How is the interview for a managerial position going. Hiring a manager - requirements and features

So you pretend to leadership position in successful company and discuss with the recruiter the possibility of an interview. Your future responsibilities and work seem to you to be fully consistent with your competencies.

Easy to say, easy to do ... A job interview is one of those activities where you have to shine in all your glory. It is necessary to present your track record from the most advantageous side, but its description should not be too long and too detailed. You need to behave relaxed, but at the same time do not allow yourself to be excessively relaxed. You should prepare in advance for the typical interview questions, but the answers should not look rehearsed. Each of your replicas must hit the spot. And this is not easy to achieve.

Naturally, you should try in advance to find out as much as possible about the company and those people with whom you are likely to have to talk during the interview. The more information you can gather about the hiring officer, the more comfortable you will feel during the conversation. And the more you learn about the company, the easier it will be to ensure that your answers meet the requirements of the candidate.

In this article, we will try to describe the entire interview procedure, from preparation and ending with its direct passage. We will give you tips to help you make a good first impression and to competently answer the questions asked. You will get an idea of ​​verbal and non-verbal communication methods that it makes sense to adopt or, on the contrary, avoid. We hope that thanks to our recommendations, you will be able to score as many points as possible during the interview.

Training

The interview is designed to answer the question to what extent the candidate meets the requirements of the company, whether he will cope with the responsibilities entrusted to him, whether he will be able to adapt to corporate culture and the way the management team works. When preparing for an interview, you need to think in advance about what questions may be asked and formulate competent answers. You should be prepared to answer the following questions:

    Where do you see your strengths? It is necessary to emphasize those of its merits that will help the company to solve the tasks it faces.

    How would you describe your management style? You could say something like, "I used to prefer top-down management, but I've noticed that if I involve people in the decision-making process, it's easier for me to get their support, and almost always the end result is better in this case."

    Why should we hire you? Explain again how your strengths meet the needs of the company.

    What salary are you expecting? Be careful when answering this question. If you ask too much, you will be removed from the list of candidates. And if you ask for too little, you will obviously be cheap. Not a bad option in this case- cite the results of independent research and indicate a specific range. Better yet, ask the other person to talk about the nature of the compensation provided by the company.

You will likely be asked about failed projects as well, so don't try to dodge when the hiring manager starts to figure out the details. Answer honestly without making excuses or getting defensive. Avoid answers like: "It was not really my fault" or "I warned them that nothing would come of it."

When talking about projects that, for one reason or another, did not go according to plan, do not forget to mention the actions you have taken, end results and lessons learned. You can recall, for example, your appeals to other participants: “Realizing that we are not meeting the deadlines set by the client, I immediately organized a series of meetings, having talked with all the project executors. We managed to discuss the situation with the client and minimize losses. Ultimately, the client appreciated our frank position, and we managed to jointly work out a solution acceptable to all interested parties. "

Your interlocutor will probably ask you what you see as your biggest flaws. Touch just one flaw and tell us what steps you are taking to get rid of it. For example: "I don't speak very well in public, but I try to take part in presentations for executives, which has made my performances much better."

Not to mention the shortcomings, in the fight against which you have not achieved any success. For example, if you say that you avoid conflict in any of its forms, your interlocutor may think that you do not know how to manage conflicts or that your management style is “bury your head in the sand”. Likewise, when asked if you have implemented at least one application, and your track record does not include this, do not say that you do not have such experience, but if necessary, you can always learn. This is an unfortunate answer.

Remember that simply stating facts when answering questions is not enough. You need to describe everything so that the facts are presented in the most favorable light for you. When evaluating candidates for a leadership position, the recruiting manager looks for good communication skills, the ability to propose constructive solutions at board meetings, the willingness to take responsibility and lead a subordinate unit. Instead of describing the directions for which you were responsible, talk better about the incidents that took place. Illustrate your ability to solve emerging problems, find a successful way out of a difficult situation, and achieve the desired result. Describe the current situation, the people involved and your actions, but to avoid unnecessary deviations and details, adhere to the SDT model:

O- What circumstances or challenges did you face?
D- what actions have you taken?
R- what results have you achieved?

