More and more recruiters are asking me this question, which is very annoying. Because the job tasks are repetitive, what guarantees do I give that I will stay for some time and not switch/quit after just a couple of months.
What guarantees can someone give these days? I answer that I've never quit jobs out of boredom before. I am sure the recruiters haven't given anybody any guarantees themselves.
What are the best answers here? Help is appreciated.
First, I would assume that recruiter doesn't know much about the job. Sometimes recruiters ask questions from list of questions to ask on interview. Which totally omits the fact that you are applying for a position because a) you have the skill b) you know about the job itself c) you know what pros and cons are associated with it.
So based on that I would ask the recruiter:
Did you have previous problems with people quitting after few months and do you know why?
Because that leads to another trope: The company might have issues with people quitting. Because of a plethora of reasons. If they did it's good to know that before you commit to the job/offer.
I had one interview when such question was asked, and unknowingly I asked back "Why? you had people running away?" which turned to be true as company offered junior pay for specialist position requiring managers skills.
It's also good point of exit, so after saying you know your job, you know the cons of it and you can handle them ask them in return WHAT THEY can offer to help you stick with them. Remember, interview work both ways. Hey get to know you but you can also get to know them.
The way you're phrasing the question is a little odd, but it seems like the employers you're interviewing with are interested in ensuring they won't invest in someone who walks out the door quickly, leaving them empty handed. That's a reasonable concern for an employer.
How you answer this will vary a bit depending on the type of job and your work history, but generally it's best to try to show two things:
Here is the correct answer
Before I sign an offer I carefully research the company the opportunity and the fit. I sincerely hope you do the same. If you have misrepresented the company or the job, I will indeed quit. If I have misrepresented my skills and experience and you should fire me immediately. If both of us have done our homework correctly this will never be an issue.
Normally, this question doesn't get asked, especially by "more and more recruiters." If multiple recruiters are asking you this question, it's likely because your resume/linkedin/whatever only shows short term positions or else indicates that you leave jobs quickly. (If that is incorrect, you should review your CV)
If you were a student or had some other main obligation, then an answer such as
Until now I've only done small gigs, because I focusing on my studies. Now, I am looking for something more long term. I can't guarantee my stay any better than anyone else, but I wouldn't leave a job because of boredom.
If you don't have such a reason, then things will be more complicated and likely warrants another question (How do I justify quitting multiple jobs after short durations to a recruiter?)
What type of recruiter is asking this question?
Company Recruiter - An excellent response would be something along the lines of 'Well if there is value in a guarantee that I won't quit after two months, how about a bonus at two months of employment?' They usually don't ask this question unless it's the negotiating phase or real close to it. Also companies tend to be more flexible on wages/salaries then they are a small bonus, so it may be easy for them to throw you a bone at two months.
Independant (non-company) Recruiter - There could be a hundred ulterior motives in play here, as this person is more interested in continued commissions then your work well-being, so I'd ask the same question as above but make it a little more open. 'Is there an offer on the table? What kind of bonus are they offering?'
As a wild guess they've probably had people do exactly that, and maybe they're paying low wages which promotes this behavior as people will take it until something better comes along. Either that or it's a hostile/very bad work environment and as soon as people see that they start to plan their exit.
Another question I've had success with during interviews is 'Will you show me where I'll be working?', as I've had more than one gig where they interview you in the high-end glass-and-marble conference room, and then when you start they dump you in a cube farm with low walls and lots of noise.
Good luck.
Offer to sign a contract with a bonus for staying a fixed period of time. This is how contract to hire essentially works, but as an FTE the only way you can really guarantee residency is in writing, so if it's that important, this is a valid solution.
“How can you guarantee that you won't change/quit job after just couple of months?” How to respond?
The mutual guarantees of both parties are going to be spelled out in the contract. If you want a guaranteed time of notice for both parties, we'll make it part of the negotiations and the contract.
More than likely the recruiter is saying that because they have referred other candidates that did not stick around. Typically a recruiter makes money when a client stays past 90 days, or some arbitrary length of time.
Several years ago I made a career change and left a job that a recruiter got me after 97 days. I felt HORRIBLE when I found out the company had paid a referral fee of several thousand dollars to the recruiter. 7 days past the 90 day cutoff. If I had quit a week earlier they would have been off the hook for it. I thought I was just doing a temp job but the company was really hoping I'd stay and fill the role for the next several years. You can imagine how that probably made the recruiting firm look.
So for the good of everyone, they are probably wanting to just cover themselves and not waste time if you're not serious.
So how do you "guarantee it"? There really is no way other than pointing at your job history and to simply be honest and open in your intentions. Don't do what I did.
Even though the concern these recruiters are expressing is valid, this is a very weird question and sounds like a bit of a red flag.
One part of this should indeed be you as an employee being prepared to put in the time, effort, eagerness to learn, etc.
Another part however should be what incentives they are able to offer you in order to make you stay.
This could be
Opportunities to learn
This is what my answer (and counter-question to them) would be.
Depending on the type of work or location this might vary though.
Edit: Obviously if you have been employed previously for any amount of time, that could also be part of the answer.
Show the recruiter from your resume that you've had a very stable employment history, especially doing similar types of jobs. In essence you want to prove that you're not a job hopper, and that you've done and stuck with similar work in the past.
(Note: this answer does not weigh in on whether you should go forward with the recruiter; that's up to you to decide)
I personally would reply that they can add penalty clause in the contract for termination within the period of time that they consider important; and then increase the rate.
Of course - you want to be pretty sure that you can stay there for that period of time before you sign the contract!
Well, I have not heard that much that question, but depending on the job (specially related with laws and procedures, not my field though), I indeed have heard they ask that. Or at least in my country. I have a relative that works in that field and he does not ask that directly, but here is the problem:
You can learn a lot about how, for example, a lawyer office works, all the paper work and stuff, in 2-3 months, and go to another lawyer office which is a competitor of the first one. All your knowledge, which is quite valuable as it is something quite "repetitive" but inddeed valuable, was thrown to waste. Employers like to invest in their employees.
But, like @Bebs said, it is quite a big red flag. Maybe a lot of people have left that job position in the past few months, and they do not want to keep "wasting" money in all the learning procedure, time, etc.
"How can you guarantee that you will find me a job that I wont want to leave in a couple months?" personally I think this question is rude an unnecessary and would have no problem being rude in return. wouldn't be the best response with someone at the company but its just a recruiter
"Do you guarantee not to leave after a few months?"
"No."
I don't think one needs to construct long answers, if one can just say that one does not give such a guarantee.
