I am a PhD student that is about to graduate. Sometimes professors whom I know personally (and/or have collaborated with before) will say "Come work in my lab as a postdoc!".
However, when I approach them after a few days/weeks/months, they inform me they would like to hire me, but do not have any funding.
Personally I would rather they not have not said "Come work in my lab as a postdoc" if they weren't sure they would have the funding, but I understand their reasons for saying such things.
However, in future, how can I politely enquire how serious they are about how interested (and able) they are in hiring me?