Common sense gives you a list of questions to avoid during an interview. That’s easy.…
John Borrowman, CPC
Borrowman Baker, LLC
Gallatin, TN
Common sense will tell you the questions to avoid during an interview. The harder part is asking the right question at the right time.
The real trick has to do with who you’re talking to. The boss’s point of view is different from a would-be co-worker. Craft your questions accordingly to get more useful information.
Ask the boss: What is the firm’s view of work/life balance?
Ask the co-worker: Have you ever felt like you had to put in “face-time?”
The boss sees things from thirty-thousand feet. That view is valid. It just may not give you what you need about the day-to-day.
Ask the boss: What’s the culture in this practice?
Ask the co-worker: What are the things that happen here that make work fun? When you brag about this place, what do you tell people? [If you get no answers to either question, you have a different problem.]
When it comes to managing and promoting, sometimes a boss will see things that aren’t there, and miss things that are.
Ask the boss: What are the qualities of people who get ahead here?
Ask the co-worker: Is this the kind of place where good performance is recognized, and promotions are fair?
Skillful interviewing can reveal information that helps you make a better decision.
John Borrowman
