3 Questions Every Engineer Should Ask Before Taking a New Job
Before you accept a new engineering position, you need to make sure the role will allow for your continued growth in your career. Asking these questions will help you determine that.
It is widely known that companies in the tech industry are in a competition for the most qualified technical talent. Those seeking new employment have the advantage in negotiations. Since we are in a market that favors candidates, companies are trying to recruit the cream of the crop. Now, potential employees have the opportunity to request what they want in a job and explore options to their liking.
As an engineer, there are many opportunities available. Some even reported to have multiple offers at once. The market is exciting but narrowing your choices can be overwhelming. Having multiple great offers can be difficult to determine where to go next.
Before accepting an offer, here are three questions every engineer should ask both themselves and a prospective employer.
3 QUESTIONS EVERY ENGINEER SHOULD ASK BEFORE TAKING A NEW JOB
1. What is your next goal?
2. What is your educational future going to look like?
3. Is the company equipped with the technology you want to work with?
What is your next goal?
One of the hardest questions to answer is: Why are you looking for a new job? Do you want to start working with different/new technology? Do you want to work for a bigger company with larger teams?
From my experience, those who have a clear understanding of what they desire from their next step are usually the most qualified candidates. If you feel passionate and excited about the company and your team, you will do your best.
It is important to take the time to think about what you want your career to look like in the future. What are your goals? What will keep you fulfilled? Once you have considered those things, you can begin thinking about what exactly you want to learn and who you want to learn it from.
What is your educational future going to look like?
Once you have decided on the attributes you want from your new job, consider the skills you want to acquire and what particular areas you would like to strengthen.
It is important for engineers to regularly evaluate their skills and seek ways to improve. When experiencing failure, engineers should focus on the lessons learned. Even during successful periods, there is always room for improvement and things that could be done better next time.
In order to ensure you keep growing day by day, you will want to ask what opportunities and resources will be available to you in a new role. Does the company have a policy regarding days off for professional development? Is there a budget allocated for attending industry workshops or conferences?
Another key component of this question is inquiring about the specific individual from whom you want to learn. A common mistake that engineers make is not communicating with their potential managers before joining a company. You should speak with whomever you will be reporting to because they will ultimately be the person from whom you learn the most.
You want to join a team where you will fit in well, and the best way to figure that out is to meet with potential teammates and get a feel for their work dynamic and team culture. Prior to joining my current team, I met with a number of team members, from senior executives to direct reports to cross-functional partners. This helped me gain a better understanding of the broader culture. My interviewers were able to get a better sense of how I would contribute to the company.
A mentor can be crucial in helping you develop professionally. I had a great mentor in my last role who taught me a lot about scalable solutions - something I hadn't had much experience with before. His guidance throughout my learning process helped me to grow not only within that company, but also throughout the rest of my career. Having him as a mentor gave me an advantage when moving onto new companies. When considering a job offer, think about who the potential mentors may be. They could have a significant impact on your future career.
Having a clear understanding of what you want to learn and who you want to learn from will help you make the best decision when choosing among different opportunities.
What’s the State of the Company and Its Technology?
You will need to understand the business' dynamics, including the company's current technology and its technical vision. If a company is going through a lot of changes, it might be hard to get comfortable there, but it can also be rewarding to be part of that process.
It is also helpful to inquire about the product side of things, depending on the size of the company. What is the product market fit, and will you be involved in that realm? Are they selling products or still in the beginning stages? Do they continue to make progress?
Choose Wisely
Keep these questions in mind as you review your job offers. Thoroughly investigate each option and take your time in making a decision. Remember that companies need talent and they want to hire you, so don't hesitate to ask for what you need to make the right decision.
