Ask These Interview Questions to Find the Right Workplace
t’s hard enough finding a job in today’s economy, but finding the right job for you can be even harder. It’s rare to find that job immediately, particularly for members of GenY facing competition for entry-level jobs.
If you haven’t found that job yet, you’re probably faced with the question: Is it more important to find a good position at a company that’s wrong for you, or a position that isn’t right at the perfect company?
If it’s a company that appreciates your hard work, reflects your values and rewards success, take the latter option. In the long run, you’ll have more opportunities to develop your career.
For GenY, picking the right workplace is often more important than the position itself. (Click here to tweet this thought.) Picking the wrong company can breed dissatisfaction and restlessness, even if you like your job title. As a Millennial, you might take a more holistic look at your work environment and how it fits into your life.
But finding the right company is harder than you think and can require asking gutsy interview questions. Here are five questions you should be asking companies to help you figure out if they’re a good fit for you:
1. What do you think of my generation?
If your boss believes the bad press about GenY (they’re lazy, self-centered and narcissistic), there’s a good chance they won’t see you as an important asset. Find a workplace that sees GenY as an integral part of their growth strategy.
There are employers who realize GenY has had the valuable experience of navigating technological paradigm shifts — from the emergence of the Internet and social media to the transition to mobile platforms and the explosion of connected devices.
Your experiences have made you especially adept at thriving in the digital economy, and you deserve an employer who realizes that.
2. How do you approach work and community involvement?
Punching in and punching out isn’t enough for someone who’s community-minded and world-conscious. While making money keeps the doors open, it’s important for employers to realize they need to do more.
What’s your prospective employer doing to make the community and world a better place? Look for a company that doesn’t just pay lip service to giving back. How well is it engaged in charities and community organizations? What volunteer opportunities does it encourage?
3. Do you have a Millennial in your upper-management team?
If the only Millennials you see when you interview at a company are getting coffee or gophering for sandwiches, this is a bad sign. Look for a company with a young vibrant workforce and management that gives GenY big challenges and titles like VP, COO or CEO, not Assistant to the Assistant to the Assistant Regional Manager.
A company that believes in the potential of your generation will have your generation leading their teams and divisions.
Full story at Brazen Careerist.