Questions to Ask Potential Clients And/Or Employers

by Steve Amoia

Here are a few general questions that may help you learn more about a potential client or employer. Most of these are targeted for a potential employer; however, others may assist you to evaluate a

client/subcontractor situation. Some of these queries

will be answered during your interview. When asked if you have any questions, you must demonstrate a sincere interest in their operations. Stand out from the others who only care about salary and benefits. Show your value by the quality of your questions.

You may not need to use all of these; consequently, you should develop targeted queries that are job-specific. I have provided a few for writers (#9 and #10) at the bottom of this page as examples. Hopefully, this format will provide you with a good start. This list may also serve as an interview primer, and focus you on meeting the needs of the hiring authority.

Position and Company Background:

1) Why is the position available?

a) How long was the last person in the job, and why did they leave?
b) Do you attempt to fill slots internally?
c) Are you the hiring authority?
d) What is the job's main challenge?

2) How much turnover has there been in the last year, and what is the average tenure here?

a) What has the Sales Trend been for the last three years? Are there any long-term liabilities that might impact growth?
b) Are there any plans for future acquisitions and/or mergers?
c) How many new positions have been created during the last few years?
d) Have there been any layoffs in the last year due to the economic climate? (A sensitive topic, but ask with tact.)
e) Does your firm have a long-range forecast or mission statement?

The Interviewer Is Not Your Adversary. This is not name, rank, and serial number time. Show respect and display genuine interest about their career path and current challenges. They have a problem or opportunity (the unfilled job), and need someone to provide a profitable solution.

3) How long have you been here, and what is your background? What inspired you to become a ____?

a) What other kinds of work have you done in your career?
b) What is the most challenging aspect about your current project/responsibilities? Are there any problems? How could it be made more profitable to the company?
c) What has been your proudest achievement during your tenure here?

4) Organizational Fit:

What type of person does well at your firm, and what are the qualities that you look for in a subordinate?

a) How would you define your company culture, and do you hire talent or specific skill sets?

5) Management and Leadership Style:

Please define your approach to motivating and leading your subordinates. Are you more hands-on in your style, or do you expect your employees to function more independently?

a) Do you criticize or praise in public or private?
b) Do you hire those who have talents that might intimidate you? (Optional. Ask tactfully.)
c) Who had the most influence on your leadership style?
d) Who is your favorite leader from either the past or present?

A Glimpse of Daily Life:

6) Software Tools:

a) What operating systems/platforms are used?
b) What types of software packages are used here?
c) What is the policy on training or learning new applications? Is there formal training, or do you expect people to learn on their own?

7) What would be my initial duties or projects?

a) Would I receive formal training in the product line, or would I learn it on my own?
b) Could you describe a typical day?
c) What immediate problem needs to be solved?

8) Team members:

Could I meet some of your team or others who I would interact with on a daily basis? Do employees here work more independently or in teams?

Targeted Questions:

The following are more specific questions; for example, the type a technical writer might ask:

9) How many writers/editors are in the Documentation unit?
a) Who determines the structure and work environment?
b) Do writers work on the same project simultaneously?
c) What direction would you like to see your unit take?
d) What is on the immediate documentation horizon?

10) What is the flow between Development and Documentation? Is it highly structured, or more personal in nature?

a) How are changes in the programs communicated to the writers?
b) Are there formal specs? If so, who provides them?
c) Is there a QA/Testing department?
d) How often are updates released?
e) When is the product received to document? Pre-alpha, alpha, or after beta testing?
f) Does Development review documentation prior to release?
g) Who signs off on documentation?

About the Author:

Steve Amoia is a freelance writer and also designs personal web pages. He has published articles and book reviews about alternative health, career-related themes, Italian and international soccer, along with martial arts. He also maintains a non-profit web site dedicated to World Football (soccer) that includes an interesting Argentine family connection made possible by the Internet. His writing portfolio, along with the soccer site, may be found at http://www.sanstefano.com, and his email address is info@sanstefano.com.