Interviewing for an opportunity is one of the best feelings you can get after searching for a long time, especially if the company that is interviewing you is one that you wanted to work for at the beginning of the recruitment process.
However, the excitement of a job opportunity and the potential career trajectory you’ve been presented with may sound a bit too good to be true. Especially if this is your first or second role, it can be hard knowing what is realistic and what isn’t.
Although cynicism isn’t our style, we wanted to break down 5 ways that you can vet your job opportunities as a junior candidate so you can ensure that you are picking the right company for you.
Ask for evidence as much as possible
And by evidence, we mean statistics that back up what your interviewer is saying. For example, if they talk about potential earnings via a bonus or commission scheme, don’t be afraid to ask how long it takes to achieve that potential as well as the percentage of candidates at your level who have earned that potential. You want to find out your best and worst-case scenario, especially when it comes to overall earnings, as commission and bonuses aren’t guaranteed.
You should also ask for evidence on promotions and who at your level has achieved them, as well as what quota they needed to hit to get to the next step. Although an interview is about the hiring manager seeing if you’re the right fit for their organisation, you are also interviewing them to see whether they align with your long-term goals.
If it sounds too good to be true - it probably is
When attracting talent, companies will naturally present the best versions of themselves to candidates, especially juniors who they would like to mould into the “next generation” of employees. It’s important to be realistic with what is presented to you, and listen to your gut if it’s telling you that it sounds too good to be true!
Speak to peers and family members to help you with the decision-making process
Whether it’s parents, friends who are at the same level as you or even peers who are further along in their careers, asking for their advice and insight during interview processes can be grounding and helpful when weighing up the opportunities that are presented to you. If you are working with a recruiter to help you secure a new opportunity, ask for their advice and expertise, too.
Compare it with others in the market, don’t just interview at one place
This is probably one of the most critical takeaways when interviewing. It can be easy to be excited by an opportunity and be completely fixated on one company when in reality you should interview at 3-5 places (as long as it’s accessible and affordable to you). This will allow you to compare the opportunities presented to you and make the right decision for you.
Focus on culture and progression over earnings
Although earnings are important and should be a key deciding factor for you, we can’t stress the importance of finding somewhere that offers good, realistic progression opportunities as well as a culture that aligns with your values and your personality.
Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!