Try to supplement your answers with testimonies from trusted people that emphasize the confidence and professionalism of your actions. It is advisable that this looks like an improvisation, and not like a rehearsed homework. Answers like: "I belong to the category of managers who are able to effectively solve any issues in the company" or "I am a workaholic, and until the project is completed, I am ready to work day and night without rest" - sound too pompous. Don't overstep the line that separates the perfect answer from the embellished one. In other words, do not try to portray yourself as a superhero, who begins each phrase with the words "I", "me" and "mine" and in every possible way emphasizes his personal role.

Remember key events and dates related to both the company you came to apply for and your own track record, so that you do not have to go into your portfolio for information every time.

Finally, don't think of yourself as a job seeker for a vacant position. You are a unique means of solving business problems facing the company. Presenting yourself as a solution will give you confidence that you can help the company achieve its strategic goals. And your confidence will be an additional factor for the hiring manager interviewing. Introducing yourself as a solution will help you define your role in the new company, successfully negotiate the compensation package you deserve, and participate on an equal footing in the management team.

The most important day

On the day of your interview, you must arrive at the location at least 15 minutes before the scheduled date. As you wait, think of yourself as a necessary solution for the company and tune in to the fact that the interview will go well. You can also watch employees entering and leaving the premises to see how comfortable they feel here.

As you enter the interview office, smile, lift your head, and straighten your shoulders. Shake hands firmly with the person you are talking to. When introducing each other with a smile, repeat his name. Whenever possible, address your interlocutor by name. Anyone is always pleased to hear him. This will set the person you are talking to in a friendly way.

Do not sit down until prompted. Avoid the sofa if you have a choice. You will fall into it like quicksand. Give preference to a hard chair. Sit up straight with your hands on your knees. Do not cross your arms or legs, as this indicates that you are in a defensive position.

While the other person is talking, show your attention by nodding your head from time to time and repeating the phrases they have spoken. Make sure you understand the question correctly. Do not show that the answer was prepared in advance. Try to guess what is behind each of the questions. The interlocutor, for example, may ask whether you have ever taken part in the implementation of the SAP system, but in fact he is interested in how smoothly this implementation went, whether it was completed on time and within the allotted budget.

If you do not know how best to answer the question posed, pause or say a clarifying remark that will buy you time and better formulate the answer.

Be natural during the conversation. Make gestures. Smile at the slightest provocation. Smiling will help you feel confident. Look directly into the eyes of your interlocutor. If you are talking to a whole group of people, keep your eyes on each of them for a long time, not allowing your eyes to constantly move from one face to another.

Your interview should start well and you should be able to relax a little. But don't take the liberties of making ill-considered comments or being overly familiar. During the interview process, it is necessary to maintain distance and show respect for the interlocutor. Don't say anything bad about your current employer, even if you're being pushed to do so. Only bring up the topic of salary if you are asked about it directly.

At the end of the conversation, the other person usually asks if you have any questions. Regardless of whether you are asked to ask them or not, ask about the following:

    What does the company expect from candidates for this position?

    How will your performance be assessed?

    What tasks will you have to tackle first?

Do not ask anything about the company that can be found on the Internet open sources.

When the procedure comes to an end, ask if your interlocutor received all the information of interest to him. Suggest Additional information especially if you have not been asked questions that you think are important for the position. Do not offer any reference unless asked to do so.

At the end of the interview, you get one last chance to show that you really want the job. By suppressing the slightest note of despair in your voice, demonstrate your genuine, positive interest. You might, for example, say: “For me, the opportunities here are of utmost importance. Do you still have any questions regarding my candidacy? " Ask what will happen next. And remember, the first impression you make is the most important thing during the interview. The idea that your counterpart will have by the end of the conversation plays a secondary role.

Summarize the meeting immediately after it ends. Mark for yourself the areas where your answers did not sound convincing enough to correct the impression in subsequent correspondence. Plus, if you're planning a sequel, you'll want to remember who said what.

