OK everyone, since you are all no doubt tired of me biatching about my job, I have started interviewing!!
One thing I have been thinking about are the questions I should ask at an interview.
I have been considering asking (among the usual Q’s):
Why should I come to work for you?
Some potential employers (especially in this industry) might not take this to well.
But I am thinking that I wouldn’t want to work for them anyhow.
Any suggestions on the wording or thoughts on how or when to ask?
I don’t want to come across as arrogant.
But I do want to show that I believe I am someone who is going to be an asset to any company that hires me.
I know there will be some interviews where the question will be answered before I ask it (both positively and negatively)
Or should I try to get my answer with an indirect approach?
Lemme know what you think.
thanx
Mr T
Happiness is a cold wet nose
Life is is never to busy to stop and pet the Doggies!!
Replies
as ya might know ...
a coupla years ago I went from self employ to employee ... for a coupla years ... and now back to self ...
and I was determined to find the right company for me ...
I asked tons of questions ...
some places were annoyed ... some seemed glad to be interviewing someone concerned about more than just what time Fri the checks are handed out ...
One guy even told me I was a "smartass" and said to get the hell out of his office!
even now .. I can't see how "smartass" fit? a-hole woulda been better ....
I asked all the usual ... start and stop time ... Mon thru Fri ... how many times asked to work weekends ... time and a half for weekends?
do they ever work 4 tens? or 10 and 12 hr days to get something done fast ... then how's that compensated?
What type of work did they typically do ... who are their typical clients ... typical projects ... scope and scale ... time frames ... level of fit and finish .... typical materials ... any metal framing ?
what do their crews do .. what's typically subbed out?
That one got me some tile work ... they usually subbed all their tile out ...
Every interview I've been on as an adult I've thought of as my interviewing them.
And I ask then the info I need to decide if I want to work there ...
Last place I worked .... I went into the interview and said I was looking for a mid sized company where I could use my trim and finish skills ... I made it clear I wanted to focus on highend trim ... but added I didn't mind digging a coupla ditches if that's what the job required .... but ... I wasn't looking to become a full time ditch digging laborer ....
I aos said I was lookking for a company that'd let me see and help things on the business end. I offered to come in after the work day ... or on weekends ... to help go thru the paperwork ... so I could learn more about the business end.
I said I was looking for a company that would let me in on the pricing and scheduling ... so I could learn more ... and not a place that kept the workers in the field and out of the office as much a possible ...
The place I worked for for 6 weeks before this had a real ahole for an owner ... never got to the point of screaming at me directly ... but I could tell ... the better he thought he knew ya .. the more he'd yell and scream. I told them I was an adult ... looking for an adult workplace ... and I wasn't leaving selfemployment to go work for someone and get yelled at and sworn at. I said I wasn't gonna put up with any work enviromnet like that ... They all said they'd have walked too ... and the project manager said he'd have punched the gun ... then walked.
I said .. for the most part ... having a pregnant wife and waiting for a new baby to come into the house ... I was available for as much OT as they wanted ... but it had to be scheduled as much as possible ....
I'm not stricty a 7:30 to 4 guy .... I'll stay after if need be ... but let's not make a habit of telling me I gotta stay at 3:55 .....
and don't forget about the basics ...pay and raises ... vacation ... bennies ... any company trips .... company picnics? .... an important one ... company paid training ...
seminars ..... tool policy ... tool repair/replacement? ... sharpening ....
what tools do they own .. what do they rent .... what are you expected to have ...
is the lead expected to share ....
That's all for now ... I'll have more ....
Jeff
Buck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
What types of jobs or professions are you interviewing for? I can't tell from your profile. I've done a lot of hiring (and been sucessfully hired, too!). Perhaps I could provide some insight.
Mr T
Been a while since I was an employee but my standard last question in an employment interview was usually something like ...
“Would you be a good guy to work for?â€
Got some interesting answers but no one took offense.
Good Luck.
If you haven't learned enough once the guy or lady has told you all the good stuff about the organization,(make a list of particulars that you want as a "good fit" between you and your prospective employer's co.)There is in that a perfect reason for your question "I'm wondering about some things that would make me feel at home here...
My opinion of anyone in a leadership position in our trade who can't reply to this type of question similarly to; we care about our people...when Hector my lead-man asked for his pay a little early,I cut him his check and let him take care of personal business, so he could keep his insurance up on his truck... (you must know my organization is small and new also...)
Scribe once, cut once!
