Interviews shouldn’t be one-sided. Candidates need to remember that these conversations are an opportunity to ask questions.
Instead of focusing only on what the job description says, consider asking a recruiter what is happening behind the job posting. Then, speak with an employment expert at Staffing Network to decide whether the position open makes sense for your goals.
Ask What Success Looks Like for the Position Open
This may be one of the most revealing questions a candidate can ask. A position might be open because someone was promoted, transferred, or moved to another company. But a position could also be open because the company is growing rapidly.
The answer doesn’t automatically make an opportunity good or bad. But it gives you context. For example, if you’re considering a temporary position covering an employee’s maternity leave, the reason for the opening is straightforward. You know the assignment has a defined purpose and timeline.
Also, a job description might say that you’ll manage accounts, support customers, or assist a department. But what does the employer actually want the person in the role to accomplish? The answer can help you determine whether your skills and working style align with the position.
For a temporary role, this can be especially useful. Even if you’re only going to be there for three or six months, you still want to know what a successful assignment looks like.
Maybe the goal is to keep a department running smoothly while someone is away. Maybe there’s a specific project that needs to be completed. Understanding the objective helps you determine whether you can make a meaningful contribution and gives you something concrete to work toward.
Other Questions Worth Asking
Once you start thinking beyond the job description, you may discover several questions that can help you evaluate an offer more carefully:
- What prompted the company to hire now?
- How would you describe the team’s working style?
- What are the biggest challenges facing this team?
- Are there specific skills the manager values for this position?
- What would you want the person hired to accomplish first?
- For a temporary role, what determines the assignment’s end date?
You do not have to ask every question. Choose the ones that matter most to you. The goal is not to interrogate the recruiter, it is to gather enough information to recognize where the position fits into the bigger picture.
A temporary position can provide flexibility for someone who wants to take time between long-term commitments, explore different industries, accommodate family responsibilities, or simply avoid being tied to one employer indefinitely. A temporary job may be ideal for someone who wants to work for several months and then take an extended trip, for instance.
In short, temporary work isn’t always a stepping stone to something else. Sometimes, a temporary position open is the destination because it fits the life someone is intentionally building.
Does a short-term gig appeal to you? Staffing Network is a full-service staffing and recruiting firm that specializes in light/skilled industrial, engineering, and operations professionals. Connect with Staffing Network today.
