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Congratulations on making it to the comprehensive interview phase of your new potential career! It’s a big step, and you might have a little anxiety about making a dynamite impression. But while you carefully consider how to answer questions and make copies of your resume, there’s another side to consider. This job interview is just as much about the company selecting you as it is about you selecting the company. The interview process should go both ways. You don’t want to land the job only to realize the company or the role isn’t what you expected. To help you prepare best for your big day, here are three topics and subsequent interview questions you should be asking before accepting the job.

Know the Company

Before you get too excited about the job offer, you’ll want to ask the right questions to ensure this company is a good fit for your talents. In the end, you don’t want to work for an organization that doesn’t align with your expertise, beliefs, or workplace culture preferences.

What Do You Look for in an Employee that Represents the Company’s Values?
Asking this kind of interview question can tell you two distinct facts about the company. It will allow the hiring manager to expand on the company’s culture and social responsibility. It can secondly provide you with insight into how the company values its employees. And if the hiring manager doesn’t have much to say in response, it could be an indicator that the organization hasn’t taken a proactive approach to staff value and company culture.

What Do You Love About Working Here?
After the Human Resources Manager asks you why you want to work there, you can ask the same question. Don’t be afraid to inquire about your interviewer’s opinion about working for the company, in general. If the response is enthusiastic, it can be inspiring that the company does offer a great environment. If the answer sounds rehearsed or is less than favorable in any way, that can be telling, as well.

What Is the Company’s Policy on Professional Development?
This question will help you understand if the company offers ongoing training or embraces higher-learning opportunities. Some companies provide paid certifications or even college course reimbursements. Look for the company that takes an interest in options for growth and professional development in the workplace. It’s a sign the company has a vested interest in growing employees from within the ranks.

Know the Role

You may feel like you have a general understanding of the position. You’ve done your homework, and maybe it’s a title you’ve held before, so there’s a comfort level of expectations. But don’t assume a role matches the description. You’ll want to ask a few interview questions to verify what the position entails.

What Does an Average Day in this Position Look Like?
Your happiness in the job will boil down to what you do every day. Asking about the day-to-day responsibilities or for a snapshot of an average day will tell you what most of your time on-site will be spent doing. The job posting may have outlined a few specific tasks that attracted you to apply. But if those tasks don’t represent the bulk of your time spent on the job, it might sway your decision.

How Does the Company or Manager Measure Success for this Position?
You don’t just want to do a job; you want to do it well. Asking this interview question will help you better understand what the expectations of success are for the role. It’s just as important to ask about how the company or manager measures success, too. Is it units sold or projects completed? The response will tell you what’s most important to the company.

What Is the Most Challenging Part of this Position?
You want to know the most challenging aspect of the job, so you can gauge if you’re up to meeting those challenges. But you’ll also want to know if there are any unrealistic expectations here. This question can lead to understanding why the person who held this position left the role. Look for red-flag responses, including an avoidance of answering the question.

Know the Benefits

There may have been a menu of employee benefits on the job posting. But now is a great time to explore potential staff benefits and perks more in-depth. Don’t be afraid to ask what the company is prepared to offer its employees.

Are There Any Non-Traditional Benefits the Company Offers?
Here’s a fun interview question where you can inquire about the company’s policy on working remotely. These types of perks can include premier parking spaces, company-paid gym memberships, or casual Fridays. These are typically perks that don’t make the main roster of traditional benefits. And these types of extras indicate the company does take an active interest in employee satisfaction in the workplace.

Can You Expand on the Employee Available Benefits?
Get the details on sick time, paid holidays, and 401k matching by asking for more information on any key benefits. Be sure you have an understanding of how PTO is accrued and if there is a waiting period before vacation time is awarded. You can inquire further about employer match programs for 401k or retirement benefits.

Do Many of the Current Employees Participate in the Company’s Insurance Platform?
You could ask about health insurance benefits directly. But asking about widespread employee support of the existing benefits can tell you if the insurance has great options or not. You’ll want to understand costs, deductibles, and waiting periods. Ask if there is an HRA option or flexible spending account. Health insurance plans can sometimes look robust on paper, but in reality, fall short on individual needs. Make sure you understand the dynamics before committing to accepting the role.

You’re ready to hit a home run with your next big job interview. But don’t forget, the meeting presents an opportunity for you to interview the company, too. Asking the right interview questions can ensure you make the best career decision.

And when you have questions about Marketplace health insurance options, let the professionals at W3LL help you navigate Open Enrollment this year.

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