In the previous blog, we discussed how you can use job descriptions to your advantage. The job description often provides a glimpse of the corporate culture you will encounter if you know how to read between the lines. This week’s blog provides two more examples to strengthen your ability to decipher this important language.
Example 1: Accountability
“Ability to take personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines.”
You may be asking yourself why a recruiter or hiring manager would add this requirement to their job description.
Here are a few questions to consider:
- Is it possible that this company has had to deal with missed deadlines and a lack of accountability in the past? If so, why is this a problem at this company?
- Does this company have a history of throwing people under the bus? If not, do they have a history of blaming all of their mistakes on lower-level employees?
- What has the company done to ensure that this problem isn’t happening now?
The blame game is never fun, and it usually starts with the company’s management. This type of language raises red flags about problems with corporate culture. Glassdoor is often a good place to begin your research about potential problems at a given company. You can also ask friends who may have worked at this company, or ask direct questions during the informational interview.
Example 2: Flexibility
“Flexibility and willingness to work long hours and weekends when necessary.”
It goes without saying that some jobs require weekend work and long hours for numerous reasons (e.g., proposal writing or travel). A company may state this requirement in the job description to weed out candidates that prefer a work-life balance. This allows the candidate to understand what he or she is getting into up front, so there are no surprises. However, it is also beneficial to ask the following questions during an interview:
- How do you envision the typical hours and workload for candidates that fill this position?
- What kind of work will they focus us on?
- What kind of work would require employees to stay longer and work weekends?
- What does the company do to ensure work-life balance?
- What would a typical day be like in this position?
- Can you tell me about your company culture and what makes it unique?
- Why is this position open?
The following article may provide further insight on this topic:
Interview Questions to Ask About Work-Life Balance
To learn more about demystifying job descriptions, please go learn more about our Job Description Analysis class.
All of us here at Total Rebrand wish you the best in your future endeavors. Please remember to periodically check our websites for updates, new tools, and advice in helping you find the best job that will maximize both your wealth as well as your health. Happy job hunting!