Ten questions to ask a potential boss.

Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

The Gallup organization has found one of the main reasons people leave jobs is a bad relationship with their boss.  The problem usually stems from a difference in behavioral or communication styles. If you join an organization you will be spending a lot of time with your boss. Asking the right questions during the interview can help you determine if the two of you will be a good fit. Asking the right questions can also help you to be successful if you are chosen for the job. You will know a lot about your boss that will help you get off to a good start. You want to have a dialogue both to understand the kind of boss you would have and to demonstrate how you are the best fit for the boss as well.

1. If you could have the perfect employee what would they be like?
   Listen very closely to see if you fit the description. If you don’t have the characteristics described, you may struggle to be successful. If you do have all the qualities of the perfect employee, volunteer how you do and how you have used these traits on past jobs.  This will also tell you key things to pay attention to when you join the company.
2. Tell me about your staff?  How long have they been with you?
   If everyone has been there a very short term, that could signal a high turnover rate. There may be an issue with the boss or the environment.
3. How will I know I am doing a good job?
   How this question is answered will tell you if you can expect any recognition or praise. You should also get some idea of the way feedback will be delivered and the frequency.
4. What is your approach to making decisions and getting work done?
   Some bosses like to make all the decisions, some want you to make them all and others are in between.  You need to know where this person is on the spectrum.
5. Can you tell me the types of decisions I will be making?
   Here you should be given specific examples of the type of responsibility you will have and the types of decisions you will be expected to make.
6. How do you reward success?
   There are many ways to recognize good work. What works best for you?  Is it in line with what your potential boss is describing?  Do they even recognize good work?
7. What happens when I make a mistake?
   You are going to be learning and mistakes are part of that process. Will an allowance be made for that?
8. How do you develop your staff?
   This is a really telling question.  Will you be trained or put into an office and expected to know what to do?  Is this a manager that develops there staff for promotion?  Ask about the types of positions any their direct reports have moved into.  What are their success stories? If they make a practice of developing and mentoring they will have success stories.
9. Are you able to balance home and work life?
   If you are going to be expected to work 80 hours a week, it is best to get that on the table.  Some jobs expect lots of travel or weekend work. If balance between work and home life is important, ask the interviewer how they achieve the balance.
10. What is your favorite thing about working here?
    If the interviewer enjoys their job and the organizations they will tell you.   Listen to the things they list to give you a clue about the manager’s style and the organizational culture. Do they talk about how fast paced and exciting it is or do they talk about how friendly everyone is.  Pick an environment that makes the most sense for you and where you are most comfortable.

These questions are only suggestions to get you thinking about the work culture and manager to give you the best fit.  Look at your personal marketing plan and review the types of organization fitting your ideal. Think about the type of boss you want in your next position. Tailor the questions to find out the things you need to know to make a good decision.  The objective is to get the best fit for you and the company!

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation