Home
daily blog
job brick wall
interview prep
resumes 101
6 interview styles
2nd interview advice
post interview
thank you letters
true stories
phone questions
phone tips
top 10 questions
behavioral questions
situational questions
questions you dread
interview questions
midlife careers
contact me
about me
site map
privacy policy

[?] Subscribe To This Site

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines

Interview Question List

What qualities do you look for in a boss?

Rejoice if this question shows up on a company's interview question list. At first glance, this sounds like a loaded question.

You could also be asked this behavioral interview question this way:

Describe your current/past boss for me.

Here you are sitting in front of your future boss--who you know nothing about--and you're being asked to describe your ideal boss.

Remember to always ask yourself, what is the fear behind this question?

Managers want to hire people who will lift their burdens, solve problems, and make life easier for them...not the other way around.

Managers accomplish their goals through others.

Naturally they want to surround themselves with good soldiers who will take direction from them, are easy to manage, but can also work independent of them.

On the other hand, in order for you to do your best work, you need a manager who is also a good leader.

Good leaders posses the following qualities:

  • Treat you with courtesy and respect
  • Clearly communicate to you your duties, responsibilities, goals
  • Value your input and ideas
  • Remove roadblocks that prevent you from doing your job

  • Allow you the freedom to do your job with minimal supervision
  • Be available when you need them
  • Respect your privacy

Oh that you be blessed with such a boss!

I've worked for a couple of bosses like this and it was heaven. I've also worked for a couple of Neanderthal bosses who caused me to stare at the wall for an hour wondering how on earth they were ever given a leadership position.

The highlight of my day under the reign of the Neanderthals was lunch and 5 o'clock. Whereas, the highlight of my day under a good leader was 6:00AM when my alarm went off, and I actually looked forward to going to work.

This is your chance to express to the interviewer the management style that allows you to do your best work.

If the manager is offended that you actually expect your boss to tell you your duties and responsibilities and provide you some training; then, you have to ask yourself, do I really want to work for this person?

Remember, a job interview is a 2 way street.

Would you rather find out in the interview that this manager is a Neanderthal, or after you're on the job under the lash?


Back from Interview Question List to Behavioral Interview Questions

Back from Interview Question List to Job Interview home page

footer for interview question list page