Send the interviewer a letter of gratitude for the attention paid to you, additionally explain why you are a good fit for the specified position and express your willingness to provide any other information of interest to the HR manager at the first request.

Continue to remind yourself regularly, but not annoyingly. And remember: the job most often gets the one who wants it the most.

Kevin Daly and Dale Clamfort are senior executives at Communispond, which specializes in educating clients in the art of management and sales, preparing presentations and improving communication skills.

Kevin Daley and Dale Klamfoth. How to Ace an Executive-Level Job Interview. CIO Magazine... March 11, 2008

Executive interview

A successful interview for the position of a manager has its own specifics and characteristics. The task of such an interview is not only to assess the professional skills and knowledge of the candidate, but also the managerial experience, achievements and competence of the candidate as a manager.
We have already covered the topics of interview questions in the article What questions are asked during an interview. We will consider additional questions in the executive interview that can help you prepare for the most difficult and responsible interview. If you are not sure that you can prepare for the interview yourself, we are ready to help you! For many years, our specialists have been consulting on preparing for an interview, both in person and remotely, via Skype. During the consultation, you can get prepared for any, even the most difficult interview.

Executive interview questions

2. Questions about leadership qualities... A manager is a leader; during an interview, you may certainly be asked how you see a successful and effective leader and what professional skills and personal qualities you have as a leader.

Above all, do not over-praise yourself and strike a balance between personal qualities and the skills of an effective leader. Try to avoid hackneyed qualities such as determination, purposefulness, and an analytical mindset.

3. Questions about achievements and results... Choose the most significant and significant achievements in your career. When mentioning specific achievements, be guided by facts, backing up with numbers. When talking about your results, use more often the combinations: "my team managed to achieve", "we worked together", etc. This way you can emphasize your role in the work of the team and the ability to work in a team.

4. Questions about future success in this position. A very frequently asked interview question: "What do you think is necessary for successful work in this position?" Be sure to read the text of the vacancy, with the requirements set by the employer for the candidate for this position.
Combining this knowledge with your professional and personal qualities, you will be able to answer this question successfully.

5. Questions about goal setting. Questions aimed at finding out how well you are able to set goals for yourself and in front of subordinates and achieve required results... Here the employer often asks the following question: "You need to increase sales in one week (fulfill the plan, deliver the project), what will you do, where will you start?"

Many managers, when they say that they will set a goal for employees, will monitor the completion of tasks and motivate employees, forget to tell that in order to achieve the goal, tools are also needed to achieve this goal. Remember this!

6. Questions about personnel management. There can be a lot of questions on this topic. For example, some of them: "What ways of motivating employees do you know and use?" "How will you keep an employee from firing?" Every leader should know the answer to these questions.

7. Questions assessing the ability to act. I blurted out these questions in the following: Your actions in past jobs show what can be expected of you in the future. Think about your answers to questions about how you acted in the event of certain problem situations or conflicts.

8. Questions about the level of professional development. Questions to clarify the candidate's need for promotion professional level... Questions at an interview for a leadership position may be about trainings, seminars that the candidate may have attended. Or reading professional literature or other interesting sources of professional development.

9. Questions about mistakes and failures. The purpose of such questions is to find out if you are ready to admit your mistakes and failures, from which no one is immune. If you are asked about the biggest failure in your professional activity, tell us about your biggest failure and the lessons you have learned from this case. Never deny, do not say that you have never had failures and mistakes.

10. Questions about the level of income. Avoid answering this question directly. The most the best option in this case it will be: “I am sure that your company offers decent wages. But the main thing for me is not the salary, but the opportunity to contribute to the development of your company ”.

If you, nevertheless, are asked to clarify the level of income for which you are applying, name an acceptable salary range for you, based on your expectations and information about the salaries of similar positions in the labor market.

An interview with a manager is one of the most important stages in finding a job for a particular position. It often happens that unprepared people fail the survey or behave not quite correctly, which is why they are not hired. So how should you behave correctly and what to answer in an interview? Let's figure it out.

