Yes. I did say it right. Employers play a crucial role in determining employment. Just because you’ve been offered a job, just because you meet the requirements, interview well and beat out the competition, does not mean that this is the position for you. There are several things to consider when deciding to accept a job. You’ve done your part by honestly meeting the requirements of the job for which you applied. The question now is whether or not the company meets your needs. You have to make this determination and there are several things you can do to aid your decision–making process. Interview your prospective boss. There are ways to answer questions to cast yourself in a good light. Did you know that there are ways to ask questions so that you can learn about the company and the work environment. Of course not all questions will be acceptable to all interviewers. And that should tell you something as well. Six questions you might ask are:

1. What is the advancement path for this position?
2. How many others on staff do what I will be doing?
3. Will I be training with my predecessor?
4. What is the company’s policy for ongoing training?
5. What personal skills do you place great value on?
6. How did this position become available?

What you can learn from answers to these questions Honest answers to these questions will tell you several important things. You will learn how the company regards employee advancement. If you’re told that jobs are offered externally, then you know that they don’t put their employees first. It’s then probably likely that they don’t promote skills training. But don’t assume anything. Ask the questions to get the fullest picture you can. You can also learn how the company and employees get along. If you’re not being trained by a predecessor, what happened to them will tell you a lot. Did they run screaming from the building? Did they get fired? Did they get promoted? Is your interviewer not at liberty to say? Finally, when your interviewer lets you know the personal skills that they value, you have yet another piece to the puzzle. What skill do they cherish? How you interpret it says a lot about you and your experiences too. So be wary.

• I need someone who can be really calm under pressure.
• I need someone who can get along with diverse personalities.
• I need someone who I can count on to be a team player.

These statements can all be seen as positive or potentially negative. The question to ask after each of these responses can be and should be “Why is this skill important?” If you are a positive person, you will likely see the upside of all this. And that’s a good thing. Make a decision on the best case scenario, and you will be making the best choice you can. One thing about the last statement: I am never trusting of a company that needs to know “you’re a team player.” For myself, I am put on guard when an interviewer says those words to me. But, the choice is yours to respond with similar skepticism. In this economy, bosses want to forget that they still have to do right by current and potential employees. Yes, people are grateful to have jobs. But, you should indicate that you’re not desparate—even if you are. You have to make an estimate of whether or not you will be a good fit from the beginning. So ask the questions; it may keep you from hiring on only to leave quickly—or worse, abruptly. Remember, you are not looking for the right answers; you want the answers, period. Insight into the company is your objective. Deciding to hire on or not is your goal. You choose. Tell me, do you remember that you are part of this decision? What are questions that you’ve asked to help you make your decision to hire on?