Interviewing the Interviewer

After you’ve gained some experience in your field and you’re ready to take on a new position, it’s time to start looking for a new job. One of the most important aspects of your job is your happiness. Happiness is based on a few things, and there are some questions you should ask during interviews, aside from the pertinent salary concerns.

One of the most important things for my personal job happiness is the perks or benefits. A lot of companies offer the common health benefits, but it is the places that offer benefits beyond free dental cleanings once a year that you really want to work for. Below is a list of benefits you can ask about:

1. RRSP Program

Is there an RRSP program and does the company match your contributions? If they do, are their contributions held in escrow until you’ve worked there a certain amount of time? How much can you put in? In essence, this little perk can be considered as a slight bonus or pay raise since you get your salary plus their contribution on top of it.

2. Free drinks/coffee etc.

Ask them if they have a free drink policy, where they provide you with a fridge filled with pop and a coffee machine. You’d be surprised but this can make a big difference to your work day, as well as your budget (one less thing to buy everyday).

3. Stock options

What type of stock options do they offer? How long can you hold on to them? How the is the stock performing currently and how was it in the past?

4. Bonuses

This is a big one to watch out for. A lot of companies I’ve been hired for and worked for promise large bonuses based on performance. This is often a slightly false promise, while they usually have good intentions, I’ve seen this fall through numerous times in my personal career.

5. Training

Always ask if they provide training or expense you to take a course. This is a great perk that you can use to your advantage to develop yourself professionaly. Training will provide you with the opportunity to expand your knowledge in the industry as well as increase your value to your company or to a future company.

6. Regular reviews

Assessments and raises are crucial. Ask them if there are practicing policies for assessing your work and performance from your managers because it is always great to get feedback on how you are doing. It provides for job security and a good way to figure out how you’re doing in your current position and if you deserve that raise or bonus.

7. Flex time

Flexible hours can become a particularly helpful part of your job, especially if you are starting to have a family or you’ve just recently purchased a house. Often you will need time during the week to accomplish some tasks, such as your banking, going to the dentist or doctor, the auto shop, etc. A job that provides flex time means that you can work 4 days a week one week, and 5 the next. Or work at night, or at home, or slightly unusual hours. In my experience the best kind of flex time is one where you get your work done, and work all your hours, and your manager leaves it to you to manage when you want to work.

8. Working Remotely

Remote access is a huge life saver, especially if you don’t live close to your work. It lets you get more sleep, save on transportation and lets you avoid sitting in traffic during those horrible winter snow storms. If you can score working from home, you will be much happier on those days where you just don’t feel like driving in to work.

9. Dress Code

This can affect everything from your mood to your budget. Because I’m quite the slacker, I don’t purchase very many “dressy” clothes. I prefer to be comfortable, and still dress like I’m 18 (see Jeans and t-shirts). Working in an environment that allows me to wear what I want (within reason) has been fantastic, meaning I don’t have to purchase new clothes, and I don’t have to worry about running out of good clothes to wear. I’m also much more comfortable at home.

10. Personal Days, Vacation, Sick Days

Definitely ask about this because the more time off you have, the better off you are. As someone who rarely gets sick, I tend to view my sick days as extra vacation, or as I like to refer to them, “Mental Health Days.”

Benefits are not limited to what puts more money in your multiple bank accounts, but what makes your quality of life improve. Since we spend approximately one third of our day at work, it’s important to make sure that our workplaces offer us the benefits we want and need.

Tags: benefits, Career, Employment, vacation