5 major mistakes

First of all, it is worth starting with 5 main mistakes that almost all candidates make with a manager. At first glance, these things may not seem so significant, but in the end they play a rather important role.

Calm, only calm

The first and most common mistake in any executive interview is anxiety. In general, it is quite normal for a person to worry in certain situations, but not in this case. Excitement is one of the most dangerous enemies in any job interview. Even if a completed application form and a rich resume are on the side of the applicant, then uncertainty, trembling in the voice, sweat, shifting eyes, etc., will obviously not play in favor of the candidate.

Here's a simple example of how to conduct interviews when applying for a job. The voice is clear and confident, the gaze is focused, the behavior is calm, the hands do not "dance" around, but the most important thing is the absence of fear. If you adhere to this behavior, then there will be no excitement. As for the feeling of fear, then everything is simple. Do not be afraid that the person who accepts you for an interview occupies a leadership position, because first of all he is the same person as you are. We do not have a feeling of fear in stores in front of sellers, in front of bank employees or in a cafe in front of waiters, so why be afraid of a manager?

And one more pretty important point... Some people, before the interview, come up with an "amazing" thought, which is supposedly designed to help with anxiety and anxiety - a sedative technique. This is highly discouraged. The head and mind must be extremely clear in order to clearly accept all information and competently answer questions, and sedatives do not allow this to be done to the fullest.

I know everything, I can do everything

The second most common mistake when interviewing a manager is overconfidence in yourself and your abilities. It would seem that this could be bad? It's simple. An overly self-confident candidate, as a rule, puts forward slightly overestimated requirements, for example, a salary is not 30,000 rubles, but 60,000 rubles. Of course, there is nothing wrong with such a desire, but if we are talking about a specific vacancy with specific conditions, then demand more. especially at the stage of negotiations, it is simply stupid.

In addition, such people often begin to list large lists of what they know and can do, even embellishing it a little - for greater effect, so to speak. Naturally, the manager will have a completely logical question, they say, why is a person with such a track record and knowledge still out of work? The answer is known to both parties, but the employer will simply remain silent, not voicing it, and the applicant will say that there have been no interesting proposals until that time.

One way or another, you should not overestimate yourself too much, and even more so lie, even a little. You must always remain yourself and answer as openly as possible.

Everything suits me

The third most common mistake when interviewing a boss is to agree with everything and more. This means when a candidate agrees with everything that the employer says, and also slightly underestimates his requirements in the hope that this will play into the hands. This is due to the well-established stereotype that managers must always answer what they want to hear.

This is an extremely incorrect statement, especially in the context of an interview. Agreeing absolutely with everything that the "chief" says, and underestimating his own requirements, the applicant shows his weak character and, as a result, does not further focus on the result in the work. Why, then, take this particular person to the position, if you can find another, more interested and with a "spark" in his eyes?

The conclusion here is simple: in no case should you underestimate your self-esteem, and even more so to seem ready for everything, malleable and spineless person.

Ex work

The fourth mistake many people make when interviewing a director is the story of leaving their last job. Not everyone tells the truth, how it really was, because sometimes it can play not in better side... It's one thing to say that the layoff was on their own and the other that the management dismissed. And in fact, and in another case, the director at the interview will have a question, what was the reason for such an act?

The answers here are always different, but usually it all comes down to the fact that there was a bad boss or the conditions did not suit, they paid little, there was no vacation, etc. Of course, few people believe the words, even if they are true, because if it were otherwise, it turns out that there are not so many honest leaders. Of course, information on leaving a previous job can be checked by the contact phone numbers of the former bosses, which are left in the questionnaire, but this is not always done. In addition, if such numbers are not indicated, then this only aggravates the situation.

Ideally, there is only one solution that will reflect favorably - a characteristic. It is the characteristic from the previous place of work that will be the best argument that the person left of his own free will or was fired for one reason or another. It is easy to get a testimonial - the main thing is not to quarrel with your superiors when leaving work.

