Questions to ask potential employers

[bc2209]

This is a bit premature, and without going into very specific details I'm asking for some help.

I'm a student at a flight school and once I finish my CFI i'm hoping to apply and be considered for an open position.

I took it upon myself to meet with someone from human resources in regards to getting a feel for company as a whole and to ask some general questions such as what they look for in applicants, companies future plans, if they offer health insurance, etc.

I'm wondering if it were you, and you got a preemptive chance to speak with a company before you were able to actually work for them and apply, what would you ask or want to know?

Thanks for the replies

 

[adk]

You're going to get better (and more honest) answers from the CFIs who are currently working there. Let your CFI know you're thinking about applying to work there and ask him/her all of the questions you were thinking of asking management.

 

[SilkyD]

One question that you must be able to ask as an under employed CFI will be:

 

[JordanD]

"Are pants really mandatory?"

 

[CFI A&P]

"Has payroll ever bounced?"

 

[Autothrust Blue]

"When will you call me?"

 

[jskibo]

Does your insurance cover Ebola?

 

[CFI A&P]

"Are pants really mandatory?"

"What's the sexual harassment policy around here?"

 

[Autothrust Blue]

"What's the sexual harassment policy around here?"

DISPLAY AFIS MESSAGE 1/1
TO: CAPTAIN AND COPILOT, SKW5***
FROM: CHIEF PILOT
YOU'RE FIRED

"Awwwww!"

 

[CFI A&P]

DISPLAY AFIS MESSAGE 1/1
TO: CAPTAIN AND COPILOT, SKW5***
FROM: CHIEF PILOT
YOU'RE FIRED

"Awwwww!"

Story time.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

Story time.

Nope. Not me.

 

[hook_dupin]

If this outfit has actual HR folks, it must be pretty big.

Here's what I have:
-Are flight instructors employees or contractors?
-How much time off?
-Are there reduced aircraft rental rates for instructors?
-Are there any other education benefits?

 

[Phil Schuyler]

If the first thing a prospective employee asked me was "how much time off?", that's probably not a person I would hire.

That said, if you're looking for information on what it's like to work there, I'd recommend keeping your mouth shut and your eyes and ears open. You can learn a lot just by observing what's going on around you.

When it comes to things like compensation and benefits, that can wait until you're actually under consideration for a position.

 

[Boris Badenov]

If the first thing a prospective employee asked me was "how much time off?", that's probably not a person I would hire

Yeah, pay first, time off second.

 

[Dugie8]

Monthly blow and hooker allowance.

 

[Deleted member 27505]

I took it upon myself to meet with someone from human resources in regards to ...

Right up near the top of your list of "things not to do in life" should be: "Talk to HR (unless someone is holding a gun to your head)."
Others might be: "Declare an emergency in Peru." , "Use left rudder in a high power single (unless Russian)."

 

[Deleted member 27505]

You're going to get better (and more honest) answers from the CFIs who are currently working there. Let your CFI know you're thinking about applying to work there and ask him/her all of the questions you were thinking of asking management.

I do sometimes believe that the very act of asking ANY question of management renders one immediately unemployable. Proceed accordingly.

 

[chrisreedrules]

My favorite is: "would you recommend your son or daughter to work here"?

 

[Deleted member 27505]

My favorite is: "would you recommend your son or daughter to work here"?

Yeah, but if you ask that of HR, they'll bust you for age discrimination for your audacious assumption that the person to whom you are posing the question is old enough to have kids. ...no, they don't understand "hypotheticals".

 

[chrisreedrules]

Yeah, but if you ask that of HR, they'll bust you for age discrimination for your audacious assumption that the person to whom you are posing the question is old enough to have kids. ...no, they don't understand "hypotheticals".

I actually did ask this question recently in an interview and I didn't say "or daughter"... Needless to say the HR lady stared daggers at me. She quickly butted in, "OR DAUGHTER"!? But I still got the offer!