DO I REALLY WANT TO WORK FOR THIS GUY? HOW TO TELL A GOOD BOSS FROM A BAD ONE
12:53 PMThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruption and rising unemployment. At a time when many of us are jostling for jobs, it's a good idea to brush up on your interview technique. And a key tool in your box should be your Good Boss/Bad Boss radar. In this blog, MATTHEW FEARGRIEVE draws upon two decades of workplace experience - plus some recent pandemic job hunting - to help you answer the ultimate question: Do I Really Want to Work for This Guy?
Do I Really Want to Work for This Guy? |
1. Check Online
Use websites like LinkedIn, AboutMe and Crunchbase to research things like how long employees stay at the company. High staff turnover is always a red flag.
2. Observe the work environment
If you’re going to an in-office interview, or if you are offered a tour of the office, look around you. Pay close attention to how employees interact with each other. Do they seem happy and energized? Or stressed and serious? Are they comfortably talking with each other? Or are they glued to their desks with their heads down?
3. Observe communication style
Don’t overlook unprofessional or rude behaviour, such as emails that aren’t returned for a long period of time (or, when they are returned, without apology).
4. Ask behavioural questions
A few examples:
- How would you describe your management style?
- How have you dealt with a difficult or under-performing employee in the past?
- How have you rewarded an employee’s excellent performance and hard work?
Rule Number Five: Remember, there is no Hiding Place
Times are hard. The coronavirus pandemic has made job hunting a lot harder. But there's no point getting a job if you can't keep it. So make the interview process count. Assess your prospective boss and employer. Be discriminating.
If there is any aspect of their behaviour or personality that you don't like, identify it and ask yourself about it. Can I work for this individual? Remember that you'll be spending long and stressful hours in his or her company, whether physically or remotely. Whilst it's true that many of us are working a lot from home, a bad boss can still be a toxic inflicter of online stress. And when, hopefully, COVID-19 has been dealt with, the majority of employers will expect us to drag ourselves back to the physical workplace. You owe it to yourself to make sure you have a good boss waiting for you there.
Matthew Feargrieve is an investment funds specialist. You can read more of his blogs here. |
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