You’re Interviewing Them Too

By: Coach Carmen Duncan Chief Coach + Founder Mission Accomplished Transition Services Career + Small Business Development Coach

When you make the decision to participate in an interview, YOU are interviewing too. The interview is NOT meant to be ONE sided! You are interviewing the people currently working at the company to find if they are a good fit for your goals, aspirations and ideals of what a healthy work environment is.

As an interviewer, I have experienced candidates leaving the interview without asking many questions to help them get to know the people currently working at the company. I STRONGLY recommend that you develop a list of at least 6 questions you will ask your potential future employer:

1. How long have each of you worked with the company? 2. Why do you choose to stay with the company? 3. Can you describe the work culture to me using 3 adjectives? 4. Where do you see the department

I’d work in transforming to in the next 3 years? 5. How many people have you interviewed? 6. At the end of the interview ask, what are next steps?

Interviews are your chance to sell your skills and abilities. Go to your interview prepared with stories that relate to the skills listed in the job description. Be sure to emphasize your: Strengths, Leadership skills, Ability and willingness to learn new things, Your willingness to be flexible

the time you will invest in the exercise. If they say no ask, would you consider compensating me $50-$150 - the amount you ask for will be dependent on the amount of time you expect you will have to invest to complete the exercise. In my personal opinion companies should compensate people for the completion of projects, especially being that once they have the completed project they could use your ideas or information. This is economic justice!

Remember you are an asset to the company. They decided to interview you because they believe you have the potential to bring value and solve problems.

Be sure to write down every step!

If the interviewer asks you to complete an exercise, ask if they compensate you for