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Hi, I have an offer for the position of Senior Associate at pwc AC Bangalore. Can you please tell if there is a permanent wfh and will they give it in writing. And how is the WLB at PWC AC Bangalore. Is it true that I will have to frequently work late at night. Is the shift timings 9 to 6 as the hr told me or it usually extends? Pwc AC PwC
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“Tell me about the culture of the organization and how that differs in the team?”
Tell me about the last time you promoted someone and what made that person stand out
Great question. IMO, this question requires appropriate communication style/tone so you (as the interviewee) don’t come off in the wrong way. It’s a perfectly valid question, and a smart one, but if it comes off poorly, it can leave a negative taste (we’re all humans after all). Use your own style and situational judgment, but consider framing this to avoid unnecessary negative impressions. E.g., “I’d like to better understand how people are viewed as successful in this organization and what it takes to get to the next level. Can you tell me about…?”
Do you micromanage? Do people actually work 40 hours here, cause I'd like to get paid for 40 but work 20.
They're going to put you to work 20 more.
Really, the manager is unlikely to answer truthfully. I have definitely turned off hiring managers trying to get a feel for work load. No manager will ever admit they don’t have the right resources and you will be working 60 hours a week. No manager will ever admit they micromanage, They see it as managing. Many of them have just not accepted that they are getting things done through others and have to let the team make some mistakes to grow. I like the other answer in here about asking the manager about the last promotion they MADE ( not got). Get a date on that one. A micromanager drives people away. They don’t promote because they are always dissatisfied with the performance of everyone.
This is spot on! My last boss was a total micromanager, extremely nitpicky, all the things he said he wasn’t.
What is the team dynamics like? Is it an actual team environment or more of a startup culture?
"Whats your management style? Are you hands-on, or hands-off?" - if they're a micromanager and answer this truthfully, they'll say hands-on.
"Whats your management style? Are you very proscriptive?" (NOT prescriptive) - if they're a micromanager and answer this truthfully, they'll say they are proscriptive, that they have a specific and well-oiled, regimented (blah blah) system for success, etc.
Micromanagers obsess over process and time. Your questions should focus on how they plan and track opportunities or projects - do they expect to be copied on every email? Multiple check-ins per day or per week? That's a micromanager right there.
Last but not least, pay attention to the non-verbal signals when you ask these questions. Their body language, their facial expressions, hand gestures, voice dynamics, etc. Most micromanagers, I find, are uncomfortable with going into details of their management style.
Good luck
Wise advice!!
But supposing they do are micromanaging.. Does it change anything negatively?
What's the structure like for day to day work, who oversees my tasks, and do you have a specific reporting methodology for my tasks?
Just ask politely, with corporate jargon. They're not going to think too hard about it. At least most people don't and give you a direct response.
Personally I would ask how metrics are measured, I would ask how are people held accountable for their work? what do quotas look like, how much over do the high achievers go? How are they rewarded?
Lastly I would ask them to describe themselves as a leader. I.e "how would you describe yourself as a leader?" "How would you describe your leadership style?"
I think someone already mentioned tone/body language is everything, good luck!
How do you deal with difficult teammates and : or clients?
How is performance measured? How and when would you like to receive updates on my work/projects? What are the standard work hours / are they flexible (are there early shifts or late shifts? What are your expectations / what is the process if I need to leave early or go to an appt)? How do you conduct 1:1s and how often? What's your leadership style? What are the key skills / behaviors to be successful in this role?
There are so many questions that you could ask to gain insight... pick a few that are most important to you.
I usually make sure to address these anyway when I interview candidates... it goes both ways. I don't want to babysit or pull teeth to figure out what you're working on or need help with. 🤷♀️
How does your team keep you informed of their activities? Do you prefer to receive regular detailed status updates or general summaries that flag potential escalations?
I’m a bit more direct interviews, but it hasn’t affected me negatively yet. So:
Ask: “is there a standardized review process here? And at what cadence are they given? I’d like to know, who will feedback be given from, and will you take into account 360 feedback from colleagues of my choice.”
And “With the understanding that not everyone learns the same way, do you consider yourself to have an adaptable management style and are you open to feedback from your team? Give me an example of a time you’ve adjusted things”
If they’re a micro manager, they will tell you about a time they got “more hands-on.” If they’re flexible, they will tell you about a time they asked the employee what ways they could help them.
On hours and flexibility: “how do you ensure a team is appropriately staffed to meet the demands of a workload?” And “what does office life look like post-covid?”
I’d expect an answer about client pushback, and how they address when someone works overtime and what that will mean. I’d also expect an answer about return to office and how they handle flexible hours. You could also be more specific, like if you’re a parent and need flexibility to work from home when your child is sick, “is there a work from home policy in place, and what circumstances is that expected to be used for?”
“Is this more of a process driven culture where tried and true standards have been known to ‘just work’ or is there still a lot of discovery left to be done among those in a role similar to mine”
1. “How do you prefer to stay connected with your team’s work?” or “How much autonomy will this role have to make decisions on how to manage the workload?”
2. “What hours do people on this team typically work? For example, do you have core hours across multiple time zones?”
Chief
1. You will not know until it is too late, but everyone has a different mgmt. style - develop trust & respect and you will not have to worry about this.
2. Most companies operate from 8:30/9AM - 5:30/6PM - these are standard hours, if you need to have specific hours then be upfront.
This is the best answer. I don't feel asking anything back at interviews really can represent the reality.
I'd ask what the team atmosphere is like. Use that answer to gauge. I know for me, my boss had some of my now colleagues on the call and let them answer questions around this. Looking back, what they said was exactly spot on (granted, we have an incredible team).
Aak what are the expectations of the incumbent? What does a typical work week look like?
Ask if you can talk to people on their team. Generally, this is already arranged as part of the interview panel, but I’ve had hiring managers volunteer that I can talk to anyone on their team.
But if you can't, how does it change your impression of the interview?