Asking the tough questions!

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The toughest questions are not the ones asked by the hiring managers. The tough questions are the ones that you should be asking of yourself before you take up a new job in a new company.

And I have noticed that very often, most people don't ask these questions. In fact, many times, they don't want to ask the questions that will rock the boat and jeopardise the process they are sailing through.

So you are being wooed by a company that you've always been fascinated about and have met with executives in the company who are reputed leaders in the industry. And the process has reached a stage where you have to now take a call on making the move.

All the critical check-boxes seem to be ticked :

• Good company; great brand
• Role and title adequately reflects your experience and is a step-up from your current role
• Great team of leaders and peers that you would be working with
• A good compensation package
• Your family is not going to get uprooted and they are also excited about this opportunity

But you still haven't asked some very important questions :

1. How is the new role going to be a step-up from your current one and how does it fit in with your overall career plan? Will there be a dilution in your growth as a professional?
2. How much head-room is available for growth in the new role and the new organisation? Do you have an opportunity to make an impact in the new role? Does the role challenge you adequately? Are the challenges the kind you are looking forward to?
3. And the most important questions : Is the culture of the new organisation something you are prepared for? Is it the kind of environment you can thrive in, and succeed? Will you be comfortable with the ethos and value system of the people and the place?

These questions and their answers can make all the difference between your being happy or miserable in the new role.

And there are innumerable examples of people who find the answers too late : soon after joining the company. And they realise that they cannot continue in this environment and then exit within 6-12 months of joining.

So, no matter how uncomfortable they make you, ask yourself these questions. You'll thank yourself for doing so.

(And how do you get the answers to these questions? We'll try answer this question in the next post.)