• What would I see if I stood outside at 5 o'clock? Would everyone be smiling? Staying late or leaving early? Would they be taking work home with them?
• What is your "learning plan" for me in my first six months?
• What competencies do you propose I will develop that I don't currently have?
• Which individual in the department can I learn the most from? What can they teach me? Can I meet them?
• Does the company have a specific program to advance my career?
• What are some examples of the decisions I could make in this job without any approvals? Can you show me the degree of autonomy and control I will have in this position?
• How many hours a week do you expect the average person on your team to work? How many hours does the average person work? Are there work/life programs in place to promote a healthy work/life balance?
• How will my performance be evaluated? What are the top criteria you use? What percentage of my compensation is based on my performance? Is there a process whereby the employees get to assess their supervisor?
• If I do a great/bad job in the first 90 days, how specifically will you let me know? What are the steps you would take to help me improve?
• What is the first assignment you intend to give me? Where does that assignment rank in the department's priorities?
• What makes this assignment a great opportunity for me at this particular point in my career?
• How many hours of your time can I expect to get each week for the first six months on the job? How often will we have scheduled meetings?
• If I were frustrated about my job what specific steps would you take to help me overcome that frustration? How about if you were frustrated with me?
• Can you show me examples of what you have done for others in your group in the past year to overcome any frustration?
• What are the "wows" of this job? What are the worst parts? What will you do to maximize the former and minimize the latter?
• What are the biggest problems facing this department in the next six months and one year?
• What makes this company a great place to work? What outside evidence (rankings or awards) do you have to prove this is a great place to work?
• When top performers leave the company, why do they leave and where do they go?