Hearing the words “Congratulations! We want you on our team!” or seeing it in your email is a really exciting moment. But not enough professionals take the time to really consider what signing the job offer entails nor ask meaningful questions before doing so.
According to a 2018 study by BambooHR, around 30 percent of all new employees leave their job within the first six months with 26% stating that “they felt their jobs were different from what they expected in the interview.”
So as much as you want to sign that offer as soon as you receive it, take a minute to pause and ponder on a few important things like the role you’re offered, the benefits of working for the company, and your career goals.
In this article, we’ll talk about critical questions for your interviewer or possible employer that YOU should ask before accepting a job offer.
Questions to ask your interviewer / potential employer before accepting a new role:
An applicant asking the interviewer questions?? We know, it can be nerve-wracking especially if you’re already anxious about the interview.
But remember, you’re not there to accept and answer your possible employer’s questions only! You’re free to ask them questions too – even during the early stages of your interview. It’s better to ask and clarify questions that you have with your interviewer early on to make sure that you’re on the same page.
Here are some of the most important questions to ask your interviewer especially if you’re already in the job offer stage:
- What are the expectations that you have for me when I start this position?
Asking questions that are specific to your possible role will help equip you to succeed starting from your first day! Knowing what will be expected from you at the onset will let you know if the company’s goals for your role are feasible and realistic. Plus you can already ask yourself if you’re equipped with enough skills and experience to meet these expectations.
- What are my immediate priorities in this role?
Your first day in any new job will be overwhelming and one of the most vital questions to ask before you even sign a job offer is what your priorities should be.
Asking this question will give you an idea of what to expect during the first few days – or even months – in the new role and will help you understand where you should focus your time and effort. Knowing what your priorities are early on will help you understand the bigger picture, see where you fit into it, and strategize how you can contribute best.
- How is success measured in this role?
Does the role you’re offered have S.M.A.R.T (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound) KPIs? Are they measuring success based on output or data? Or is it based on your manager’s feedback?
Many companies use analytics to measure performance but knowing what type of people have been successful in the role and what made them successful will give you an advantage.
- What can I expect during the onboarding process?
Onboarding is a big part of the hiring process and will be a big factor in your overall experience with the company. Multiple studies have proven that bad onboarding processes cost employers new employees and significant amounts of money each year.
By knowing what to expect from the company’s onboarding processes upfront, you can save a lot of doubt, confusion, or even frustration in the long run.
- What’s the company culture like?
Company culture is very very important but is often overlooked by job applicants. So make sure that you ask potential employers this question before accepting any job offer. Every organization has a unique culture and this work environment can make or break your overall experience with the company. Remember, the company’s overall culture will be the difference between feeling happy and excited when you clock into work and dreading work every time you wake up.
- What will my schedule look like on a daily basis?
During the application process, it’s very unlikely that your interviewer will share what you’ll do on a daily basis. So it’s important to ask them to provide some insight into what the typical workday will be like during the job offer stage.
You’ll want to know if a typical work day for the new role will entail a few hours at your desk, an hour or two in meetings, or a whole day of brainstorming sessions. How your potential employer answers this question will help you understand if the company prioritizes work-life balance and if the daily hustle will work for you.
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Questions to ask yourself before accepting the job offer:
Before accepting any job offer, it’s important to take a minute alone and ask yourself a few questions too. Wait until you can take a minute to pause the excitement from hearing the news and take an honest introspective look at yourself to see if this offer is really for you. Ask yourself these important questions before signing on to a new role:
- Does this job inspire or excite me?
It’s never a good idea to take on a job if you’re having any type of doubt. So ask yourself if the company and opportunity excite you? Can you see yourself working in this role for more than a few months? Are your skill sets a good fit for what is required? Most importantly, ask yourself if the opportunity inspires you and challenges you.
- Do the nature of the job and the company’s values align with my own?
Before accepting a job offer, make sure that the new role won’t compromise any of your personal values. This job will be your life 8 to 9hrs, 5 days a week so making sure that your non-negotiables are aligned with the role you accepting will not only help you sleep well at night but also make your workdays better.
- Is there room for growth in this position/company?
63 percent of employees left their current position because there were no opportunities for advancement during the Great Resignation in the US. If career growth is a priority for you too then surely you wouldn’t want to accept a stagnant position. So do your research and check if the company invests in employee growth and whether or not they promote from within.
- Will this job get me closer to my long-term career goals?
Does the company prioritizes upskilling its employees? Do they offer learning and development courses? If you have long-term career plans set, we recommend asking yourself if this opportunity will give you the experience you need to be one step closer to your goal. If you think that the role offered to you is not in line with your career plan, you might be setting yourself back instead of pushing forward.
- Does the company offer a sense of stability?
Before signing any contract, make sure to do background research on the company. You wouldn’t want to sign with a company that ends up shutting down a few years later, right? Especially during a global pandemic! So make sure you do your research about the company’s reputation and leadership background before committing to be part of their team. Better yet, see what current or previous employees have to say on websites like Glassdoor or Comparably.
- Is the compensation offered fair for my role and experience?
Money isn’t everything but we’d be lying if we said that it isn’t a major deciding factor for applicants before accepting a job offer. So ask yourself if the offer and benefits are fair and enough for you. Is the basic salary fair for the expertise level and experience you’re bringing in? How does it compare to the industry benchmark or similar job positions in your area? Also, consider your lifestyle and financial responsibilities to know if you’d be agreeable to the offered compensation in the long run.
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