The Wall Street Journal January 31, 2022 12:01AM EST |Work&Life|”The New Rules for Finding Your Next Job in 2022” “Candidates have more leverage. Conversations have shifted toward flexible hours and locations. How to ace your interview this moment.” By Rachel Feintzeig
Read The Wall Street Journal for all the details
Summary by 2244
Employers are struggling to find help so “hiring processes now include more frank discussions about remote work, balancing job duties with family and staving off burnout.” Sounds easier than ever but virtual interviews are plagued by information asymmetry especially for the candidate. Without actually being there, at the workplace, it’s hard to accurately evaluate “what a company is really like, and whether a boss is toxic…”
What are the new rules for “job-hunting now” ?
It’s Personal
Avoid divulging too much about your life outside of work as “biases do seep in.” So you don’t need to talk about your interests and personal life if it’s not relevant to the opportunity. Work structure topics though, like working from home, are legitimately now part of the early interview conversations. Guide that dialog by asking how the company has “evolved its approach to work” recently during the pandemic. If you need to get specific about your preferences, focus on how “successful” you have been working from home but again no need to mention “too many details of your personal situation.”
Should you ask for more salary and benefits?
According to Tejal Wagadia (Recruiter for a tech company), “candidates are requesting 20% to 30% more for the tech and corporate roles” than would have been offered pre-pandemic in 2019. Recruiters are commonly hearing these requests but best to research at salary.com or other for the specific “skill set and role.” Tejal recommends suggesting something below the upper limit while sharing your reasoning-the results of your online research etc. Today it may actually be preferred by the employer that candidates open up early about salary and benefit expectations but “negotiation experts advise against being the first one to throw out a number.” Best to ask about the budget for the role. You might want to avoid “disclosing your current pay [because doing so] could box you into a smaller salary bump.”
Is this job going to burn you out?
Everyone needs and wants to join a positive workplace. Given virtual interviews etc., how can a candidate evaluate the work culture? First, ask diplomatically about the recent attrition rate. “If you feel like there is a desperation to hire you-the process is moving shockingly fast and interviewers mention that the team is currently lean-chances are you will be slammed with work as soon as you join.” Notice the demeanor of the interviewers “do they all seem exhausted?” Are they selling the company in an energized and positive way? When interacting with whom you will report to, are they giving you their full attention? Is sh/e engaging you in a conversational style that will suit you in the work environment or are they just “grilling you the whole time, without opening up the opportunity for you to ask questions?”
To what extent can you work remotely?
Many firms, for certain roles, do want teams in the office rather than working from home or having a hybrid work schedule, so it’s fair to explore this topic. According to Paul Argenti (Dartmouth College) answers like “‘we’re remote now’” may mean the company is planning a full return to office. On the flip side if the “company is transitioning to hoteling, where workers reserve desks on an as-need basis, that likely indicates more flexibility.”