You should never accept an offer without doing some questioning. It can be tempting to just say "yes," especially if you've been out of work. You don't want to be kicking yourself later for not taking all the proper precautions. Here are five questions you should ask the hiring manager before taking that job:
- What will the typical work day be like for me? Job seekers are often hung up on job titles rather than the actual work. It's important to get an answer straight from the horse's mouth about what your typical day will entail.
- What is the management style of my boss? You should be sure that your personality will fit with your supervisor's style. Know yourself before you take employment under a boss with whom you won't mesh.
- Are there any major changes in the works for the organization? Change isn't always a bad thing. In fact, it can often be the best thing to happen to a nonprofit. Upheaval can create a lot of stress, however, and that isn't something you will necessarily want.
- Will I be able to learn new skills throughout my employment? It's always a good thing to have an opportunity to grow as an employee. Being able to learn new skills will help keep you fresh and make the work day less monotonous.
- How many people have held this position in the past few years? Knowing whether there has been constant turnover in the job you are applying for will give you insight into how stressful it could be. Keep this in mind before accepting the offer.
For Director of Development positions, I would add a most important question, "As Director of Development, will I have authority over the organization's marketing and communications?" To me this is critical to being a successful Chief Development Officer. You can take huge steps forward with fundraising, only to have a disconnected marketing team make larger leaps backward.
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