1. Could you explain the company's organizational structure? . t- M1 q$ q4 b3 }5 M5 f) O1 G+ b& x
2. What is the organization's plan for the next five years, # p* X' h1 I6 u: g. [8 n$ J1 b: g5 U
and how does this department or division fit in?
j" y* c! C( B5 [4 K3. What specific skills from the person you hire would make 9 B: g( q' d: D9 C# i: p5 B
your life easier? + ]* W% U1 C# p! {
4. Will we be expanding or bringing on new products or new * f% R `9 k n6 q* j& ?* ~+ d
services that I should be aware of? 5 E3 {; o$ ]2 N( t
5. What are some of the problems that keep you up at night? , ]3 S' P) R/ A) c% G* Z! L$ J
6. What are some of the skills and abilities you see as
( N1 E% M$ v/ j) e) Jnecessary for someone to succeed in this job?
/ J; ~7 P& w! S7. What would be a surprising but positive thing the new person
1 L1 ^ J' e5 j! I% V( U; Bcould do in first 90 days?
* L+ P* g6 @$ r# \" r1 Z8. What challenges might I encounter if I take on this position?
, m" t$ U1 P7 P2 p9. How does upper management perceive this part of the ( w& P- r# Q4 i
organization? " T1 d$ m! C$ k! e" f
10. What are your major concerns that need to be immediately
1 p0 G- P! f; d* [/ Q8 v; Gaddressed in this job?
# { W) f/ X) }. c: W6 q6 ?11. What do you see as the most important opportunities for
. n. ~7 s* V( P1 j4 E! r, Oimprovement in the area I hope to join?
! x! ]" T7 D; O K12. What are the attributes of the job that you'd like to see * c* Q1 k$ U, l/ o' k d
improved?
' O, |( P& G3 I$ L2 x+ p13. What are the organization's three most important goals?
& e5 m9 |. [( Z14. What is your company's policy on attending seminars, v& V) y2 v% X3 t$ `! _8 U0 ?+ S
workshops, and other training opportunities? 4 Z4 J& l0 I# ?& |7 ]
15. How do you see this position impacting the achievement of 5 E" V4 ]+ G8 `( I/ A( A
those goals? % b0 `+ b+ B ~/ S
16. What is the budget this department operates with? ) a* [! X& {3 C- f$ E
17. What attracted you to working for this organization?
+ K9 ]; M8 s& M5 W18. What committees and task forces will I be expected to 7 D* i: R) P2 p% z* g; m7 _' P0 o
participate in? B* V( P. U# c
19. What have you liked most about working here?
; g3 e- e1 C$ x9 a3 ?* C- {20. How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be
6 o: [/ l$ o) u4 i8 w0 c3 Bmeasured? By whom?
; H( h8 k, y1 D- V7 W# o3 O21. What are the day-to-day responsibilities I'll be assigned?
- ^3 D: V# {$ M8 s22. Are there any weaknesses in the department that you are $ Q( F! M7 J' b3 C- P3 w0 m
particularly looking to improve? 9 v8 ]6 A* k1 n7 g8 a, G, g, }6 g c
23. What are the department's goals, and how do they align with 9 w, T7 q" A2 u* f; @" \
the company's mission? 2 i7 Y) q. ?5 c2 p
24. What are the company's strengths and weaknesses compared with
, ]2 W4 S1 ]2 xthe competition? (name one or two companies)
# ^3 j0 `* D. H4 b25. How does the reporting structure work here? What are the
- p0 `& T0 h4 c8 s# H# d+ @8 Gpreferred means of communication? 0 n7 e! r5 v, `0 K0 L. `
26. What goals or objectives need to be achieved in the next six q6 s4 u1 e7 P- X W, A3 d) p
months?
% \# ^$ ^( b* v27. Can you give me an ideal of the typical day and workload and
: i6 I6 W# a. @; \! P/ K& S3 J) c& {/ ]the special demands the job has? " ~( H( @2 b7 n) o; K
28. This a new position. What are the forces that suggested the
: \( M* Z( R* M8 }5 h4 g; ^need for this position?
