| It's a very funny thing, a job interview - especially if you | | | | after question #4 - ditto for this one.) |
| make it past HR, and you're face-to-face with your | | | | 7) What keeps you up at night, work-wise? What's |
| next prospective manager. There is no one more | | | | your biggest concern? |
| important in your job satisfaction equation than your | | | | 8) I don't know whether you've ever done the |
| boss. So here you sit, and he or she is asking you | | | | Myers-Briggs assessment or DiSC or any of those, |
| questions, and you're trying to get a read - what will | | | | but how would you describe your communication style |
| this person be like to work for? Is he patient? Is he | | | | - more forceful, or more interpersonal, or detail-oriented, |
| smiling? Is he testy? Are there any questions that you | | | | or what? |
| can ask him, to get a sense of his management style? | | | | 9) Can you tell me about your boss, and his or her big |
| Here are ten, to get you started. I doubt that you'll get | | | | priorities? |
| the chance to ask all ten of them, so pick your | | | | 10) From our conversation so far, what are concerns |
| favorites in advance! | | | | that you may have about me? Where do you think a |
| 1) Can you tell me about some of your proudest | | | | person like me might thrive in this job, and where might |
| professional moments so far? | | | | someone like me have trouble? |
| 2) What are some things that have driven you crazy | | | | You NEED to feel comfortable with your next boss. I |
| about subordinates in the past? | | | | just heard from a friend in Chicago who had to leave |
| 3) What is the skill or attribute that you most value in a | | | | a job after six months because the fit between her |
| member of your team? | | | | and her boss was atrocious. Loving the work, the rest |
| 4) What sorts of things do you do outside of work? | | | | of the team, and the view from your office window is |
| (Listen to me now: if you don't feel comfortable asking | | | | not enough when you work for someone you don't like |
| this question, that's a big red flag. It's a perfectly | | | | or don't trust. Don't take a job like that. LIKE your boss. |
| appropriate question to ask the person who might be | | | | I know, it's not always easy. When you're under |
| managing you, a few weeks from now. If she's giving | | | | pressure to find a job, it's easy to overlook little quirks |
| off a vibe that such a question would be too intrusive, | | | | (and even big ones) that could make a person tough |
| THAT'S NOT GOOD.) | | | | to work for. |
| 5) Can you tell me a little bit about the interactions that | | | | But you'll know right away, if the interview doesn't |
| happen within the team? | | | | create a safe space for you to ask questions like this, |
| 6) I'd love to hear about my predecessor - what | | | | that working for this boss might be dicey. And then |
| worked in the job when he or she had it, any elements | | | | you can decide whether you want the job so badly |
| that you're changing now that the job is open again, | | | | that you're willing to walk eyes-open into a possible |
| and what happened to that person. (See the note | | | | bad-boss situation to get it. |