15 Things To Ask Your Employer About Your New Job

Starting a new position is a whirlwind of emotions – excitement, anticipation, maybe even a touch of fear. Asking insightful questions during onboarding is a powerful tool to calm those nerves and set yourself up for success. By making thoughtful inquiries, you’ll better understand your role, the company culture, and the expectations for your success. This empowered knowledge will impress your new colleagues and equip you to excel from day one. Here are 15 key questions to consider asking your employer.

What are the key responsibilities of this role?

This question will help you comprehend the primary duties and tasks you’ll be expected to perform in the new position. An awareness of these responsibilities can give you a clearer picture of whether the role aligns with your skills, experience, and career goals. It allows you to assess if you’re comfortable with the level of responsibility and the type of work involved.

What kind of team will I be working with?

Understanding the team dynamics and structure can give you valuable insight into your future colleagues, their roles, and how your position fits into the broader team. This knowledge can prepare you for collaboration and integration.

What are the expectations in the first three to six months?

Having an idea of what your employer considers successful progress during your initial period will help you prioritize tasks and manage time effectively.

Are there any specific goals or objectives you’d like me to focus on initially?

With the answer to this, you can better understand your employer’s priorities and immediate needs. You can also align your efforts with the organization’s goals and objectives.

How does the company aid professional development?

By learning the company’s approach to professional development, you can assess the opportunities available for learning, training, and advancement in the firm. This information is valuable for your long-term career planning and growth in the company.

What does success look like in this role?

Understanding the criteria by which you will be evaluated helps with setting personal and professional goals. Knowing what success looks like in your role, you can focus your efforts and prioritize tasks to meet or exceed expectations.

Can you tell me about the company’s culture and values?

When you understand the company’s style, methods, and values, you can determine if you’ll be a good fit. It can give you insight into how decisions are made, how employees are treated, and what is expected of you regarding behavior and attitude.

How does the company promote work-life balance?

By asking this question, you can learn the company’s policies and practices that support staff in maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal life, such as flexible hours, remote options, or wellness programs.

What opportunities are there for advancement here?

Knowing the organization’s advancement opportunities is useful for planning your long-term career path. It can show you the company’s commitment to promoting from within and investing in the development of its employees.

Can you walk me through the onboarding process?

Knowledge of the onboarding process prepares you for your new role and transition into the company more smoothly. The response can tell you what to expect regarding training, orientation, and support during your first days and weeks on the job.

How does the company go about feedback and performance reviews?

Feedback and performance reviews are essential for your growth. The answer will teach you the company’s approach to giving and receiving feedback and how performance evaluations are conducted.

What resources are available for employees to succeed?

Knowing the resources at hand to aid you can make you perform better and achieve your goals. This can be access to training programs, mentoring, coaching, or tools and technologies to push you to succeed.

Is diversity, equity, and inclusion important to the company?

These three things are essential aspects of a company’s culture and values. Through the response, you can learn about the company’s effort to create a diverse and inclusive environment and the initiatives and programs in place to promote diversity and inclusion there.

What are the hardest challenges facing the team/department right now?

Understanding the challenges facing the team or department will prepare you for obstacles and contribute more effectively to addressing them. The answer will reveal the priorities and focus areas of the team, helping you align your efforts with their goals.

Is there anything else I should know about the job or the company?

This open-ended question allows the employer to share any additional information that could be important for you to know. It shows your interest in learning more about the role and the company and can provide valuable insights that you might not have considered otherwise.