Bluff

Well, the last mistake that occurs at an interview for a position in a new place is a bluff. So this is the following, when a candidate, allegedly inadvertently, during an interview with the director or someone from the management, mentions that he has one or more proposals for similar positions, and if he is hired today, then he refuses from negotiations with them.

This is done in order to show the importance of your person, they say, this is what I am, here are how many people offer me a job. In fact, everything turns out to be different. IN best case, such a candidate will be informed that he will be called back - a classic of the genre. In the worst case, they will immediately refuse with an offer to go to work in other firms, which, according to the applicant, offer him similar positions.

Here you need to remember the following - even if you have a couple of "spare" options in mind, you should never talk about them at an interview, because no one will beg anyone to get a job at their firm. This must be clearly understood. The best thing is to first familiarize yourself with all the conditions at two, three different places, and only after that draw conclusions about where to go. And there is no need to talk about someone offering a similar vacancy there, because if this were true, then it is unlikely that such a person was sitting in the office for an interview in another company.

At the interview

Very often you can hear a lot of questions related to how the interview is going on?

Usually, the whole process is divided into 2 stages: a telephone conversation and a visit to the office. More details will be below. Otherwise, everything goes according to the classical scheme. First, a questionnaire is filled out, where the candidate indicates what position he is applying for, information about himself, his qualities, previous jobs, desired salary, etc.

After that, the questionnaire is handed over to the secretary, who takes it to the head. After usually 5 minutes, the second stage begins - an interview with the bosses, during which questions will be asked regarding some points of the questionnaire and additional ones. If everything went well, the candidate performed positive impression to the employer, then with a probability of 99% he will be offered a job. Here, in fact, is all the information regarding the question: how is the interview going.

Questions

The questions at the interview with the manager are pretty standard and, in theory, should not cause any difficulties, but usually it is different. In order to avoid misunderstandings, below will be offered a small list of the most common questions and answers to them, or rather, what should be answered.

Examples of interview responses:

  1. List strengths and qualities. In this case, you need to list all your strengths, for example, hard work, responsibility, quality of performance, compliance with all deadlines, etc. Actually, nothing complicated.
  2. Why is a vacant position interesting for a candidate? Usually this question is often asked to those who decide to change not only their place of work, but also their specialty. The simplest example. The man worked as a sales assistant, and in a new place he is applying for the position of a freight forwarder. In this case, it is necessary to clearly and clearly explain what is the reason for such a decision. Experience shows that this is usually a simple desire to change the environment and master a new profession.
  3. Why should you be hired for the position? Another one of the most frequently asked questions... Answering it, you should not say that you need money or that there is no other choice - this is repulsive. It is necessary, on the contrary, to tell what attracts the profession (if it differs from the past), what kind of experience you hope to get on it, what prospects you see and everything in this style.

From the above examples, one conclusion can be drawn that it is necessary to answer the interview as honestly and, most importantly, confidently, without trembling in the voice. In this case, you can guarantee 25% success.

Now is the time to move on to the stages of the interview.

Phone interview

The first stage of employment in any job begins with a phone call. In other words, the first interview is over the phone. It is best to call before lunchtime, as it is very often possible to arrive at the office for an interview on the same day.

As for how to conduct a conversation, here is a minimal set of tips:

  • A clear-cut voice.
  • Lack of excitement.
  • Attentiveness.

Here are 3 basic rules to remember. Also, a big plus of a phone call is that you can immediately clarify some questions regarding the work schedule, wages and formal employment.

Second phase

Now is the time to talk about what to do in the second stage - the interview with the manager. First of all, you need to prepare. There is such a Russian folk saying: "They are greeted by clothes, escorted by the mind." So, the appearance must match, since the first impression is formed precisely by the way a person is dressed.

Clothes should be comfortable, clean, and in no case wrinkled. The style can be chosen both business and casual, but you need to remember the following: if you go to get a job, for example, a foreman, then you do not need to wear trousers, a shirt with a tie and a jacket. Clothes are selected directly from the circumstances. And yet, in the summer, some often come to interviews in a T-shirt, shorts and slippers - this is not right. You can leave the T-shirt, but it is better to change the shorts and slippers to jeans and sneakers.