: Z9 h, E( e( P3 M29. What areas of the job would you like to see improvement in
8 Q5 D0 C6 ]( A8 I" p! Owith regard to the person who was most recently performing these
6 r6 z$ t1 ]' Q" Jduties? ; e- K# V$ N$ q5 ]4 E# @" e2 A& F7 d
30. From all I can see, I'd really like to work here, and I
$ s7 G( i8 S% x) zbelieve I can add considerable value to the company. What's the next
+ }$ P0 {! b; ?) istep in the selection process?
. h' M; u# e! J" F31. How does this position contribute to the company's goals, * q5 F9 V# h: D' W: m, K
productivity, or profits?
# t9 r% f/ j# a* V8 r1 R32. What is currently the most pressing business issue or problem ; o S4 k6 ^. R$ [" h
for the company or department? 4 X$ ]$ b5 {. \' R8 }% \( P
33. Would you describe for me the actions of a person who
7 ^7 ^8 h% x6 Kpreviously achieved success in this position?
, y% _9 j! h& g3 m34. Would you describe for me the action of a person who
' U+ M: D8 P% y$ T" gpreviously performed poorly in this position? ) @! w1 r* X2 L; ?, p( v3 d' ?
35. How would you describe your own management style? $ `& u. F/ I5 z6 W4 b
36. What are the most important traits you look for in a 8 q$ Y7 }# M' u: n8 d5 j) e
subordinate?
4 L/ S- q1 S. u2 W' a37. How do you like your subordinates to communicate with you?
+ Q% }* n' z/ q- j/ V38. What personal qualities or characteristics do you most value?
4 j. N1 z' p. @39. Could you describe to me your typical management style and - R4 A% d& l/ z/ O. w
the type of employee who works well with you?
: E0 ]% B4 q/ ^40. Corporate culture is very important, but it's usually hard to
% J1 [# m. o6 }define until one violates it. What is one thing an employee might do * E9 G/ D: S. A
here that would be perceived as a violation of the company's culture?
. S$ c: o8 u. `5 a. _9 C, r41. How would you characterize the organization? What are its
5 d% R6 j& b: K6 ]principal values? What are its greatest challenges? 8 M$ O7 B! N) O( ?" ^
42. How would you describe the experience of working here?
1 W+ E1 L1 U( J. k$ G2 H43. If I were to be employed here, what one piece of wisdom would + ~! I, O" I/ f0 |
you want me to incorporate into my work life? 4 v* Y- i# @0 {2 [6 y
44. What are a couple of misconceptions people have about the : t7 u& q5 ?1 O# ~5 \! j
company? 2 M' k5 Z" e, \& l+ l/ h/ U
45. Work-life balance is an issue of retention as well as
! H4 `# ?. e& p& T2 [/ d5 xproductivity. Can you talk about your own view of how to navigate the
6 A9 E/ \4 c/ ^% Ptensions between getting work done and encouraging healthy lives
' R4 H: C0 ?# c/ Foutside the office?
7 d0 v& O e8 Z1 y7 g, w/ L9 o46. How does the company support and promote personal and + N* @' X1 a# `, o
professional growth? 3 W( q; [, T/ T! k! r. `, m
47. What types of people seem to excel here? 0 I+ ?+ t4 q) O6 }, b
48. Every company contends with office politics. It's a fact of 7 _# [; p8 L. A! Z, M F
life because politics is about people working together. Can you give 8 S8 K! W+ O1 ^4 e- q
me some exams of how politics plays out in this company? 4 T; y9 Y5 C* f5 I1 P9 P
49. What have I yet to learn about this company and opportunity
: V o& e j8 U( ~that I still need to know?
