Ask Questions That Really Matter

Job seekers today are masters of preparation. By the day of the interview, you've memorized both the company's financial results and the names of the hiring manager's children. You're ready to answer tough questions and tell your life story - all while making intense eye contact and smiling warmly. You're so good, it's almost impossible to resist hiring you.So, once you get the job, why aren't you happy? After only a few months, you often begin a downward spiral of dissatisfaction. This happens because you don't ask the questions that really matter. In your intensity to get the offer, you spend too little time learning whether the job, the boss and the company are right for you.This approach is not for the faint of heart. But if you're determined to make the next chapter of your career a long and successful one, you should focus on those aspects that will sustain your passion and provide career fulfillment.It's a matter of trust. A company that can be trusted will clearly define its core values and live by them. To be truly meaningful, these values will be part of the company's culture instead of merely listed on its Web site. During the interview, ask questions such as:" What are the core values of this company? " Can you give me a personal example of how these values guide your decisions?" Do you believe the company's actions are consistent with these values?" Would the people who work for you say that you could be trusted?The answers you hear should include real examples of how values guide the day-to-day actions of the interviewer and her team. Programs that recognize employees who exemplify the values will also show you what behavior the company rewards. Public positions, such as printing the values on business cards also illustrate this emphasis. Companies that regularly measure alignment with their values through anonymous surveys have the most powerful method for ensuring real consistency between words and actions. Look for not only the measurements, but also how publicly the results are shared.Rely on your involvement and your contribution. Companies that want employees to be fully committed will encourage high participation and open discussion in how goals are set and decisions are made. Ask questions such as:" Can you tell me the company's three most important goals for this year?" How involved will I be in setting my personal goals and the goals for my team?" Can you give me a recent example of a decision where I would have been consulted?" Do the people who work for you ever tell you that you're wrong?Look for methods and a mindset that encourage employees to offer feedback on decisions, even high-level ones. Once the overall goals are set, great companies allow teams to establish their own goals -- so long as they are in alignment. This is because they know that the greater the employee involvement -- the greater their commitment will be.If nourished, you will grow. Look for a company that invests in the individual. Employees that care deeply about their work are almost always found working for companies that care deeply about them. Ask questions such as:" Are you able to balance your life outside of work while growing your career at this company? " Can you give me a personal example of work-life balance that the company supported?" Will you, or another leader, be a mentor for me?" Would the people who work for you say that you genuinely care about them?Look to hear answers that include a passionate willingness to invest in the careers and lives of each employee through professional development programs, work-life balance training, mentoring and policies that allow flextime, work from home and even job sharing. The result will be an organization where you are passionate about using your talents and skills, a company you can believe in, one where you're proud to work.Asking these questions will ensure that your next opportunity represents not only the next great chapter in your career, but also in your life. In the end, both you and the company will reap the rewards.Jim Huling is CEO of MATRIX Resources Inc., an IT services company recently named one of the 25 Best Small Companies to Work for in America for the third year in a row by the Great Place to Work Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management. Huling is also the author of the book, "Choose Your Life!" - a powerful, proven method for creating the life you want. Reach him at CEO@matrixresources.com.