A candidate’s perspective

Interviews were once about giving candidates a chance to prove that they are worth the company’s investment. The game has changed. Interviews are now a way to assess mutual fits; part selling and part assessing. What was once an assumption that the candidate needs the Inc. has evolved to a symbiotic relationship. With that context, let me share what I expect to learn about a company I am in talks with.

The Mission/Vision (Why)

This is the “why” behind the existence of the group. The mission drives a lot of business bets and decisions. It is instrumental in attracting the right type of talent. As the company matures the mission/vision paves a path for the culture.

what I want to learn —

• Are the teams aligned to the mission?
• Does the mission excite them?
• What recent major decisions were taken to support the mission?

Culture (How)

If the mission gets people out of bed, then culture keeps them engaged. When I am talking with a company, I am automatically most interested in where I can have the biggest impact, what are the challenges. Therefore, I’m going to want to know the side of their culture that helps me understand: how they grow through the hard times. How does this company react to failures?