6 Right Questions to Ask at Executive Job Interviews was originally published on Ivy Exec.
It’s common to focus on the questions recruiters ask when preparing for an executive interview. You might research the company’s history, culture, and values to present yourself as the perfect candidate.
While knowing how to answer interview questions is vital, you must also prepare some of your own. Many hiring managers will allow you to inquire about the job or the company. Some may ask if you have any questions towards the end of the interview, while others will wait for you to take the initiative.
Asking questions at executive job interviews reflects engagement and interest in the role. It shows you understand the duties and have what it takes to be a great leader. Job interview questions also give you a perfect chance to assess if the company is a good fit for you.
Ask the following questions to ace your next executive job interview.
1️⃣ Which goals would you expect me to meet in the first three months?
Every company has specific goals they want their executives to meet. It could be increasing profits by a given rate, exploring a new market, or building a dynamic team. Since brands have varying missions, you should understand what they expect from their leaders.
Knowing the goals you should meet within the first three months will help you identify the employer’s priority. It gives you more insights into why they want to fill the job position at that time. If you understand the targets an employer wants to meet, you can use the info to present yourself as the right person for the job.
Sell yourself during interviews by discussing how you helped other firms meet goals similar to those set for the executive role. Support your pitch with measurable results to be more convincing. If the employer wants to implement a new policy, you may give an example of a protocol you helped adopt. After that, explain how it transformed your previous workplace positively.
2️⃣ Why is this executive position open?
Executive job positions become available for many reasons. A company may create the role after identifying the need for a leader in a given department. They may also let go of whoever held that role in the past, or they might have quit. Such positions may also be open because a firm is launching a branch and needs a new team.
Asking why a job position is open will help determine if you have what it takes to fill it. Once a recruiter answers you, you can use the feedback you evaluate yourself. You will be able to highlight the skills and expertise that make you a great candidate.
3️⃣ What does the career path for someone in this role look like?
Getting an executive job is a dream come true, but you may still have bigger dreams for your career. If you are interviewing for a junior executive role, you may want to be CEO one day.
During an interview, find out what career progression looks like for someone in such a role. Does the company have growth opportunities for executives? How likely are you to get a promotion, and how long might that take? Will you get more responsibilities after some time, and will they come with more benefits?
Asking about the future of careers in an organization lets you predict your growth. It shows that you will likely stick around, and this may convince hiring managers that you will be a viable long-term asset.
4️⃣ What do you like about your job?
Knowing what makes the company you are interviewing at a great workplace is vital during decision-making. It would be unfortunate to quit a good job and move to a firm with a toxic culture or no work flexibility.
Ask the interviewer to mention things they like about their job and the company in general. This way, you’ll assess if the culture aligns with your values and interests. You can also identify if the open executive role allows you to fix things you don’t like about your current job.
Recruiters admire executives who are interested in learning more about a company. They value candidates who think beyond the job description and consider other aspects of the job. Asking a hiring manager what they love about their job reflects attention to detail. It shows that you take factors that affect employees’ job satisfaction seriously, which is a good leadership quality.
5️⃣ Is there anything that would make you hesitant to hire me?
It’s pretty normal to anticipate rejection for an executive job position. After all, there might be other candidates the employer feels will be a better fit. Factors like a resume gap and lack of skills might also make you less confident about getting the job.
Ask hiring managers about aspects that may make them skeptical about hiring you. After that, determine if there’s anything you can do to change their mind. If you don’t have a particular skill, you may highlight the unique abilities you possess to compensate for that. You could also express interest in employee training or part-time courses.
If an employer is hesitant to hire you due to job hopping, give good reasons why you left other companies. Explain why the position you are interviewing for is precisely what you want. It’s vital to avoid bad-mouthing past employers; instead, focus on the skills you gained from them.
Once you give credible reasons for your shortcomings and show initiative to overcome them, the employer will be more likely to rethink their initial decision.
6️⃣ What is the next step in your hiring process?
Companies have different hiring processes, so asking about the next steps after an interview doesn’t hurt. Will there be another interview once the employer is down to a few candidates? When will you hear from them, and do they send follow-up emails?
Inquiring about the next step in the hiring process helps you know what to expect so you can prepare. You will establish the questions to expect if there’s a second interview. On the other hand, if there won’t be one, you can determine what to do as you wait for feedback.
Make a Great Impression at Your Executive Job Interview
Asking questions during interviews isn’t just for gathering essential information. You can make a great first impression and boost your odds of landing a role. It’s also possible to assess if the recruiter thinks you are a suitable leader for their brand based on their responses.
