5 questions to ask about job security in an interview

Other than, ‘will I get the job?’, there are many more concerns racing through your mind as you prepare for that job interview. In the turbulent world we currently live in, uncertainty has become the order of the day. The COVID-19 pandemic is staring right at us and even threatens to set other undesirable events in motion like the economic recession and workflow interference.

Therefore, as you think about your current or next job, it is critical to have these happenings in mind.

Some of the common factors that shape job security perception include the condition of the labor market, type of employment, technology disruption in the workplace, as well as expectations of the future.

As the future remains uncertain, especially due to the pandemic, many employees are skeptical about shifting careers. The major question in their minds is ‘will the new job survive COVID-19?’ This has become a critical question even to hiring managers as they appreciate the importance of employee job security in the company’s success.

With such a growing caution around job security, it is imperative to know the right questions to ask in an interview to gauge the security of the role as well as the hiring company. It is also paramount to understand how to frame the questions without sounding insensitive.

You can start with these practical ones.

What are the top 5 questions to ask about job security in an interview?

One of the surest ways of measuring the security of a certain role is to first assess your own suitability for the role. Is it the right fit for you in the long term or are you going to drop it a few months in? To understand how fit you are for the job ask these specific questions.

1. How do you measure success for this role?

This question allows you to find out whether the company’s expectations are realistic enough amid the prevailing business challenges. Understanding their performance expectations will help you better evaluate your capacity to achieve them. Are the expectations realistic enough to keep you striving towards their attainment? Is it a worthwhile investment of your time and effort?

2. What are the training and development opportunities available for someone in this role?

This question will help you shelve your job hopping concerns. It is a perfect opportunity to chart your career path in the company even in the long term. Regularly training employees is a great asset to the company and that may indicate stable job security.

Once you have ascertained your suitability for the role and the role actually resonates with your potential, shift your attention to the hiring organisation, and assess its survival in the long run amidst the ravaging pandemic. You can begin by asking these practical questions.

3. How have you adapted to flexible working programs in the wake of technology disruption?

As technology continues to feature in most business processes, asking this question is important for employees that prefer remote working programs. This question will let you know how the company intends to adjust its workflow routine in case of future lockdowns or economic turbulence.

It is also an opportunity to find out how fast the company is evolving in a rapidly-shifting world.

4. How has the pandemic affected your revenue and profit so far?

The answer you receive to this question will help you determine the sustainability of the organisation. That will further enlighten you about the resilience and flexibility of their business model. A business model that remains rigid to change may portend some trouble ahead.

While at it, you can also seek to find out who or how they have been funding the business since the pandemic’s onset to assess their financial soundness.

5. What practical steps have you taken to reduce risk while retaining your customers?

This incisive question will reveal how the company has been equipping itself to cushion its existence from future economic downturns. It is also a perfect opportunity to weigh the agility of the business amid a fast-paced world marred with all sorts of uncertainties.

You will probably be seeking answers to questions like ‘has the company reinvented its operation factors to align with the changing consumer habits or is their current strategy to remain in business forward-looking enough?’