Page 148 - 301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview, Second Edition

EXPLORING QUESTIONS

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What do you like best/least about working for [manager’s name]?
This is a bold question of an interviewer who will be a peer and
reports to the same individual you will. You may or may not get a
straight answer, but that itself will give you plenty of information.

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How many direct reports will I have?
If part of your job is to supervise other employees, it is appropriate
to ask about the number and experience levels of those who will look
to you for leadership. A good follow-up question: What is the experi-
ence of those I would supervise?

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Would it be possible to meet the people who would look to me for
leadership?
Sometimes it is possible and sometimes it is not. The question is fair
to ask. If you do get the opportunity to meet the team you may lead,
consider yourself lucky. You will get invaluable information.

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What is the average turnover in the department I’m applying to join?
Ask this question especially if you have reason to suspect the turn-
over is higher than average. If there is a problem in the department,
you owe it to yourself to ensure that you do not become an unaware
victim of it. Another way of asking the same question: How many
new hires per year does it take to keep the department fully staffed?

9-29
How would you describe the corporate culture (or work environment)
here?
Just remember that what you will get is the interviewer’s estimation
of what’s most important about the company culture.

9-30
How responsive is management to ideas generated by employees?
With this question you are testing for how hierarchical the organiza-
tion is. Now, what kind of organization suits you?

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