- Talk to 1 manager, 1 direct report (if applicable) and 1 peer
- What was the time you worked together and what was your relation?
- Was there a particular project that this person did that really impressed you?
- Follow up: was it their own initiative? Or did they just execute on someone else's idea really well?
- Follow up: on the flip side, was there ever a project where they didn't live up to your expectation? Maybe took longer or was more buggy or wasn't according to the spec.
- Was there a time when this person brought a new idea to the team or showed initiative?
- What was your reaction when this person left?
- Did you (or the company) try to keep this person?
- Would you hire this person again if they came back saying they changed their mind? Or if hypothetically whatever circumstances that made them quit (e.g. compensation/location) wasn't an issue any more.
- If you started your own company, would this be one of the first people you would call?
- Is there anyone that's even higher up on the list? What does that person have that this person doesn't have?
- What do you think is this person's motivation? Is it coaching or making the business successful, or something else?
- In what kind of company do you think this person will be the most successful?
- On the flip side, let's say this person ends up leaving {COMPANY}, or even worse, gets fired. What do you think is most likely to cause that?
- Can you describe this person's relationship with peers and with management? Follow up questions: on how this person dealt with conflicts, differences in opinions etc.
- Is there something that would be useful to know given that I might potentially manage this person in the future?