Learn How to Interview Employers While They’re Interviewing You

You may have heard of this idea that a job interview is a two-way street – that the candidate is interviewing the company as much as the company is interviewing the candidate.

But what does that actually mean if you’re the applicant? How does one go about interviewing a potential employer?

Truth be told, the idea of interviewing a company is more of a state of mind than a thing you do. It’s a way of telling yourself that you don’t have to grovel for a job, especially if the company doesn’t impress you very much.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when “interviewing” your next potential employer.

Address your concerns

With any job posting, there are going to be some things that are either a bit confusing or a bit concerning. What does “working with other departments” mean? How fast is the “fast-paced” working environment? Does “overtime available” mean you’ll regularly be working Saturdays if the company has trouble meeting its obligations during the week?

An interview is the best opportunity you’ll have to clear up any issues you have on your mind. Ideally, you should have a good sense of what a typical day and week on the job will be like by the time you walk out of the interview.

Keep an eye out for red flags

It’s a hiring manager’s job to be on the lookout for red flags while interviewing applicants. If an applicant is late, dressed badly, unprepared or unprofessional – there’s a good chance she or he will be eliminated from contention.

Likewise, it’s an applicant’s job to be on the lookout for any red flags while they are at a company. If the interviewer is completely unprepared, employees look miserable, the facility is falling apart, the equipment is woefully out of date or anything else looks wrong, you should reconsider how important this job opportunity is to you.

Know your value

The most important thing about taking on an interviewer’s mentality is the idea that you have real value as a skilled professional. All too often, applicants defer to an employer because they are competing with many people for one job. Don’t get lost in the competition and get so focused on “winning” that you miss red flags and land a job that you end up hating.

In the same way a company might pass over a mediocre applicant for a great one, you have to remember that there are other job opportunities out there and you will get one of them. In addition to helping you stay alert for red flags or ask the question you want answered, this mentality will also allow you to avoid acting needy, which is usually a turn-off for hiring managers.

At Career Concepts, we regularly help skilled professionals find the job opportunities that best fit their skill set, experience, and career goals. If you’re looking for some help finding your next job, please contact us today to see how we can help you.