9 `8 l$ u. ~2 u7 `" v8 f k; f5 W50. I'm delighted to know that teamwork is highly regarded. But
* F0 t* b3 H9 C! a, mevaluating performance of teams can be difficult. How does the
" i( x. |# b9 ccompany evaluate team performance? For example, does it employ 360-
, }$ J& [- y$ X$ `0 s3 Jdegree feedback programs?
7 q0 w2 \6 a) G1 {/ i51. What are the organization's primary financial objectives and # i. Z3 I% T- x0 ~, [
performance measures?
+ X* U. [0 F; g% `. q0 P9 [52. What operating guidelines or metrics are used to monitor the
! ^* Z v" x; A6 U" Oplanning process and the results?
* r" H7 H6 P b1 G. ~; f53. To what extent are those objectives uniform across all
, s4 W7 B- x& O/ C. [9 C, Iproduct lines? # S6 ~- Y8 C- H5 h2 X
54. How does the company balance short-term performance versus
: w( X0 L/ x' ?4 W4 t o' jlong-term success?
3 p9 n V3 K& W55. What kinds of formal strategic planning systems, if any, are 3 e% C7 Y$ J' F5 I
in place?
. b: A7 \, A0 y) ]& W4 r, L# [56. Can you describe the nature of the planning process and how 2 U: D6 M1 N+ {+ q! Z
decisions concerning the budgeting process are made? & t3 C$ y' C$ G5 m0 v/ i
57. Can you identify the key corporate participants in the ) n# I; q5 | j* r/ B/ S8 A
planning process?
. \$ i/ y$ Q' N+ Y6 I) z58. How often and in what form does the company report its 3 E: K. h& z. S3 E2 Z
results internally to its employees? 2 d- O% S( d0 f- h
59. In the recent past, how has the company acknowledged and
' n, H) p( T+ a! ~7 W" f9 |& qrewarded outstanding performance?
, i, {5 O" M0 ~2 [$ E9 ]4 ~60. What are the repercussions of having a significant variance + V' H& x7 {$ f( W: f* ?
to the operating plan? 0 {* [. }1 p, U% T! a) @
61. Are budgeting decisions typically made at corporate ' ]: s7 h3 u5 i% `3 C% a+ E4 m" S
headquarters, or are the decisions made in a more decentralized ( h( V2 _8 i+ |5 H( C
fashion?
; a8 b# s6 O: _# y62. I'm glad to hear that I will be part of a team. Let me ask . \; c2 d2 R( y; i7 U B
about reward structures for teams. Does the company have a formal
, [1 y! V: j1 [/ ^6 r2 Mteam-based compensation process?
7 I/ R5 r5 C0 I/ [63. Is the company more of an early adapter of technology, a & e# `7 v9 e7 m' {
first mover, or is it content to first let other companies work the 6 Q5 ~; I. R4 M J
bugs out and then implement a more mature version of the technology? U. h0 M2 u5 C+ o
64. How does the company contribute to thought leadership in its % F- A( p, o- L/ A8 v
market?
& B j! @* S/ l) j& U% O, @2 F3 t65. How advanced is the company's commitment to knowledge 8 i% j$ ^' _0 x- t+ `1 |+ I
management? : G% }) w5 U* Z- ^7 k
66. I was pleased to hear you describe the company's branding ) h$ R8 E( y; `9 Y9 I. g
strategy. How does branding fit into the overall marketing mix? ! |: a- Z6 c9 R# o1 I% Q# W" m
67. How does this position contribute to the company's goals, . Z1 b: y1 z, T, a$ g
productivity, or profits? # `) U) t1 E u$ w; t
68. According to (name source), your principal competitor, Brand 1 r6 K5 h0 B& A
X, is the best-selling product in the space. What does Brand X do
' A( c5 D) K4 x" sbetter than your product? / p) ]% A9 P0 c. ]! ]+ W2 f
69. Business Week magazine ranks the company second (or whatever) 5 _# P9 j- L1 P) C# z
in its industry. Does this position represent a change from where it
' Y5 @6 s: B6 z0 Iwas a few years ago?
