3 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing a Company to Work For

Whether you're just graduating college and now looking to start your career or you're actively looking for a new job, there are at least three questions you need to ask yourself when choosing a company. Don't forget that YOU are also interviewing the company and most likely your direct supervisor. Take the opportunity to ask questions that will help you make the right decision for you long-term. Asking questions strategically will help you get the vibe of the company.

What career paths are available internally?

If you are career-driven, the company you choose should have opportunities for their employees to grow. To give you an idea of a potential career progression, go on their website or LinkedIn page to view open positions they have and the job titles of their employees. If you have the opportunity to be interviewed, then ask directly.

Interview questions you can try:

• I'm really looking for a company that I can growth with, what programs does the company offer for professional development?

• What kind of growth opportunities does the company offer?

• How will you measure the success of the person in this role?

How do they support employees with work/life balance?

You probably don't want to be spending most of your adulthood working more than you have to. There may be busy seasons that require employees to work more hours, but it shouldn't be the daily norm if work/life balance is important to you. Here are some questions to ask the interviewer to give you an idea if the department works too much overtime and how work/life balance is without being direct during the initial interview.

Interview questions you can try:

• When are the busy seasons for the company?

• How does the team reach department or company goals during busy seasons?

• What does a typical day look like for someone in this role?

• How would you describe what the company culture is like?

What do the employees say?

If you want the real tea, find out what the employees are saying about their employer. Generally, if a person stays with the same company for years, then they probably like some aspects of it. Use your connections if you have anyone who are or were employed there, then see what they think! If you don't have any connections, then you can start with LinkedIn by following the company's page. Are they active on posting? Are their employees engaging in their posts? You can also try asking the following questions to give you an idea on turnover rate and overall employee insight.

Interview questions you can try:

• Where do you see the company in five years?

• How long have you been with the company?

• What is the average tenure of the employees?

• Why is this position open?

Keep in mind that once you enter this milestone in your adulthood, the majority of your time will be spent working, so choose your future employer wisely.