January 20, 2006 08:38 IST

Y ou spend almost as much time with your boss as your sweetie, and finding the right match at work is nearly as important to your happiness as finding the right mate.



But finding the right boss isn't a matter of the heart. It's a cold calculation, matching your skills and ambition with the prospects and demands of a new job against the new honcho's management style. Landing the right job requires asking the right questions during the interview and picking up on the office vibe.



"The kinds of questions you ask tell the interviewer how well prepared you are for the interview," says Umesh Ramakrishnan, vice chairman of Christian & Timbers, an executive search firm with offices throughout the nation.

"Asking questions about their product range--or specific services you couldn't find out simply by reading the cover letter you received from the company or from the employment ad--means you did some independent research about the company on the Internet or at the library. This shows the prospective employer that you're serious about the job."



A job interview is like a first date in that both sides seek to answer the same question: Can this develop into something good?



The interviewer wants to know what sets you apart from other qualified applicants, and you need to know if the company is a good fit for you.

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The basic tactic for job seekers is simple: If you don't know, ask. But keep in mind that how and what you ask can determine if you get the job.



In the interview, your pitch to the prospective employer is direct: This is what I can do for you. Your questions to the interviewer should gently probe the flip side: What's in it for me?



You want a job that offers new challenges and the prospect of career growth. Make it clear to the interviewer that your education and experience has prepared you for the task ahead, and that you welcome something new. To this end, ask about your boss's management style. A micromanager is dangerous to your mental health and can be disastrous for your career. You want someone who sets goals, offers tips and lets you handle the assignment.



Before you hitch your wagon to the boss' star, determine if that star is rising or falling. Start by asking about values and goals. If your prospective boss isn't engaged and enthusiastic, your career is likely to take a hit, so keep looking.



Toss a few unexpected questions to your prospective boss. The intent isn't to nail him to the wall but to gauge his reaction. If he's miffed, it may be an indication of an acute lack of self-confidence--never a good sign. If the answer is right out of the employee manual, your prospective boss may be timid, unimaginative or even defeated. If the response if flat, stifle a yawn and keep your job search alive.



Ask your prospective boss to describe what makes a good employee. If the description doesn't match your aspirations, keep looking. But if things click, you may have found the right job.



Check into educational opportunities, but always bring the conversation back to a basic point during the interview: This will help me do a better job for you.



Work flow is part of the equation. If you're fast and accurate, your boss will quickly come to depend on you. But you may also pick up the work of less efficient or diligent co-workers, and this is likely to cut into your time for special projects. So you need to know if the reward for outstanding performance is more challenging assignments or a cascade of routine work.

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Resigning with grace

Turnover often tells a company's story. If there's constant churn, chances are it's a bad shop and you don't want to be there. Ask how long people stay and where they go after leaving the company. This can be tricky, because you've got to make it clear that you're not planning your departure before you've arrived.



If many former employees take a step up, working at the company can be a good way to advance your career. The smart boss knows that talented, ambitious employees often move on after several years, and if your skills match the company's needs, the boss will be happy to grab you, knowing that you won't be a lifetime employee.



Ask to talk to other workers in your classification. This will give you a sharper picture of office morale and how current employees approach the job.



This all plays out against a backdrop some job applicants miss. If you land an interview, the company thinks you can do the job.



Remember: Never discuss compensation in the initial interview.



Chances are you comb your hair and brush your teeth for a first date. A job interview also requires basic preparation. If the company is publicly traded, check the quarterly earnings statements filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Most companies file electronically, and the information is available online. If the company is privately held and an up-and-comer, read as many newspaper and magazine articles as you can find. Always know the company's competition.



"When asked about your accomplishments, not giving credit to others or a team can lead the prospective employer to conclude that you're egotistical or not a team player," Ramakrishnan says from his Cleveland office .



If you don't match your skills and aspirations to the right boss, your stomach will do back flips before you know it, your job performance will suffer and you can expect to clean out your desk in about a year. As you pack your stuff in boxes, a quick escape is all you want, but short stints at a series of jobs can damage your career.



Keep an eye out for the warning signs. Bad male or female bosses exhibit similar traits: moody, quick to pass the buck, routinely berating others, not above lying and generally unpredictable. Inconsistent and often conflicting demands of subordinates are perfectly counterpointed by an inexhaustible capacity to smile like a Cheshire cat and say the right things around superiors. But such people didn't become bosses on twisted charm alone. They're good at something--just not getting the most out of subordinates.



If possible, talk to the company's clients. This will give you an unvarnished view of the company's strengths and weaknesses, and may give you an insight into how it treats employees.



Asking such questions is much like a first date: How things are said can reveal as much as what is said. Listen carefully and keep an eye on your prospective boss's demeanor. These basic techniques will work for nonprofits, mom-and-pop operations and major companies such as Intel, Microsoft, Exxon Mobil and JPMorgan Chase.



Finally, follow your gut. If your prospective boss lacks confidence and if you're a gunslinger, you're headed for a shootout you can't win. Bullets beat the big monkey only in the movies. If things just don't feel right, the job isn't right for you--and won't be--no matter how badly you want it or how long you strive to make it right.

Slideshow: Networking tips