Parents, ask these essential interview questions to determine whether a prospective employer is truly family friendly.
What we desired in a job at the beginning of our careers may no longer hold true a decade — and a few adult milestones — later. As our lives change, so do our career plans.
As the mother of a toddler, I know all too well how quickly your priorities can change once you assume the title of “Mom” or “Dad.” Seemingly overnight, I found myself drawn to companies that valued work-life balance and boasted of a family-friendly workplace over those that operated with a “work-hard, play-hard” mentality.
If youre like me and your criteria for the “dream job” have shifted since becoming a parent, this list of job interview questions will help you evaluate whether a company is truly a family-friendly employer without drawing attention to your underlying intent.
Tell Me About Yourself | Best Answer (from former CEO)
What are our family values and how do they contribute to our business success?
Research shows that family businesses that formalize family values and incorporate them into the business have longer, more successful outcomes.These values offer a competitive strength that non-family competitors cannot duplicate and act as an anchor, allowing families to establish connections across multiple generations.
What structures do we have in place to deal with conflicts?
All family businesses experience conflict and differences of opinion are perfectly healthy. However, ongoing disputes can harm business operations and lead to resentment in the family. Businesses that develop effective ways to communicate and create a safe space to air disagreements are more likely to thrive over the long term.
How would you describe your company culture? What kinds of people are successful here?
These questions will help you learn more about the companys values and determine whether its work environment would be a good fit. This is also a good opportunity to see whether your interviewers typically associate the terms “work-life balance” and “family friendly” with their company culture. Ask at least one of these questions to everyone with whom you interview and compare their answers. There may be cause for concern if each persons response is wildly different.
If youre interviewing at the company, keep your eyes and ears open as youre being led to and from the interview room. Whats the floor plan like? Do any of the employees have photos of children on their desks? How loud or quiet is it in the office? Is the break room stocked with energy drinks and beer? These details will provide additional clues about the company culture and help you determine if its the family-friendly place youre looking for.
*Even if the responses are similar, if the family’s values stand in sharp contrast to your own, you are unlikely to be a good fit for their culture and may feel pressured to compromise your integrity to be successful in their eyes.
Menlo Partners strongly recommends using the interview process as a way to gain deeper insight into the psychology and politics of a family business. The following are some suggestions about what to ask.
On the other hand, if you are on an accelerated career track and are stimulated by growth and change, your opportunities for leadership may be extremely limited. The sites Monster and MindTools.com provide excellent analyses of advantages and drawbacks of working in family businesses.
According to Forbes.com, approximately 90% of businesses in the U.S. are owned or controlled by families. Working in a family business presents distinct opportunities and challenges. For example, a VC-funded Silicon Valley startup may actively seek an IPO, merger, or acquisition. In contrast, a family business that employs multiple generations of family members may be more interested in remaining independent for many years to come. If you are the type of person who likes to plant roots at a company, a family firm may be an excellent environment in which to do so.
What have you learned working for family businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area? Menlo Partners Staffing welcomes your comments and insights.
