In Sundays KC Star a woman writes a column for job seekers and one time she shared this. Its the 4 basic things an employer looks for whether that’s in an interview or even on a job application.
Please feel free to comment (oh, and it might not necessarily be in this order):
What do you bring to the job (experience, training, abilities)?
Will you get along at this job (both coworkers and customers)?
How long will you stay?
How much will you cost them (salary plus any special issues you bring along)?
Well since its a Kansas City article they totally forgot to add the question asking your favorite BBQ place. You wouldn’t want a Gates fan in a Jack Stack employee group.
Well, this question could be a little troublesome. Are they asking if you’re planning to become pregnant in the next couple of years and therefore will need maternity leave? Are they asking if you’ve got health issues that will increase their overall health insurance costs? How do you ask about “special issues”?
Your first issue on maternity - that can go for #2 - will you get along when the other coworkers have to cover you during times you are taking care of your kids. Also on #3 if its a woman planning to leave when her kids are born.
On “special issues”. This is especially an issue for smaller companies where sometimes its just one employee with an expensive medical condition that causes the whole companies health insurance rates to be raised. Or if say a person requires an elevator or handicapped access and its an old building that would be difficult to accommodate.
They are, assuming you have the ability to see things from the other person’s point of view (in this case, the employer’s). Unfortunately not everyone has this ability (or chooses to exercise it).
Actually those questions are good if you are hiring cogs. A better question is “how are you going to make me more money?” Someone with a good answer to that question is doing the employer a favor by working there.
If getting fired hurts the boss more than it hurts you, you’ll never get fired.