It is also very important at the second stage to show your manners and punctuality, that is, arrive at the place ahead of time, 10-15 minutes, and say hello politely.

When the time comes to enter the manager's office for a personal conversation, be sure to first knock on the door, and then open it. Thus, you can show your good manners and make a first positive impression.

As for the further conversation and how to answer the interview, this was said earlier, so there is no point in repeating. The only thing, when going to an interview in the office, you definitely need to take a portfolio with you with the best works, a copy of your resume, a testimonial from the previous place of work (if any), a pen, a passport and a notebook, in case you need to write down something, for example, any important details type of work schedule, wages and so on.

In conclusion, I would like to talk about 5 very valuable advice... They will definitely help you get through the interview. So let's get started.

About myself

Most often, job seekers are thrown into a stupor by the simplest request - to tell about yourself. At first glance, there is nothing complicated in this, but for some reason, very often people are simply lost. Here's a plan for how to write the correct self-story in a job interview. Example:

  • Tell about your education, what it is, indicate the name of the institute, faculty, profession.
  • Next, you need to remember about all additional training courses, if any.
  • List of previous jobs. Here it is advisable to mention the periods, i.e. how many days, weeks, months or years you worked in previous jobs.
  • If the future vacancy is related to a computer, then you should definitely tell about all the programs that you own, including even those that are not very well mastered (sometimes this is important).
  • And finally, we can say a few words about the knowledge of foreign languages.

It is worth remembering that it is worth talking about all this without any excitement and hesitation, as if you are conducting a conversation with your friend or long-time friend.

And here bad example can be attributed to a meager listing of their capabilities, frequent hitching, interruptions, uncertainty, or much worse, if the employer has to pull information, as they say, "ticks".

Smile

The second tip is to smile and good mood... It is very important to come to the interview in a good mood - it helps a lot when filling out the questionnaire and in a personal conversation with the manager. Besides, funny and cheerful person disposes to himself much more than gloomy or too focused.

The phone is the enemy

Another pretty useful advice- mute the sound on the phone during the interview. Thus, no one can interfere with you, and if a call suddenly rings during a conversation with your superiors, it will only play a minus. By the way, a competent manager also mutes the sound during the interview.

Do not chew

Some people prefer to chew gum during the interview in order to calm their nerves a little. It is not worth doing this, since it will not be of any use, and besides, such behavior will indicate a "high" level of culture.

Pauses

Well, the last piece of advice - you should always pause during a conversation. Learning to speak clearly and clearly is one thing, but there will be zero sense if you do not make tactical pauses in the conversation. Everything will just mix into "porridge".

That, in general, is all about the interview. It's easy to pass, the main thing is to remember some things and be confident in yourself!

So, you're applying for a leadership position in a successful company and you are discussing with a recruiter about the possibility of an interview. Your future responsibilities and work seem to you to be fully consistent with your competencies.

Easy to say, easy to do ... A job interview is one of those activities where you have to shine in all your glory. It is necessary to present your track record from the most advantageous side, but its description should not be too long and too detailed. You need to behave relaxed, but at the same time do not allow yourself to be excessively relaxed. You should prepare in advance for the typical interview questions, but the answers should not look rehearsed. Each of your replicas must hit the spot. And this is not easy to achieve.

Naturally, you should try in advance to find out as much as possible about the company and those people with whom you are likely to have to talk during the interview. The more information you can gather about the hiring officer, the more comfortable you will feel during the conversation. And the more you learn about the company, the easier it will be to ensure that your answers meet the requirements of the candidate.

In this article, we will try to describe the entire interview procedure, from preparation and ending with its direct passage. We will give you tips to help you make a good first impression and to competently answer the questions asked. You will get an idea of ​​verbal and non-verbal communication methods that it makes sense to adopt or, on the contrary, avoid. We hope that thanks to our recommendations, you will be able to score as many points as possible during the interview.