1 t9 L# ~- c; T0 b; w1 W70. How accessible is the CEO (name him or her) to people at my ; Q& ~1 ^' f- v2 k; p
level of the organization?
0 i1 v9 j3 @: z+ ~( W" X' L% p71. Does the CEO (name him or her) publish his or her email `: N# c6 Q' M; o& [6 ], a
address?
0 L) [9 M4 E9 d0 l0 M& y72. I understand that the CEO is really approachable. Are there . ~* |! l4 W s4 \* Z4 {
ground rules for approaching him or her?
h! T7 M# m& j0 I5 v( G73. Staff development is mentioned in your annual report as a ' `' Q9 Z7 ~! e+ c8 ?, R
measure on which executives are evaluated. What kinds of training % n9 y/ i7 I) ~5 f2 p3 F5 R% K$ |
experiences might I expect?
# t& x' l' D2 _# n7 H/ z& Q2 u3 y+ \74. Is the department a profit center?
0 q' e/ O+ C% Z* Y9 D7 u75. Can you please tell me about the people who will look to me ; S# M) `6 B5 R
for supervision?
# c# w/ b1 Z8 t4 S76. Would I encounter any coworker or staff person who's proved
) S) V( A" @+ v M. ]$ Kto be a problem in the past?
- ?1 h9 z5 F9 j) V) L' r77. What happened to the person who previously held this job? 8 U! I0 z3 i7 Y, E# J
78. The incumbent was dismissed? How could the problems have been
/ o! a& G7 ?4 g; W- |avoided? 6 [* m+ q& V, Q$ F" a4 J
79. The incumbent was promoted? I'm delighted to hear it. Would
7 |* T% x0 z9 X$ Dit be possible for me to talk to him or her?
' l# y" c8 M3 \* T80. What is the company customer-service philosophy? . I, u" T3 }; r) _; z' R
81. Could you tell me about a time when the team/company went out
6 A7 j/ b5 X: kof its way to provide knock-your-socks-off service?
/ o# ]# k X' ?/ H# ]2 k82. The best companies rely on rich customer data to fuel
( M+ u3 [ e. K4 f9 Fpersonalized content and services. How is the company doing in 5 f/ q; G+ a- c6 c5 H$ {: z
personalizing its offerings?
$ s" S3 h( M; [" b0 ^2 R; p9 ?% |6 ^83. Customers are expecting companies to protect their data. Does : X1 m' x- B! u6 S' r7 ~3 o
the company have a privacy policy for its Web initiatives, and how : A* M3 {8 {" A* U* ^. h% z
does the company balance the momentum for ever-increasing - T: `! ^' f9 _3 x, | Q$ _% ?
personalization with rising concerns for privacy? 6 w. W6 Q p" z$ r. E! c
84. How empowered are employees? How much of the company's money
$ p& I6 }7 u9 U. \; ncan your people (including the ones with single-digit pay grades)
2 D- q' l6 @7 ^( P) tspend on their own recognizance to satisfy a customer or address a
6 d. X% _3 e. G6 L3 } kwork-process issue? 5 K4 X: P! N3 P6 E. o
85. How often would I come into direct contact with real, living, 5 {8 M( v" d0 J& E( o
breathing, paying customers?
6 e7 w& _" U7 j6 |86. What are the success factors that will tell you if the
/ `! C4 i' P8 rdecision to bring me on board was the right one? / P% t! h1 @3 S- V% F
87. To make our working relationship successful -- something we
9 B+ v+ q& {1 C2 h+ Q6 Wboth want -- we'll need to be sure we have good chemistry together.
+ O7 F% _# I' P% Y0 c1 tHow might we determine this, and then what action would you see us : N1 N+ @0 m% ]) @9 i* F
engage in to build that relationship? , H( H. u: h& D. j e
88. If you and I were developing some sort of philosophical
8 ^- x4 T4 u( M" i: a+ i% Fdifference, how would you want to go about resolving it? |