Beyond.com Career Network 

Find out if the boss will be as great as the job

-- ask these questions during the interview:

1. What's your ideal employee like?" Asking this question will give you an idea of what this boss would expect from you. Listen carefully to the answer and deduce what it will mean for you. For example, if her ideal employee works independently, you'll know this boss is not a micromanager. If her ideal employee follows procedures without question, you'll know it may be an uphill battle to implement changes or new ideas. If her ideal employee works long hours, don't expect to leave on time every night.
2. "What are the other people in the office like?" Does this boss really know the people who work for her? Does she list their accomplishments with pride or say something vague and unimpressive? Note her tone of voice when she talks about her team. Is she enthusiastic or disappointed?
3. "How does an employee succeed on your team?" Hopefully she'll give you something more enlightening than "Do the job right." You want to learn what standards are expected. For example, if it's a sales position, will you be expected to exceed a specific dollar value in sales or obtain a percentage of satisfied customers? So if her answer is too generic, you may have to follow-up with more questions to get specifics. Ask about the typical career path for an employee who successfully meets goals.
5. "How do you go about solving problems?" How she answers this question can give you insight into her management style. Does she prefer to take charge when things go wrong, or encourage her team to develop solutions?

In addition to the answers, note the interviewers overall attitude about answering the questions. If they were open to being asked and answered thoughtfully, they will seem more inclined to promoting good working relationships. If you're offered the job, you shouldn't have any hesitations about working for this person. But if they appear to be resentful and did not seem to answer the questions to your satisfaction, they may not be someone you whish to work for. It's better to have this insight sooner rather than later.

Bonnie Lowe, www.Best-Interview-Strategies.com.