Been some time since I was on an interview. I was selfemployed for several years before returning to Active duty as Full Time staff/Advisor to the Guard( Trying to run a business in this deployment Cycle sucks). That was more of a board than an interview. Who has the most Medals, the most schools , the most Leadership time Etc, Etc......................( at least those two armed forces expidtionary medals are worth something to someone. Even after the second one my wife still thinks I'm an idiot. Or maybe it's because I stuck around long to get the second one.)
At every interview I've been to they always ask " Where do you see yourself in X years". After you answer, ask them " Where would you like to see me in X years". It can be very revealing.
Lots of companies will tell you how long their employees have been with them. But look at what those guys are doing for them. And, What do they bring to the table. That should give some Idea of how the Company looks at it's Employees.
Show up early. Mill about and get a feel for the mood. Maybe ask to go see a job and show up when you know the guy doing the hiring won't be around.
As for what Jeff said. I once quit a place on the spot for being treated like a kid. I was working in a very large Millwork shop and had signed for a delivery of doors. Later it appeared one was missing. I couldn't remember how many i had signed for so I went to the front office and asked to see the invoice. They gladly showed me. My boss however flipped out. He told me I was never to look at invoices again. I might find out how much they paid for the doors and then how much they charged. I promptly told him I was an adult and to go screw himself. Some words were exchanged and it ended when I explained what would happen if he uttered one more word. The point to all this? That particular company gave the best sales pitch to prospective employees I had ever seen. But, the company itself was a lot like summer camp. The Camp never matches the pictures on the brochure.
You've got just as much right as the employer to ask the questions you deem fit. A bad match is misery on you both. I don't really get interviewed too much anymore, but conversations with guys who I might sub for generally head in that kind of direction. I'm concerned about the things that are going to either matter to me on a personal level or matter to me as they affect job completion. (which invariably matters to the pocketbook, though not my sole motivation. Trying to keep the number of prescriptions down)
So by way of gee whiz info, last week I had a sit down lunch with a builder. Things I asked him. How long have you been around. What is your clientele. How did you get started. What is your market, i.e. size/price of house you build. How would you rate your standards. Who are some of your prominent subs. I had a number of questions more or less geared towards finding out what the lines of communication looked like. IIRC, you used to be military as well. C3. Always important. What's the invoicing / payment setup - direct, through a financial institution, a title company? When I left I called a couple of the subs and talked to them. What do you think of this guy. How is he to work for. Fortunately for me, they were more enthusiastic about him than I would have gotten just out of our meet.
But I try to offer as much as I ask. This is what I'm good at. These things, not so much. Here is what I rate as important and why. Things that I have liked about other jobs, other GC's are, and here's a couple of things that really hacked me off.
I think the goal for both parties should be to be able to have enough information to make an assessment, however weak, as to the probability of a mutually beneficial business arrangement coming out of the deal. If it looks good, great. If not, pay the tab, shake hands, and get on with your day.
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain
T- If you asked that question, I might be a little taken aback, depending of course on how you said it. Nonetheless, it is a pretty good question and having thought about it for a couple of minutes, I have a pretty good answer. I'm just not sure that I would think of it in the flurry of other questions that would be going back and forth. My snap answer would be, "I don't know if this would be a good company for you."
I would encourage you to talk to some of our employees so that you could cut through the BS and find out what it is really like. This would save us all a little time and you can be darn sure that I talk to my employees to see how they feel about the prospective new hire. Good luck in your search and don't settle for just anything. Look for the company that can put you where you want to be in five years.
Schelly, Can I call you schelly? :)
that is just what I was looking for.
some guys are a little to uptight about the the whole boss thing and get thier panties in a bunch when you suggest that THEY should be doing more for you than signing a paycheck.
But that is what that question is for.
I don't want to work for someone he feels I owe him my life because he writes the checks.
None of us do!
thats why some of us become contractors.
Any hoo I'm gonna work on the wording and presentation a bit.
Thanx all!Mr T
Happiness is a cold wet nose
Life is is never to busy to stop and pet the Doggies!!
Ah the three pita interview questions . . .
What animal would you be?
Where do you see yourself in xxx?
Do you have any questions for/about us/me/the company?
On the last one, I like to ask about turnover/retention. If there's a lot of turnover, you can ask why (or if you will be expected to teach). Retention of employees will tell you something about the company, also about chances for advancement by skill rather than by longevity.
Sometimes.
T, ask them these 2 questions:
1) What do you like about working here?
2) What don't you like about working here?
and sit back and listen....
"My mother failed to see the irony in calling me a sonofabitch" - Jack Nicholsen