Please upgrade your web browser

These pages are built with modern web browsers in mind, and are not optimized for Internet Explorer 8 or below. Please try using another web browser, such as Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 10, Internet Explorer 11, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari.

This Friday (1/27) I will be interviewing a company and would like to ask the two managers who I will be interviewing with how they support the development and advance of my career with the company. Any suggestions and ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Veteran

Kamran Forghani Laguna Niguel, CA

This Friday (1/27) I will be interviewing with a company and would like to ask the two managers who I will be interviewing with how they support the development and advancement of my career with the company. I am over qualified for the job but I enjoy the industry and company. Any suggestions and ideas would be greatly appreciated.

The company is a real technology startup called RealtyMogul.com.

25 January 2017 4 replies Interviews

Answers

Advisor

Mike Cottell Glen Head, NY

Hi Kamran, thank you for your service and good luck to you as you interview. The advice to date from all the advisors is 100% accurate, in particular with a startup business. For all the excitement about future possibilities, the reality is that a startup is in a fight for its survival from day one to make sure that they can become profitable before the venture capital runs out. The people that get them there will be taken very well care of, without having asked for anything and those that don't will be gone, it's really that simple and cold. I suggest asking questions like" what are the biggest threats or opportunities that you see for the business in the beginning?" You then start to engage them in a dialogue so that they see you are focused on their concerns and maybe even have some ideas on how to jump right in. This puts you at the front of the line with other interview candidates. Get the job, contribute and work harder than anyone else and trust me, they will care about your career. Good Luck to you! Best Regards, Mike

26 January 2017 Helpful answer

Advisor

Dave Ramanauskas Cheshire, CT

Hi Kamran- thanks for your service and good luck on the interview. Actually I think you have a good, appropriate question for your hiring manager. As a hiring manager myself, i always appreciated getting questions about how the company might contribute to the growth and development of a potential employee. I think it sends a signal that the candidate is serious about the company and is considering a long term commitment to the organization. And it appears that your question is in sync with Realtymogul.com. I saw this statement on their website, listing their company benefits:
"Opportunities to attend technical conferences and take company-funded educational courses to advance your skills."
Now it comes down to HOW you ask the question. As the other advisors pointed out, you may come off as a bit self serving if you don't ask this question in the right way and at the right time. I suggest that you time your question when a discussion of the company benefits comes up. Then you can ask your question in a way that goes something like this: " I see that Realtymogul is committed to the development of its staff, as its mentioned on its website. I'm committed to making Realtymogul successful through my contributions and I'm committed to keeping my skills sharp so that I can be an effective contributor. Can you tell me more about your company funded courses and opportunity to take technical courses?
Another appropriate question is: " I know RealtyMogul is in startup mode now and I'm looking forward to contributing in the role we are discussing now. Can you tell me what you see as the vision for the progression of this role and it's potential growth path?"
There you have a couple of win-win approaches you could take that are pretty innocuous but indicates your level of commitment to the company's success as well as your own personal growth and success.
Break a Leg! I hope you get the gig!

26 January 2017 Helpful answer

Advisor

John Green Cary, NC

You are responsible for your own development. Howard is right.

Having an entitlement mentality is the exact opposite character trait that good employers look for.

The only person in the world that cares more about their own advancement is you. Don't depend on anyone else to shepherd your career aspirations into reality.

What a hiring manager wants to know is how you can make a difference in his team not what entitlements you can get from him.

You should be articulating what steps you proactively pursue to advance your own effectiveness in the work environment.

I lived in Southern California for a couple of years, and understand how you came to think this way. If you were to live in the Midwest for a couple of years, you would see the difference between entitlement way of thinking and ingenuity way of thinking.

President John F. Kennedy said a very profound statement in his Inaugural Address on 20 January 1961 :

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/18/133018777/jfks-inaugural-speech-still-inspires-50-years-later

"And so, my fellow Americans: Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country."

In your job interview, you need to extolling reasons why you can be a top contributor not what handouts you can qualify for.

26 January 2017 Helpful answer

Advisor

Howard Spiegel Houston, TX

Kamran

You may not be happy with my response but here it comes. This is not a very good interview question.

You should remember that this is a sales situation. You are selling and they are buyers. To succeed you should not ask questions about your needs. Rather all exchanges should be about the buyer's needs.

Once you have an offer then you can probe about this. Also consider tech startups are not into employee development in the early stages.

26 January 2017 Helpful answer

Your Answer

Please log in to answer this question.

Sign Up

You can join as either a Veteran or an Advisor.

An Advisor already has a career, with or without military experience, and is willing to engage with and help veterans.
Sign Up as an Advisor.

A Veteran has military experience and is seeking a new career, or assistance with life after service.
Sign Up as a Veteran.