Interview Questions, for the company doing the hiring

[Scott Schroeder]

How appropriate is it to ask a company what their outlook is, especially given the recent plunge in the world economy? To me, it's a sticky question. But I've had friends get hired on only to be let go 3 weeks later due to every single contract being lost or just really incompetent management thinking that the next big thing was around the corner. Yet that next big contract was just no where near the grounds of reality.

 

Would you ask those questions? Are there better ways to word them? Are the better left unsaid, until the interviewers bring them up?

[Brodie Geers]

Well, if things aren't looking good on their end then they certainly wouldn't bring it up so I wouldn't rely on that. I don't think there's anything wrong with the question as you worded it however I think you'd have to read between the lines in order to get much out of the answer. I mean, if they're looking to hire someone or maybe even multiple someones, then they must THINK they're growing right? Of course if they start hinting that you're a replacement for the half dozen folks who have recently jumped ship, then you might want to be careful.

 

If you want to be a bit more subtle you could ask for a tour of the office. Sometimes that task will get pawned off on one of the worker bees who might provide more honest information. Worse case scenario, you still get a tour of where you'd be working which is nice.

 

-Brodie

[ihabkal]

I don't think you would get an honest answer if you asked and they were tanking, plus your question would raise their concenrs about your trust in them. On the other hand on my pursuit for a visa to come ot the US/Canada I was told by several employers that they loved my work but wouldn't want to cause me any pain if they got me the visa and then they had problems getting me busy, so employers think a lot before hiring. Even I was once was hiring and I couldn't because I was always worried about providing a constant income for my future employee. they don't make hiring decisions lightly.

[Scott Schroeder]

It's a tough question to bring up for sure. You don't want to offend them, but it's something that is sort of the white elephant that's out there. The whole dang system is really on thin ice right now.