To avoid a nasty surprise with your new job, it is essential to ask the prospective employer’s right questions. The questions will vary, to a degree, based on the title and scope of responsibility, but here are some core questions you should ask.
- What is the organization’s culture?
- Is this a new position or a replacement search?
- Why did the last person leave?
- What is the runover rate?
- How will you define my success or failure at the end of my first year?
- Is the organization in stable financial condition?
- What is the most important thing I should know if I am offered this position?
- Do members of the senior team model the organization’s written values?
- Does the organization see its employees as an expense or an asset?
- Is the organization siloed with competition among the executives?
This is just a partial list. If you have concerns, share them with your mentor, career coach to get their input, or schedule a free consultation with John Self, a nationally recognized interview coach.