Interviewing Someone to Find Out About Their Job

radderfire

radderfire

radderfire

Soldato
Joined
24 Sep 2007
Posts
5,741
Hi Guys

If you were interviewing someone to find out about their job, to tell if it would make a good career for you, what questions would you want to ask?

I suppose I'm saying what are the most important aspects of a career that you need to know about before you choose it?

Thanks for any suggestions.
 
Firstly, I'd need to establish their policy on chicken nuggets. Do they pay for them or get them free ? It's a deal breaker for me. Never trust a person who pays for processed poultry.
 
How much are you getting paid?
How much work do you actually do?
Have you ever wished you were dead any time during your duties?
Can you do really loud and stinky poop at work without anyone knowing it's you?
 
Last edited:
radderfire said:
I suppose I'm saying what are the most important aspects of a career that you need to know about before you choose it?
Click to expand...

This can't really be answered because one person my love doing a job that someone else hates.

Same with salary really - it depends on your lifestyle. If you have a family and/or buy lots of expensive things then you will need more money than if you are single and enjoy living off pot noodles (or free chicken nuggets!)
 
I'd ask them what they enjoy about their job and what they hate. I'd ask them about the hours and the people they work with. I'd ask them what keeps them from looking for another job (if they aren't already).

I'd also try to figure out whether they have the same motivations as I do.
 
people have egos, the answers they give you might not necessarily reflect their true feelings - not everyone is going to say 'Actually I feel like I'm wasting my life in this role and really wish I'd chosen to do X'...

glassdoor is useful for companies, industry specific forums can be useful for general 'colour' on what the career is like

obviously you can get factual information about salary/bonus, likely career progression, good areas/departments/fields within that career to start out in
 
Stress levels on a day to day basis.
Job satisfaction on a day to day basis.
Is the job intellectually satisfying.
Is the job morally satisfying.
How well supported are you in the job.
What personality types does the career typically attract.
Are people social.
Is the job bureaucratic.
How repetitive is the job.
On the balance, is the wage good, fair or bad on the basis of the other answers.

With question marks.
 
To add to the above, I'd also be asking about career development, progression and training.
Not many people want to be stuck in exactly the same role for the rest of their lives.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom