Asking the right interview questions reflects not only your knowledge of a company but your intellect and interest in a position. The following questions can be used at interviews.
Questions to Ask Group Members and Supervisor
What is the documentation group’s relationship with Product Development?
What materials is the group responsible for producing? (hardcopy, on-line, CD-ROM, Web)
How many people in the group have less than years of experience?
How many people are there in the entire group?
How do you handle editing?
What is the supervisor/employee ratio?
Does the group have a budget?
What is the corporate culture (work environment, working hours, dress code)?
What role does the group play in the design of the product(s)’ user interfaces?
If applicable, describe your on-line documentation system and approach?
Do you perform usability research and competitive assessment?
What tools do you use to create documentation?
What is the average length of documentation projects?
Is documentation written in accordance to software releases?
Is affiliated with any professional organizations?
Questions to Ask Supervisor/Human Resources
How do you manage your employees?
What is your management philosophy?
Does the company allow movement into other groups?
Are there opportunities for advancement?
Is promotion based on seniority?
What is your philosophy on continuing education?
How often are employees evaluated?
Do you have a formal training program for new hires?
