Have you ever been so excited about a job, you nail the interview, get a job offer, and forget to ask about the company's health benefits, vacation policy, or pay schedule? So, you go back and forth to find out about coverage and other benefits, only to find the job is not exactly what you hoped for, so the excitement fades, because your “wish list” turns into a “hit list” with everything you are looking for getting crossed out…. so you either decline or settle.
If this has ever happened to you or you are an active job seeker, this article is for you. Most of us are so eager to answer the questions that are most important to a potential employer, and we forget to ask the questions that are most important to us.
I coach a lot of start-ups on the art of interviewing and how to host a smart interview. I want to flip that and share what questions to have prepared for your interview.
These questions go beyond “What do you like most about working here?” Most candidates forget or don’t know to when to ask these questions before an offer is presented.
Ask about health benefits. This is especially important if you have a family or an existing medical condition. Some start-ups offer different plans. It is 100% fine to ask about the summary of benefits or coverage (SBC). Also, finding out what the waiting period is for insurance to kick in can be helpful if you need to apply for COBRA or find a temporary solution until coverage is active.
This question can usually be asked in the beginning phases of the interview process, during the phone interview.
Ask about policies. These questions are usually asked after an offer is made. Asking about the policies early can be very helpful when deciding if you want to move forward with the company or if you want to look for another company that might offer more of what you are looking for. Asking what the sick, PTO, vacation, WFH, and maternity/ paternity policies are will save a lot of surprises in the end.
This question can usually be asked in the beginning phases of the interview process, during the phone interview or during the in-person interview when you've been asked if you have any questions. Take clear notes and review them if an offer is made to have a clear understanding before giving a full yes.
Ask about the culture. Most people ask about the culture, and they settle for the standard answers that most start-ups give. I want to urge you to dig a little deeper. Companies that brand their culture as “Fun” or “Fast-paced” or “Like-a-Family” are probably cultures you should avoid.
Those words do not describe what the culture or environment is like. Fun can mean several different things; fast-paced can be quickly translated into “moving quickly, but going nowhere fast, and using the word “family” is too vague, because "family" has a ton of different attached meanings - some good, some bad. Most companies fail to provide the context of what family means to them.
What you should hear from a company with a well-established culture is they have more than a generic universal word to describe their culture and environment. Ask questions like:
- What are your top 3 values?
- Can you give an example that represents your culture?
- How has your culture evolved in the past year?
- Within the company, who is responsible for the culture?
- What plans do you have in place to keep the authenticity of your culture?
These are great questions to see if they have a handle on the culture. Honest employers will be honest about where they are. The goal is not to find the “perfect” culture. The goal is to find out how much work they have put into the company culture and if it fits into what you are looking for. I also recommend checking out the Glassdoor reviews to get an inside look into what current and previous employees are saying.
Ask this question during the first interview.
Ask about revenue. This is a great question to ask, no matter what role you are being interviewed for. Asking about the status of their past and present revenue goals to give you a sense of where the company is financially. A financially stable company makes a huge difference in the resources it offers their people. I’m not talking about free lunch and happy hours. I’m taking about resources to scale the business and offer professional development, invest in employee appreciation, and hire appropriate headcount. If the company did or didn’t hit last year's goal, ask what caused it. If they are in the 3rd quarter, ask how they are doing and what they need to finish strong.
The best part of this question is you will either stand out or quickly be shown this might not be the company for you.
Ask this question during the in-person interview. Make sure you ask this to the appropriate person, like the CEO, CFO or CRO.
Ask for examples of performance or employee relation issues. This might not be at the top of your mind, but asking about a time they had to deal with a performance related issue and an employee-related matter will give you some great insight on how they treat their people. It will show you how you, most likely, will be treated if anything should come up during your time there.
This is a great question to ask the person in charge of Human Resources. Ask this question in-person if possible.
Ask them what their customers love most about them. You want to work at a company with happy customers, users, or clients. This can also be a great follow-up point to mention in your thank you note.
You can ask this question at any time during the interview process and with multiple interviewers.
Here are some helpful tips to help you ace your interview:
- Have the thank you cards ready. Sending a handwritten thank you note can make a great impression and can go a long way.
- Eat blueberries one hour before the interview. They help with stress.
- Accept the offer for a drink of water. Drinking water lowers your blood pressure, helps keep you hydrated and can be useful to create natural pauses.
- Cell phone off, not silent, off.
- Maintain good eye contact. Look at them right between the eyebrows and if you need to look away, move your eyes to their left or right ear.
- Don’t wear heavy perfume or cologne
- Take notes
- Breathe. Take some time to learn some breathing techniques. It works.
- Remember they are human
I want to encourage you not to settle for a job if you do not have to. There are tons of employers looking for someone just like you, and it is important that you find a great match. No company is perfect, but if you have a list of what is most important to you and ask the right questions, you will find the right job for you.
Charisse Fontes is the founder of Culture Circle and an Executive + People Ops Advisor to founders and leadership teams.
more about Culture Circle →first published on linkedin, dec 2016_
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