What to look for in a remote company

Posted byremotelyHappy Posted onNovember 22, 2022 Comments0

Considering a new remote job offer? Here are some great questions to ask throughout your job search:

What to look for in a job posting or during an informational call:

Are they transparent with reasonable salary ranges in the job description? (Or are they transparent with salary ranges during the first informational interview / via email?)
If there is an on call rotation, are the expectations reasonable?
Will the interviewing process take a reasonable time commitment?
Is the job description friendly (i.e. absent of descriptors such as ‘work hard’, ‘fast-paced’, ‘ruthless’, ‘prove that’, ‘maniacal’, ‘whatever it takes’, ‘high-performance culture’, ‘all-star’, ‘weed out’)

How transparent is the company with financial information, important ongoings, and overall direction?
What are your company’s meeting preferences? (What types of meetings do you have? How many are there on an average day? How long are meetings usually?)
Do you have a culture of documentation?
How do you make decisions when there is disagreement?
Who typically makes important decisions, and how?
When there is conflict or disagreement, how do individuals interact with each other?
What type of metrics are important to this team, and why?
What are your favorite and least favorite aspects of working at this company?
If there was one thing you could change about your company, what would it be?
Do you feel optimistic about the future of the company?
Do you have all the tools, resources, and information you need to succeed?
How often do you receive constructive feedback from your manager and/or peers?
How often do you receive praise from your manager or peers?
Can you tell me about the last time you made a modest mistake? How was it handled by your manager(s) and team?
(If there is an ‘unlimited’ vacation policy) How much vacation time have you taken this year? How much vacation time does the average employee take per year?
What kind of virtual activities and scheduled fun time do you have on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis?
On average, how many hours do you work per day or per week?
How would you describe your relationship with your manager?

What does your onboarding process look like? Will I be paired with a mentor? Are there videos, documentation, starter tasks, and/or social activities to get started?
What tools do you use for remote working?
How do you measure performance?
Do you have a career progression path with clear criteria for each level? If so, could you share this with me?
Is there a budget or time allocation available for training courses or professional development opportunities?
Can you tell me about the last time an employee made a modest mistake? How did you handle it?
How do you promote diversity in hiring?
Do you offer stipends to cover the equipment and services that I would need to work effectively?
Why is this position open? (Is it backfill or company growth?)
- (If the position is backfill) Why did the last individual leave?
- (If the position is potentially a growth opportunity for existing employees:) Was promoting from within for this position considered? Why or why not?
Is there an anonymous employee suggestion box? If so, were the last few suggestions and how did you resolve them?
What’s the process for taking a few hours off to visit the doctor or run an errand?
How would you describe your managerial style? How do you typically resolve conflict?
What is your turnover rate? How long do employees typically work here for, and what are the common reasons for leaving?
What is the vision for your team and product?