Captivate Network, after surveying almost 700 North American white-collar workers, concludes that you can spot several bad bosses before they’re yours (www.captivate.com).
The “time-is-money” boss is entrepreneurial, convinced that a lost second is a lost dollar or more. Making people feel squeezed for time, he overworks everyone and constantly brings up the bottom line. This isn’t the boss for you if you don’t want to see the world in dollar bills.
How can you spot him? “A good place to start is the engineering department of a large company,” says Scott Marden, Captivate’s research director.
Forget the money part and just think about the overwork. Captivate’s “workaholic” boss might not be the one for you. He likely micromanages and creates a job-hunting culture on site.
Make your move during the interview by asking him to describe a typical day. No breaks? No personal activities? Get outta there.
The “empty-suit” boss is just the opposite of the other bosses but easier to work with. Marden explains that he often vanishes and tends to be younger than his 50- to 60-year-old employees.
Get an early clue at your interview. If it’s during lunch and he orders a drink, high-tail it to the nearest exit.
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