Initial Staff Interview - Sample Questions

When you first begin as a new supervisor, manger, chair, dean or director it is helpful to spend some time getting to know the staff in your area. Pick 4 or 5 questions below (depending on what you are interested in knowing) and interview each of the staff members in your unit.

1. Tell me about yourself - your family, your education, other places you have worked, what you like to do?
2. Tell me what your job is – what do you do?
3. How do you know if you are successful every day?
4. What does a good (or successful) day look like for you?
5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years - what do you see yourself doing? (or what are your career plans or aspirations?)
6. What is your dream job?
7. What are your top 3 to 5 strengths?
8. What are your top three successes for achievements from the past year or two?
9. What are your learning and development needs? Or what training would you most like to attend this year?
10. If you could change one thing about this office (faculty, department, unit) what would it be?
11. What could I do (or we do in this unit/department/faculty) that would help you do your job better?
12. If I came to you a year from now and I asked you how are things going and you said "never been better" can you describe for me what would be happening/what that would look like?
13. If you had a concern about me being your chair/director/supervisor what would it be
14. Looking at the faculty/department/unit as a whole, what do you think we could do differently that would make us more effective and/or make this a better workplace?