6 factors to consider in a potential boss

It’s hard out there for job hunters, who often don’t have the luxury of nitpicking what’s available.

So, the guy who interviewed you had a sweaty handshake or a “Hang in there!” kitten poster in his office; that doesn’t mean you should turn down a perfectly good job offer.

On the other hand, don’t underestimate the importance of gut reactions. No matter what, you should seriously consider declining a job offer if you see certain red flags.

Figuring out early whether a job is the right fit entails, in large part, getting a sense of the person to whom you’ll report. If, based on interviewing alone, you recognize that the two of you won’t see eye to eye or have a good working relationship, it’s probably not worth the HR paperwork and wasted months to confirm that.

That doesn’t mean your boss should mirror your style, ideals, work habits and personality. Sometimes opposites attract.

There are areas you must evaluate during the “Do you have any questions for me?” portion of the interview to ensure your potential future boss doesn’t have a vastly different idea from yours about what makes a good employee, a good job and, ultimately, a successful company.

A desire to help employees grow