5 Crucial Questions to Ask Every Employer - Blog Job Hunting Career Management Solutions

5 Crucial Questions to Ask Every Employer When you’re looking for job, you may believe you don’t have much input or power in the decision making process. With 75 percent of job candidates failing to hear back from employers, it makes sense. It’s as if you’re speaking to a brick wall, unable to voice your say in the job search process. Here’s a secret for you though: You do have a say. Although the job search may seem unpredictable and out of your hands, there are some things you can control, like the types of questions and information you gain from an employer during the interview or before youre hired. With that in mind, here are a few crucial questions to address: What’s your team dynamic like? Team dynamic is very important. After all, if you don’t get along with your team or the way you operate doesn’t align with an established routine, it may not be the right work environment for you. Ask an employer how their team functions, what the work environment is like, and what skills and traits a newbie absolutely needs to succeed. Are professional development opportunities available? Even if you work for an amazing organization, you should still want to advance as a professional. Particularly after you finish your formal education, resources like professional development become increasingly important as they help you learn new information about your industry. Evaluate whether or not an organization will be able to provide you with professional development opportunities, like conferences, classes, or mentorship. If not, ask what they can replace formal training with. Can I work remotely? Even if you aren’t used to a telecommuting or remote lifestyle, more and more professionals seem to be latching on to the idea. In fact, a recent Gallup survey found that workers who spend at least some of their work time in a different location actually work four hours more per week than those who work entirely on-site. Though it may not be company policy, see if it’s an option. Not only can it make you into a better worker, it can improve your life in other ways, like creating a work-life balance, offering flexibility and making room for other interests. What are some important HR policies? Every company is different. Some have yearly performance reviews. Some allow unlimited vacation days. A handful of organizations may have a formal advancement policy. Whatever the case may be, ask an employer what their stand-out HR policies are. While you may not think to ask this question, some policies may not line up with how you want your career or day-to-day life to go. In the end, there shouldn’t be any surprises so ask about important rules before you take the job. Is there room for growth? While you may love a position, there will likely be a time when you want to move up. For example, you may want to be a manager or even CEO one day. Is this a possibility? What roles or skills do you need to have beforehand? How long will it take? Investigating growth potential, as well as the timeline, is definitely something you need to do before taking on a job because you’ll be able to understand what you’ll have to do to reach your goals before making a commitment. Asking employers the correct questions not only helps you to make better decisions, it also puts some of the power back in your hands. And, in the job search game, having the upper hand can only help your chances at snagging a job you truly love. What do you think? What are some other crucial questions to ask every employer? Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons