BLUF: if I asked directly in an interview about a former coworker and why they were ineffective as a manager, should I report this up?
I had an interview within my company but at a different site. During the interview I was asked "what do feel 'Tom' should have done differently as a manager" what were sOme of the issues you had with him and how could you improve on this?"
"Tom" and I were not close friends but we did work together prior to him moving to this other site. He was never my manager and even if he were I would never call out his ability or la k thereof like this. I knew that he left the company due to what he considered ethical issues and the person asking me this was his former supervisor.
Is this something I should report up within my company? I am not sure I would feel comfortable working for this individual but I want to make sure my impression is not clouding my judgment.
They Get An Answer If They Are Entitled To An Answer
If he was never your manager, the say that. I would say something like:
Since I never worked with "Tom" as my manager, It would be unfair to make judgement about his management skills. I do know that all managers have to deal with a lot of competing objectives and pressures and I did not have visibility on everything on "Tom's" plate. Those two factors mean I am unable to give you a detailed answer.
I don't think there's anything to report "up" - it's a common question that gets asked (by bad interviewers). It's not a true behavioural question - it is a question that lets you spout off on what you hypothetically might do and therefore doesn't provide much data.
What do you want to happen if you report this up? What do you expect will happen?
Just say you don't know
Because you don't.
"I'm afraid I really don't know. I wasn't close enough to the situation to make an informed opinion."
I agree with MARKMT - nothing serious enough to report.
I said exactly what was
I said exactly what was suggested. That he and I worked on some projects together but that he was never my manager.
I told my site sup what had happened simply because it threw me. He is the one who wants me to elevate this. I really do not want anything out of this.
Thanks for the input.
Mac