Page 161 - 101 Dynamite Answers to Interview Questions

154 Nail the Job Interview!

high end of the salary scale for your industry may not seem like nearly
such a good deal when after three years on the job you still haven’t
received an increase. You will probably wish to know how salary increases
are determined - annual cost-of-living increases, a merit system, or a
combination of both. How large are the increases on average?
You’ll probably want to establish what other benefits the company
offers. Large companies may offer both a plan for term life insurance and
medical insurance. You may wish to probe what deductible the medical
insurance covers as well as whether the employer pays the entire cost or
only a portion of the cost of health insurance. Many companies will pay
the health insurance cost for the employee only. The employee must pay
the additional cost for family coverage. As the cost of medical plans
continues to rise, employers often require the employee to pay a greater
portion of the cost of insurance than was once the case. Smaller compa-
nies may or may not have insurance plans to cover employees.
Larger companies are more likely to have retirement plans than smaller
organizations. It is reasonable to inquire whether there is a retirement
plan and how it is structured. Do you have to spend the rest of your life
with the company before you are vested? Some large companies may offer
profit sharing plans.
You will probably want to know about the leave policy. Some organ-
izations designate a certain number of days each year for leave, whether
sick or personal; others offer leave designated as numbers of days of sick
leave and days of personal leave. How many paid holidays employees get
each year as well as vacation days are likely to be benefits of interest to
most applicants.
More and more large organizations are also providing day care oppor-
tunities for employees’ children. Some companies give employees a choice
of employer-paid benefits, but may not make al.1 available as fully paid by
the company. Many two-career couples do not need health insurance
provided by both employers. For example, a couple may choose company
paid health insurance through one spouse’s employer and the other may
select a paid day care arrangement through thme other employer.
Smaller firms may not be able to offer many of the benefits mentioned
above, but nonetheless may offer attractive employment opportunities.
Questions about benefits should be raised prior to your acceptance of a
job offer.