Is That New Job Right for You?

Interviewing for a job is a two-way street: Just as prospective employers need to evaluate you, you need to evaluate them. To investigate what a role would really entail—and how the organization would (or wouldn’t) align with your values, skills, and future goals—follow these steps.

• Research the job description. Look up folks who are (or have been) in the function you’re applying for. What do they list as their experience on LinkedIn? If there is a notable discrepancy between the job description and those people’s experience, make a note to ask about it in the interview.
• Ask insightful questions during your interview. For example: How are mistakes handled? How is success measured? How does the team resolve conflicts and difficult situations? How would my manager support my learning and development? Be specific about your career goals, and ask how this role would help you achieve them.
• Don’t be afraid to discuss salary and benefits. If the job description doesn’t include the position’s salary, ask the HR person facilitating the process about how compensation and benefits are determined. Take care to show that compensation is an important consideration for you—without appearing money-hungry.
• Be informed about the state of the business. You don’t want to join an organization before ensuring that it’s healthy. Is the company growing? Has it been bought recently? If the prospective employer is a large or public company, you should find this information in articles, press releases, and annual reports. If it’s a startup, research its funding and investment.