September 19, 2005

Question Bleg

So I have a meeting Thursday to finalize the details of the employment offer and ask whatever questions I want.

This is the first time I've had to do this, so I am completely unsure of what to do, except for a few questions I know I want to ask about daily activities and the benefits package.

What would you ask? What should I be thinking about? What are the smart questions no one asks? The details of the job offer are here.

This post will stay on top today in hopes of getting some answers.....

Posted by caltechgirl at September 19, 2005 11:59 PM | TrackBack
Comments

1) Ask personal, getting to know you questions of your boss and anyone else. See what they like to do for fun, what their personality is.

2) Ask if you are replacing someone or a new position. If you're replacing someone, why did they leave? If it was for a job with less hours, or more money, be careful.

3. Go with your gut on taking the job or not. If something feels funny, call it off.

4. What advancement opportunities are possible? Where can you go, and what isn't possible.

5. What is the turn over rate for new hires? If it's a high ( 30% + in first year) be careful.

These are more applicable to the manufacturing, "real" world, not academia, but I'm sure they can be useful there too.

Posted by: Bill at September 19, 2005 05:48 PM

What Bill said. Also....

Try to get a feel regarding the culture of the place. I'm sure you already have some idea, considering you already interviewed, but the more you can find out the better. In my humble experience, the biggest factor by far for job happiness isn't money, benefits, or even job duties; it's the people around you. Office politics reigns everywhere, but when it turns into office guerrilla warfare life becomes a living Hell.

Best of luck.

Posted by: Ben at September 19, 2005 06:30 PM

Have you asked questions about how much training YOU will receive? What kind of conferences, training will you be expected to take and what are you able to choose and take? Consider that most jobs require around 20 to 40 hours of team training and then another 40 of 'skill training'...

Posted by: vw bug at September 20, 2005 04:48 AM

Do you have the book Sweaty Palms? If not, it might be worth a trip to the library... they cover all angles of this stuff. I agree with VW, and also the comment about the culture/work atmosphere. That's a biggee for me. Granted, this is academia, which has a unique culture but what's the unique flavor of this institution? Why do others like working there? (besides their tenure!)

Posted by: Marie at September 20, 2005 01:24 PM