Most of the interview advice I've read focuses on how to answer the interviewer's questions. It is very important to learn how to present yourself to a potential employer, but the interview is also the best time seriously investigate whether the position would suit you.
I've used the questions below to gain insight into the details of a job opportunity as well as the dynamics of the group of people I would be working with. You'll notice that I ask the same questions of management as I do co-workers. I generally hope to hear the same answers from each group because divergent answers can signal trouble.
Of every interviewer:
- What is your education and employment experience?
- Of your education and prior professional experience, how much do you use those skills in your current position?
- Why did you choose to work here, and what keeps you here?
Of your potential manager:
- How long have you managed this team?
- Is this a new position? If not, why did the last person leave and where did they go?
- What is your "growth plan" for my first six months? What skills will I develop that I don't currently have?
- Do you have any questions or concerns about my ability to perform this job?
- Can you give me examples of how you've dealt with employee's frustration and how you've dealt with your frustration with them?
Of your potential co-workers:
- How would you describe your organization's and manager's personality and management style?
- How does communication flow between you and upper management? How often do you talk with people several "rungs" above you?
- When an urgent matter comes from your manager, how is it delivered and managed?
- Can you give me examples of how management deals with employee's frustration and with their frustration with you?
Of both your potential manager and co-workers:
- How many meetings a week does your team have? How long do last? What is their purpose? How productive are they?
- What skills are required to be successful at this job?
- When top performers leave the company why do they leave and where do they usually go?
- How are new ideas, procedures, tools, etc. received?
- What kind of work are people with analytical backgrounds involved in?
- What kind of people get promoted?
- How are project assignments decided?
Please feel free to make your own suggestions in the comments. I'll add worthy contributions to the post.
