Identify the Bad Boss During the Interview by Asking the Right Questions
An interview is a two-way street . While you may be trying to get a job, you also want to know if you’re getting a bad boss. You can’t just ask, “Don’t you like being the boss?” but perhaps you can get an idea by asking more subtle questions.
The Business Swamp Harvard Business Review suggests asking questions about how you will work as if you already have a job in order to understand how it will work with this potential employer. Ask them questions about how your daily tasks will be accomplished, or brainstorm if you can. This will give you an idea of how they think:
At the same time, you can see how she reacts. “Look for her willingness to engage in dialogue rather than asking you pre-asked questions,” says Fernandez-Araos. Think of it like rehearsing a joint work session with your boss-to-be. If she wants to chat with you during the interview, she will most likely establish a working relationship with you. After (and only after) you have established an understanding, ask questions that reveal her expectations of the person in the position and any potential shortcomings in the job.
Of course, you can’t judge someone completely from one conversation, but that will probably give you much more information than asking, “So how do you manage your employees?” It will also show you a willingness to work and (hopefully) an understanding of how the work will go.