Interview Questions to Ask: The 6 C's You Need to Find Out

Searching for a new job is stressful in the current tough job market. You need to be very clear about what you are looking for in your new job and how you will identify it during the job interview by knowing the right interview questions to ask.

Current thinking is that the most important factor people seek is engagement with their work. What does this mean? Engagement is the degree to which an employee identifies with the job, how much they feel they belong and how much they feel they are valued. This is largely determined by the relationships they have with their colleagues and managers, the support they recieve within the position to perform their jobs properly, the trust level they enjoy, the compensation and rewards they receive, the growth and development opportunities and the nature of the job itself.

When a job seeker is considering a position they should focus on the following six C's to decide if this job is going to truly engage them. Select the right interview questions to ask based on these factors.

Content of the job - Ask yourself: Will the work itself be meaningful? Is there opportunity for growth and development? Will I have the right resources to properly perform in the position? How fulfilling is this type of work?

Coping resources - You need to be given sufficient resources to cope with the demands and stresses of the job. Any employee will become demotivated and eventually burn out if they have to deal with unreasonable job demands, unrealistic targets, poor managers and unsupportive colleagues. Studies show that stress costs US business in excess of $300 billion annually. Access to enough resources to cope with the work is essential. Ask yourself the following: Do I have or have access to the tools, knowledge, technology and training I need to do this job? Is the work environment supportive? Do the demands of the job match my own work-life expectations and the balance I want between work and home?

Compensation - An employee needs to feel fairly valued to remain motivated in a job. Pay and benefits are the first factors looked at when deciding on fair compensation. However consider other sources of compensation as well. Is this job respected within the company? Is the work in this position recognized? Will my efforts be appreciated and make a difference?

Colleagues and community - Work should also fulfil a certain amount of your social needs. Are you going to enjoy yourself at this organization? Will you get on with your prospective colleagues? Is this a pleasant working environment? Do the employees seem happy and friendly?

Congruence - Are your values and goals aligned with the job and organization? Will your expectations be met? Is your prospective manager someone you can relate to and respect?

Career opportunities - Are their sufficient career opportunities in this position and organization? Will the work challenge you and allow for personal growth and development?

When deciding on the right position for you, consider all the above. To what degree is each of the factors met by the job and by the organization? Know which interview questions to ask in your job interview to find this out. You deserve a job that truly enhances your life. Finding out whether the job you are interviewing for will enagage you, in all senses of the word, is essential to career happiness and success.

To determine if this is the right job for you read through the examples of good, insightful questions to ask in your job interview.