Here are her two favorite questions to ask during a job interview. This will help uncover any major red flags, and possibly some green lights, before accepting your offer.
Cruzvergara’s first favorite question boils down to, “What are the unspoken rules of this workplace?”
“It’s always very helpful to understand the actual culture of an organization,” she says. During the interview process, she asks multiple people this question to see if they’re all saying the same thing or different things.
Cruzvergara says the culture is truly ingrained when everyone’s answers are consistent, from managers to co-workers to direct reports.
However, you may get different answers based on seniority.
“Some of the unspoken rules from the upper echelons taught me a set of culture. [expectations] “That’s what I needed to know, but from my team’s perspective and from the younger guys, it was something different,” Cruzvergara said. “That taught me that I was stepping into an environment where the experience at the company could vary from level to level.” ”
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That’s not necessarily a good or bad thing, she added, but it’s something to be aware of as a beginner.
Another takeaway from this question is what strengths or weaknesses you should be prepared for. While interviewing for a job at Handshake, Cruzvergara learned that it was a “document- and deck-oriented culture.” Therefore, she says, it may be difficult to work there if you are not a good writer.
“If you can’t write it down, summarize it, circulate it, and get people to buy into it, your idea is probably dead,” she says. Her “unspoken rule” is that she needs to get used to writing a lot for her job, and to pitch an idea, get the most important details down on paper right away. I understand that there is a need.
According to Cruzvergara, these types of rules are rarely brought up in job interviews, but they can tell you a lot about your team’s communication and collaboration style.
Pay particular attention to reactions from people who will be your immediate team members, such as co-workers and managers. These norms are important as soon as you start working, because they can affect your daily life.
Cruzvergara says other questions can help you assess your new company’s work environment. The question is, “How are decisions made?” Who is usually involved and how long does it take?
That will give you a good idea of whether you’ll like the place, Cruzvergara said. For example, if you tend to prefer a more democratic environment, you might be annoyed if the hiring manager tells you that decisions are made from the top down at the top. On the other hand, if you value speed and efficiency over having everyone on the same page, being in an environment where decisions are made over several meetings can “completely drive you crazy.” ” Cruzvergara said.
Not sure which style suits you? Cruzvergara suggests looking at two places.
First, how were decisions made in your home? For example, were your parents more one-sided and “everything I say goes”? Next, what did you think about it? Did you rebel or go along with things?
Second, how were decisions made in school, such as when doing student groups, group projects, or sports?
For example, you may recall a time when you were unable to reach a decision within your team because everyone needed to speak their mind but no one took the lead. yeah. Or maybe he didn’t like it when one person took the lead on a group project and everyone couldn’t participate.
These are very good indicators of how you felt in different group settings and how you felt in similar situations at work, Cruzvergara says.
These questions and answers won’t mean anything if you don’t do a little self-reflection about your values, workplace desires, and understanding how you can work most effectively, she adds. Ta.
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