When you’re interviewing for a new role, it’s impossible to predict how your team will operate or what you will do on a daily basis. Heck, most of the time, you don’t even know if you’ll be offered the job until the very last minute.
So, during the interview phase, you must do extra work to ensure you know what you’re getting into before saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to a new opportunity.
STEP 1: RESEARCH BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
Your Goal: Dig into the team’s past. Figure out who’s held the position that you’re interviewing for and where they are now. Check out their LinkedIn profile, portfolio pages, personal websites, etc.
Your Task: Put the pieces together to see if they’re still with the team/company. If they’re not, figure out why they left. You can either do this on your own or set up an informal coffee chat and ask them!
Ask These Questions:
- Are you still with the team/company?
- Note: It’s important to ask why they stayed or why they left.
- Note: It’s important to ask why they stayed or why they left.
- What type of work have you done with the team?
- Note: Make sure to also ask if there is a project that they’re most proud of!
- Note: Make sure to also ask if there is a project that they’re most proud of!
- Have they grown in your career after working with the team/company?
- Note: Remember that you’re taking this role to grow. Make sure that you’ll be able to do this in this role.
STEP 2: ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS DURING THE INTERVIEW
Your Goal: Ask the right questions during your interview. Ask questions to get the hiring managers/team members to discuss how the team functions, what role you’ll play, and what career & personal development opportunities are available.
Your Task: Ask your future manager/colleagues questions until you feel comfortable about possibly working on this team/in the company.
Ask These Questions
- “Is this a new role?”
- Note: A ‘yes’ often means that the team is growing, while a ‘no’ indicates someone has left the role.
- Note: A ‘yes’ often means that the team is growing, while a ‘no’ indicates someone has left the role.
- “What’s the average tenure on the team?”
- Note: This is the key to figuring out how long people stay on the team.
- Note: This is the key to figuring out how long people stay on the team.
- “What are the growth opportunities within the team and company?”
- Note: This will help you decide whether or not you can see yourself on a team long-term and if the team invests in career/personal development.
- Note: This will help you decide whether or not you can see yourself on a team long-term and if the team invests in career/personal development.
Looking for more questions to ask the team? Check these questions out!
STEP 3: REFLECTING AFTER THE INTERVIEW
Your Task: Based on your pre-interview networking chats with past employees and your interviews with current team members, you should know whether or not this is the team/company for you.
Your Goal: Make sure this opportunity is right for you by asking yourself a few questions. You should also consider how you could grow beyond the role you have applied for.
Questions to Consider
- Will I learn something new?
- Note: The answer here should be ‘yes.’
- Note: The answer here should be ‘yes.’
- Will this role propel me to where I want to be?
- Note: The answer here should be ‘yes.’
- Note: The answer here should be ‘yes.’
- Can I see myself doing my manager’s or team executives’ work in 5-10 years?
- Note: If the answer is yes, congrats, this may be the role for you. If the answer is no…well, you can take the role for growth opportunities, but don’t stop looking for one that feels like it was made for you.
Download the “Suss It Out” Guide
Do you still feel like you’re not prepared while interviewing for your new role? You still don’t know how to spot the red flags? Is the role, team, or company suss?
Well…The “Suss It Out” Guide is here to help you ask the tough questions before you say YES to your next role, team, or company! Don’t say I never gave ya anything! Enjoy. 🙂
Suss It Out Guide | Breakroom Buddha
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