Training

The interview is designed to answer the question to what extent the candidate meets the requirements set by the company, whether he will cope with the responsibilities entrusted to him, whether he will be able to adapt to the corporate culture and methods of work of the management team. When preparing for an interview, you need to think in advance about what questions may be asked and formulate competent answers. You should be prepared to answer the following questions:

    Where do you see your strengths? It is necessary to emphasize those of its merits that will help the company to solve the tasks it faces.

    How would you describe your management style? You could say something like, "I used to prefer top-down management, but I've noticed that if I involve people in the decision-making process, it's easier for me to get their support, and almost always the end result is better in this case."

    Why should we hire you? Explain again how your strengths meet the needs of the company.

    What salary are you expecting? Be careful when answering this question. If you ask too much, you will be removed from the list of candidates. And if you ask for too little, you will obviously be cheap. A good option in this case is to cite the results of an independent study and indicate a specific range. Better yet, ask the other person to talk about the nature of the compensation provided by the company.

You will likely be asked about failed projects as well, so don't try to dodge when the hiring manager starts to figure out the details. Answer honestly without making excuses or getting defensive. Avoid answers like: "It was not really my fault" or "I warned them that nothing would come of it."

When talking about projects that went wrong for one reason or another in your interview, be sure to mention the actions you have taken, the end results, and the lessons learned. You can recall, for example, your appeals to other participants: “Realizing that we are not meeting the deadlines set by the client, I immediately organized a series of meetings, having talked with all the project executors. We managed to discuss the situation with the client and minimize losses. Ultimately, the client appreciated our frank position, and we managed to jointly work out a solution acceptable to all interested parties. "

Your interlocutor will probably ask you what you see as your biggest flaws. Touch just one flaw and tell us what steps you are taking to get rid of it. For example: "I don't speak very well in public, but I try to take part in presentations for executives, which has made my performances much better."

Not to mention the shortcomings, in the fight against which you have not achieved any success. For example, if you say that you avoid conflict in any of its forms, your interlocutor may think that you do not know how to manage conflicts or that your management style is “bury your head in the sand”. Likewise, when asked if you have implemented at least one application, and your track record does not include this, do not say that you do not have such experience, but if necessary, you can always learn. This is an unfortunate answer.

Remember that simply stating facts when answering questions is not enough. You need to describe everything so that the facts are presented in the most favorable light for you. When evaluating candidates for a leadership position, the recruiting manager looks for good communication skills, the ability to propose constructive solutions at board meetings, the willingness to take responsibility and lead a subordinate unit. Instead of describing the directions for which you were responsible, talk better about the incidents that took place. Illustrate your ability to solve emerging problems, find a successful way out of a difficult situation, and achieve the desired result. Describe the current situation, the people involved and your actions, but to avoid unnecessary deviations and details, adhere to the SDT model:

O- What circumstances or challenges did you face?
D- what actions have you taken?
R- what results have you achieved?

Try to supplement your answers with testimonies from trusted people that emphasize the confidence and professionalism of your actions. It is advisable that this looks like an improvisation, and not like a rehearsed homework. Answers like: "I belong to the category of managers who are able to effectively solve any issues in the company" or "I am a workaholic, and until the project is completed, I am ready to work day and night without rest" - sound too pompous. Don't overstep the line that separates the perfect answer from the embellished one. In other words, do not try to portray yourself as a superhero, who begins each phrase with the words "I", "me" and "mine" and in every possible way emphasizes his personal role.

Remember key events and dates for both the company you applied for and your track record so that you don't have to go into your briefcase for information every time.

Finally, don't think of yourself as a job seeker for a vacant position. You are a unique means of solving business problems facing the company. Presenting yourself as a solution will give you confidence that you can help the company achieve its strategic goals. And your confidence will be an additional factor for the hiring manager interviewing. Introducing yourself as a solution will help you define your role in the new company, successfully negotiate the compensation package you deserve, and participate on an equal footing in the management team.

The most important day

On the day of your interview, you must arrive at the location at least 15 minutes before the scheduled date. As you wait, think of yourself as a necessary solution for the company and tune in to the fact that the interview will go well. You can also watch employees entering and leaving the premises to see how comfortable they feel here.

