You are Interviewing the Company Too!

Job seekers tend to forget this simple fact when they are applying for a job. Not only is the company interviewing you for a job but you are interviewing the company back. The hiring process on its own tells you a lot about the company. If a company relies on ATS to filter out candidates and automatically rejects you even if you meet all the qualifications and is needed, this can tell you that either they are not really looking or they simply are not people focused.

How the communication with the recruiter goes is another. A recruiter that does not follow up on their commitments and do what they said they would when they promised, can indicate a culture of being overworked, too much conflicting priorities or even that there is an antagonistic culture within the company. A recruiter that ghosts you or is too pushy very much indicates the same.

Then it comes to your interviewers. Their questions to you and their mannerism speaks volumes. Their questions tell you what is important to them. If they ask you only about your direct experience and focus on just duties, then they are looking for a workaholic who will work till they drop no questions asked, If they make it a purpose to ask behavioural questions and use situational scenarios, they care also about the cultural fit. If for some reason, the interviewer is being rude, condescending or brags a lot, that is also a negative indication about the type of people and culture the company has. Do also keep in mind the nonverbal communication. The subtleties of tone and body languages may fall on deaf ears while you are in the job interview but they are extremely important clues to how people and the culture in the company look like.

As you walk through the company to where they hold the interviews, check out the design of the place, are the desks personalized? What color are the walls? What lighting they have? A company that has common open areas, tend to use blue color tones and not too bright lights, focus more on inspiration and creativity. If people personalize their workspace, then they are comfortable enough to be there and have sufficient relationship with their colleagues to not be too reserved.

All the above are subtle clues that you or may not have missed. Then of course, we come to the end of the interview. If the interviewers do not make it a point to dedicate 10-15 minutes for you to ask questions, then the company think that you are unimportant and just another cog in the gearbox. Assuming you are smart enough to ask enticing and piercing questions, the way they answer and how clear the answer is matter. If their answer is generic and somewhat ambiguous or general, they are most likely saying that your question puts them in a tight spot because they want to portray a positive image but the reality is that the negative point to your question is the truth.

In the end of the day, you should never be desperate enough to find a job and miss your stake in the game that is not salary and benefits. If you hate working at a place, then your life will be stressful and you will stay looking hoping to get out. Make sure you remain observant and aware because fit is a two way street.