Questions to ask about a job offer or a new job

If it converts to permanent, when can that happen and is there a fee?

Agency contracts often carry a conversion fee or a minimum period before the client can hire you without penalty. This is the mechanism that quietly kills conversions, so find out the terms before you take the role for that reason.

From: Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Contract Position

How do I cancel, and exactly what do you need from me to do it?

This is the one answer worth writing down word for word. Watch for cancellation by post only, a notice period measured in billing cycles, or a form that can only be signed in person during staffed hours. Vagueness here predicts the whole experience.

From: Questions to Ask Before Joining a Gym

What does a normal week look like here, and what does a bad one look like?

The bad week is the honest description of the job: quarter end, an outage, a launch, an audit. If nobody can describe a bad week, either the team is unusually calm or you are being managed.

From: Questions to Ask When Transitioning Into a New Role

What happens when one of my patients has a problem after hours?

Emergency cover arrangements vary from a rota to an expectation that you take your own calls indefinitely. Ask how often it happens, whether it is paid, and who covers when you are away.

From: Questions to Ask When Joining a Dental Practice

Who are the five or six people I should meet first, and what does each of them do?

Names and roles up front let you arrive with questions instead of blank introductions. The list also exposes the informal map, including anyone who gets named repeatedly but appears nowhere on the org chart.

From: Questions to Ask Before Starting a New Job

What will I be expected to spend each month to stay in good standing?

Compare the figure they say out loud with the figure in the compensation plan. If your bonus depends on personal volume, that volume is a monthly cost, not a sales target.

From: Questions to Ask Amway Before Joining