great post…I look forward to reading more! thanks alot!

A conversation I had with a buddy made think of something else I’d like to add. Write the questions you intend on asking down and take them to the interview. When they ask if you have any questions, pull it out and spread it on the table, saying “Yes, I’ve got a list of questions that I’d like to discuss.”

Not only does this help you remember all your questions, it also demonstrates your preparation for the interview and strong interest in the position.

“The key is to get a good sense of at least three specific things before you hire in, and (not) I’m referring to the dress code, the break schedule, or the availability of free coffee. Instead,

The overall premise is right on the money. I coach a lot of people to remember that an interview goes both ways and you should go in with a thorough set of questions you want answered that address what it will be like to work at the new place (detail questions about benefits and even pay are secondary). Personally, I’ve been told after getting my last two jobs that many of those I interviewed with felt more like I was interviewing them. This is especially true if the interviewer isn’t prepared with very good questions. Being prepared with good questions has the added benefit of making a strong impression on those you are interviewing with assuming the questions are good ones.

Your questions were great. Great interview questions should ask for examples to avoid getting fluffy philosophy answers. If you ask “tell me your style of leadership” you get a lot of fluff and theory. If you ask “give me an example of a time you gave one of your subordinates some corrective feedback” you force the person answering to be very specific. If they can’t be specific, it should raise red flags.