I REGRET 😭😩 not asking these 4 questions

One of the realities of transitioning from an undergraduate to a graduate 🎓 ready for the workforce means that I now have to look for a full-time job 💼. This also means that I am no longer a protected intern and I now have to take charge of my own work.

The types of questions asked during interviews change as the job I pick sets the foundation for my 9-5 and my career path in the long run 😫

Now that I have settled 3 months into my first full-time job, here are 4 questions I regret NOT asking during my interview to get a better understanding of what the job entails 😕.

1. IS THERE ROOM FOR CAREER PROGRESSION AND UPSKILLING — Yes a common question, but as I applied for a subsidiary in a large finance firm I thought that career progression was naturally a given in the company so I did not ask this question. To my horror, I found out from my colleagues that the company only started promoting its employees last year. There’s even a colleague who has been an exec for 14 years… 🤯🤯🤯 Please don’t make the mistake like me, and confirm if there is a path for progression in the company, I don’t think anyone would want to be an exec for more than a decade 😳.

2. WHAT IS THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE LIKE 💰- Similar to point 1 I was shocked to find out that pay increment policy was only set last year. Can you imagine earning the same pay for more than a decade 😭. Pro-tip for those who are shy and find it difficult to ask about pay (like me), asking your employer for a salary package instead of just salary might sound nicer as this would include a pay range that you can expect as well as other company benefits.

3. WHAT IS THE WORKING STTYLE OF THE TEAM I WILL BE JOINING — I only found out the “family style” of working after joining the company. Family style working suggests that everyone in the company helps everyone with their tasks. To put it simply, in my company we have a Business Analyst helping out with admin and marketing work and vice versa as well 😕.

There are pros and cons to family style: Pros - You get to explore what others are doing so work doesn’t get so mundane. Cons - You don’t get 100% of the time to focus on your work. Personally, this family-style arrangement has allowed me to attend events at other established places but I think it would have been better if I was informed of this arrangement before I started working.

4. WHAT ARE THE KPIS FOR THE POSITION - A full-time job means that we finally get the bonuses we hear adults talking about 🤑!! Wuhu!! But… this means that the KPIs set are important as it is the goal that you will be working towards. The way the company set KPIs for marketing was so blurry I am not even sure how my work partner managed to get her bonus last year. Also, it was difficult for me to understand what exactly we were working towards 🥵.

There you have it… 4 questions I regret not asking, but I thankfully the situation in the company got a little better this year before I joined and I do enjoy some benefits that my colleagues did not in the past 🥶!

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