5 Career Advancement Questions to Ask a Future Employer

The job search process can be lengthy and painful. Imagine after that process landing the job you thought you’d love and finding out your employer has no career path defined for your role. Yikes! 

To avoid being blindsided when you’re in a new job, I’ve compiled five of the most critical questions to ask during the interview process to determine the career advancement opportunities at a potential employer. Let’s dig in.

Question 1: What are the role paths and/or career growth opportunities for this role?

It may seem obvious but so often overlooked! The clarity and detail you receive will indicate how well-defined the role is now and several years down the line. If the response includes something like: “We’re still figuring it out”, this tells you everything. Listen for evidence that there is progression at each level and new skills to learn along the way. 

Question 2: What are the first and second-year performance objectives for this role? 

Performance objectives should be defined and expectations should increase as you progress in level. Projects can change depending on company goals, but at its core, there are key objectives for each role that typically don’t change. Keep in mind a good follow-up can be what are the objectives for the next level? Again, this indicates progression over time. 

Question 3: What is the company’s performance review process and how are promotions determined?

It’s important to know how employee performance is measured and what it takes to be considered for a promotion. Not only should there be a process, but it should be fair, thorough, and objective. You may also want to ask how often feedback is given. A company that values regular feedback sharing is a great sign of a place that fosters growth and learning. 

Question 4: What types of professional development opportunities does the company offer?

Look for a company that offers a professional development policy and reimbursement, a mentorship program, internal coaching, and/or formal training opportunities just to name a few. You want to feel confident that you will have plenty of options for learning and developing skills.

Question 5: What is the biggest employee challenge your team is working on right now?

This question may suggest to you a pain point leading to departures. Depending on the response, you may want to ask another question about how it’s being addressed or resolved. If the respondent is unable to think of a response, this could indicate a bigger red flag that employee feedback isn’t captured often enough. 

With any interview process, be prepared with your own set of questions incorporating the ones above to collect all the evidence you can about a potential employer. Be confident when you accept an offer that your future employer will provide a solid career path now and for years to come!

If you are looking to explore ways to maximize your job search process to yield better results, contact me today!