How To Nail Executive Job Interviews

Does the very thought of a job interview give you the jitters and make you cringe? You’re certainly not alone.

Most people dread interviews because there’s no way of knowing just what questions you’ll be hit with. But if you practice and become comfortable with the classic questions and others you can expect to be asked, you’ll be way ahead of the game.

Here are some resources and advice to help you prepare:

Your Next Job Interview Should Be With Yourself, by author and consultant Martha I. Finney.

5 self-discovery questions she suggests asking yourself before digging into actual interview questions:

1.  So. Tell me about yourself.
2.  What dream came true for you the last time you said yes to a job offer?
3.   Is that dream still valid for you?
4.  How are you feeling about the nature of work these days?
5.  Are your job search skills up to date?

CEO interview questions by Tommy Doan at hrvinet.com

Some of his questions to practice include:

1.  What attracted you to this position?
2.  How do you lead organizations?
3.  How do you create HR strategies for a company with weak finance?
4.  How do you set priorities?
5.  How do you create a team spirit where everyone feels engaged?
6.  How do you motivate large employee bases?
7.  How do you put in place processes to get things done?
8.  How do you create strategies to lead a company?
9.  How do you create core competencies?
10. How do you pay attention to your core constituencies?
11. How do you paint a direction?

 

10 Tips for Mastering the Phone Interview, by B. Safani of Career Solvers.

Her first 5 tips are:

1.  Schedule the meeting during a time when you won’t be distracted.
2.  Conduct interviews from a landline.
3.  Create an office space.
4.  Put a mirror in front of you.
5.  Have a glass of water nearby.

Successful Interviewing: What Candidates Need to Know, by Jeff Lipschultz of the recruiting firm, A-List Solutions.

His book includes strategies to:

♦  Create a checklist to take ownership of the interview.

♦  Deal with 3 types of questions that are perennial interviewer favorites:

1.  The Direct Question, such as “How much experience do you have in XYZ?”
2.  The Indirect/Generic Question or prompt ”Tell me about yourself.”
3.  The Classic Question ”Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

♦  Interview the Interviewer.

♦  Follow up with a great thank you note after the interview and subsequent follow-up tips.

What’s Your Job Interview IQ? By C.J. Liu of mywholelife.net.

Here are her first 5 true or false questions. Go to the post to get the answers:

1.  If I prepare too much for an interview I will seem desperate.
2.  Before the interview, put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes to see things from their perspective.
3.  Role-playing to prepare for typical interview questions is really important.
4.  If you have reservations about your abilities or skills for the position you should tell the whole truth.
5.  A job interview is a one-direction conversation, like on a talk show.

 

 

Related posts:

What NOT To Do in a Senior-level Executive Job Interview

How to be a LOSER in Executive Job Interviews

Prepare for Executive Job Search Before You Have To!