Questions to Ask a Prospective Employer

In addition to job duties and general expectations, pay and benefits you want to find out if this is a job you want and one in which you can be successful. Below are 10 sample questions you can ask to gain greater insight. Adjust the questions to you specific situation. After the manager answers each question you will probably want to ask additional questions to get a more detailed understanding.

1. Could you draw me an organization chart and tell me how this department/job serves and relates to other departments?
*Tells you who are clients and power centers.

2. What are the three top issues or accomplishment you want to see resolved or achieved this year in this department/job?
*Tells you what needs to be fixed or accomplished ASAP.

3. What resources (people, budget, equipment, etc.) are available to resolve or accomplish these goals?
*Tells you if the company or manager are serious and realistic about what it will take to fix the problems or accomplish the goals.

4. What authority will the person in this job have to make the changes required to accomplish the goals?
*Tells you if you will have the power necessary to accomplish the goals.

5. What departments or individuals might be resistant to necessary changes and why?
*Tells you whom you will have to sell on your ideas for improvement.

6. If you had the perfect person in this job what specific changes or improvements would you expect to see in the first 3 months, 6 months and 12 months?
*Tells you the expectations. Are they realistic? Do you know you can accomplish these with the right resources and support?

7. We all have pet peeves. In regard to this job or people who have been in this job in the past what are your pet peeves.
*Tells you this managers ” hot buttons”. You have to decide is you can or want to live with them.

8. How would you describe the company’s culture?
*You are looking for how people are judged and used. Is it a flexible, life balance and employee friendly environment, a ridged work till you drop culture or something in-between?

9. What kind of training is available to improve and grow employees technical and professional skills?
*In today’s world on-going training is essential to insure your promote ability and marketability in the future.

10. Tell me a little about how you like to work with your direct reports – your communication and management style.
*What a manager says and how they really are may not be the same but, at least you will have an idea of how they see themselves.

Make up your own questions to insure a good fit and a strong possibility for success.