interview.
1. Is this a new position or is it a replacement?
Knowing why a position is open is a key to finding out how you should sell yourself. If this is a new position, it means they are growing or adding important new roles to their company. This is your opportunity to make your mark in something they’ve never experienced before. On the other hand, if they are replacing an employee, it is helpful to know if this was a problem situation that resulted in a firing or another cause to create the open position.
2. How long do employees typically stay with the company?
You want to know how long a typical employee stays with the organization because if there is high turnover and constant rehiring, there may be a reason for that. It will be important for you to understand whether or not this is something that will work with your career.
3. Do people go out for lunch or happy hour?
Knowing how social a company is will help inform you about the overall corporate culture. Do people go out for lunch? Do they go on their own or as a group? Do people bring lunch in and eat at their desks? Some companies even encourage a weekly happy hour to help their staff socialize and build better bonds. Look at how they handle social interaction and whether or not they fit your values.
4. What are the company growth and client breakdown?
Lastly, you want to know the data that supports the company’s success. How has the company grown in the last year, the last 5 years, and since it was founded? What is their target client and how is that broken down. How many clients do they add each year? What clients have been lost in the past and why?
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