A reader writes:
I’m considering a job search and would love your recommendation on find out how to increase sure non-negotiable office components — what I’d name “satisficers” — early within the course of, with out derailing conversations or coming off as naive or high-maintenance.
For instance, I journey extensively for work (generally over 100 hours in transit per week), and I’m merely not involved in a task that requires flying financial system. Most firms in my subject present enterprise class, however a handful don’t. Equally, I discover open-plan places of work extremely aggravating and wouldn’t take a job that required one. These aren’t negotiable perks for me; they’re baseline filters. If an organization doesn’t provide them, that’s completely tremendous, however I wouldn’t wish to waste everybody’s time going by means of a protracted interview course of solely to seek out out on the provide stage.
One problem is that the HR individual I’m talking with early on could not absolutely grasp the realities of the position — particularly the sheer quantity of journey concerned. I don’t wish to come off as a prima donna proper out of the gate. The circumstances I work in will be as primary as tents or mud huts, so it’s not about luxurious — it’s about sustainability when spending an enormous chunk of my life in transit.
The problem is, this stuff don’t all the time come up organically, particularly since many interviews are distant now. If I carry them up early, I threat sounding both naive (“In fact we offer that”) or misaligned with firm philosophy (“We consider everybody ought to fly financial system”).
What’s one of the simplest ways to display screen for this stuff early with out making it appear to be I’m main with calls for?
It’s okay in the event you sound misaligned with firm philosophy if it’s one thing you’d reject a job over; in that case, you are misaligned with their philosophy (or they’re misaligned with yours) and your entire aim is to seek out that out early. So don’t let that deter you. Discovering out that you just’re misaligned on one thing that’s a deal-breaker for you is the purpose.
I additionally wouldn’t fear about sounding naive. You’re not saying “do you provide paychecks?” You’re asking about issues that genuinely do fluctuate from firm to firm.
It’s additionally not about main with calls for. It’s about saying, “I don’t wish to waste your time if we’re not the fitting match on a few factors which might be necessary to me.”
You can phrase it this fashion: “Through the years I’ve discovered there are a few issues it’s helpful to ask about early on so I don’t waste your time if it’s not the fitting match. I’ve discovered that almost all firms fly individuals on this position enterprise class, due to the sheer variety of hours per week spent touring, however not all do. That’s key to maintaining the work sustainable for me so I wish to ask about it up-front.” … “I additionally needed to ask in regards to the workplace house — is it open places of work, cubicles, personal places of work, one thing else?”
You’ll be able to ask this beautiful early on — both within the cellphone display screen or the primary interview — because you’re explaining why you’re bringing it up now (i.e., these aren’t small particulars to you, however issues your acceptance would hinge on).
For those who’re speaking with an HR individual, I’d maintain off on the enterprise class query till you’re speaking with the supervisor, given your concern about HR not absolutely understanding the quantity of journey (whereas the supervisor positively ought to, and the reply you get from them must be extra dependable — though it’s additionally one thing to substantiate once more as you’re negotiating the provide, to ensure).
