Dear CareerBabe:

I'm just about to start interviewing. My last boss was quite emotional and my boss before that was someone who wound up being fired himself. How can I pick someone good to work for?

Dear Picky:

Don't be too hasty when you interview because picking the right boss is just as important as picking the right job.

Here are some clues to help you during your interviews: Through networking, find someone who has worked for this person before or who knows someone who has worked for this person before. What do they say about him or her? See if the people in the department have been promoted. If they've left, ask why. What training, bonuses, etc do they get for their people?

Be extremely attentive to how your potential boss treats you during the interview process. Are they on time, responsive, honest, open? Are they willing to put things about the job, its responsibilities and compensation, in writing? Do they keep their commitments to the interview process?

Watch carefully. What are your new boss's relationships with upper management? Have they themselves been promoted? Over what length of time? Are they included the mainstream of the company or shoved off to one side? What contribution have they made to the bottom line fo the company? Are they responsible for generating revenue or for creating expenses? How successful are they in their own career and how "nice" are they in their interpersonal relationships? What is their management style? Watch every move.

Try to interview people who also work for your potential new boss but be careful you don't create the impression that you yourself can be a behavior problem. While it is correct to ask these questions, watch your phrasing: "John, how does Bill like to be kept informed? Through e-mail or voice mail? Does he like to know every detail or just the broad strokes? What happens at weekly meetings? You speak very highly of him, it sounds like there is something special in his mentoring." Then just be quiet, and listen very carefully.

Finally, find out if they like to hire people smarter than they are and what they do with these people? Ask who gets credit for brilliant work? Ask if this is an environment where you can learn and what happens if you make a mistake? Try to hold out not only for the right job but also for the job where you will learn and grow - with the right mentor!

Good Luck, Picky. You're on the right track!