Don’t get swept away by offer
Take time to check the details before you accept a job
ADVANCING through a job application process can be thrilling, but many jobseekers become swept up in the moment and accept an offer before knowing exactly what it is.
It is important to clarify details such as salary, flexibility, expectations, culture fit and opportunities for professional growth.
The first step towards genuine insight is gaining feedback from other employees, such as through social and professional networks or Seek’s Company Reviews, which present reviews about working for the company from past and present employees.
Jobseekers can also use their job interview to pose questions.
Relaunch Me career consultant Leah Lambart recommends asking the following questions:
Can you describe the culture of the organisation?
“If the interviewer described the culture as ‘flexible’ or ‘innovative’, I would ask for some concrete examples to see if they practice what they preach,” Lambart says.
Why has the position become available?
This will tell you whether the employer is happy to create new roles instead of overload current employees, and whether or not the business has high turnover.
What do you like most about working here?
“If the interviewer struggles to find something nice to say about the place I would run a mile,” Lambart says.
Can you describe the key traits of the most successful leaders in your business?
Jobseekers can find out which skills the organisation
values most – for example, technical or leadership skills. “This will help you understand whether your skill set will be valued by the organisation,” Lambart says.
How would you describe your management style?
Lambart recommends jobseekers ask this question if meeting with a potential new manager.
Read company reviews at seek.com.au/companies.
This article first appeared on Seek Advice and Tips.
❝ If the interviewer struggles to find something nice to say about the place I would run a mile — Leah Lambart