As you enter the interview office, smile, lift your head, and straighten your shoulders. Shake hands firmly with the person you are talking to. When introducing each other with a smile, repeat his name. Whenever possible, address your interlocutor by name. Anyone is always pleased to hear him. This will set the person you are talking to in a friendly way.

Do not sit down until prompted. Avoid the sofa if you have a choice. You will fall into it like quicksand. Give preference to a hard chair. Sit up straight with your hands on your knees. Do not cross your arms or legs, as this indicates that you are in a defensive position.

While the other person is talking, show your attention by nodding your head from time to time and repeating the phrases they have spoken. Make sure you understand the question correctly. Do not show that the answer was prepared in advance. Try to guess what is behind each of the questions. The interlocutor, for example, may ask whether you have ever taken part in the implementation of the SAP system, but in fact he is interested in how smoothly this implementation went, whether it was completed on time and within the allotted budget.

If you do not know how best to answer the question posed, pause or say a clarifying remark that will buy you time and better formulate the answer.

Be natural during the conversation. Make gestures. Smile at the slightest provocation. Smiling will help you feel confident. Look directly into the eyes of your interlocutor. If you are talking to a whole group of people, keep your eyes on each of them for a long time, not allowing your eyes to constantly move from one face to another.

Your interview should start well and you should be able to relax a little. But don't take the liberties of making ill-considered comments or being overly familiar. During the interview process, it is necessary to maintain distance and show respect for the interlocutor. Don't say anything bad about your current employer, even if you're being pushed to do so. Only bring up the topic of salary if you are asked about it directly.

At the end of the conversation, the other person usually asks if you have any questions. Regardless of whether you are asked to ask them or not, ask about the following:

    What does the company expect from candidates for this position?

    How will your performance be assessed?

    What tasks will you have to tackle first?

Do not ask anything about the company that can be found on the Internet open sources.

When the procedure comes to an end, ask if your interlocutor received all the information of interest to him. Offer additional information, especially if you have not been asked questions that you think are relevant to the position. Do not offer any reference unless asked to do so.

At the end of the interview, you get one last chance to show that you really want the job. By suppressing the slightest note of despair in your voice, demonstrate your genuine, positive interest. You might, for example, say: “For me, the opportunities here are of utmost importance. Do you still have any questions regarding my candidacy? " Ask what will happen next. And remember, the first impression you make is the most important thing during the interview. The idea that your counterpart will have by the end of the conversation plays a secondary role.

Summarize the meeting immediately after it ends. Mark for yourself the areas where your answers did not sound convincing enough to correct the impression in subsequent correspondence. Plus, if you're planning a sequel, you'll want to remember who said what.

Send the interviewer a letter of gratitude for the attention paid to you, additionally explain why you are a good fit for the specified position and express your willingness to provide any other information of interest to the HR manager at the first request.

Continue to remind yourself regularly, but not annoyingly. And remember: the job most often gets the one who wants it the most.

Kevin Daly and Dale Clamfort are senior executives at Communispond, which specializes in educating clients in the art of management and sales, preparing presentations and improving communication skills.

Kevin Daley and Dale Klamfoth. How to Ace an Executive-Level Job Interview. CIO Magazine... March 11, 2008

An interview is a responsible event, both for the applicant and for the head of the company: the first one needs a job, and the second one needs good worker... How the interview will be conducted and what questions the applicant will hear depends on the vacancy for which position there is in the organization. Let's take a look at the executive interview process.

Preparing for an interview

Of course, every applicant, before going to an interview, tries to prepare for it as best as possible. And this is correct, because it is there that you can produce good impression to the leader and show their merits and qualities, which the company needs so much.

If an organization is considering candidates for a leadership position, then the most outstanding of them are taken into account. Each position requires certain skills and abilities. But this is not enough for a candidate for the position of leader, because, in addition to this, he must also show what personal qualities, has experience and achievements.

When interviewing for a leadership position, the manager will want to thoroughly examine the applicant from all sides. He will be asked all sorts of questions that may affect several areas. Special attention paid to:

  • intelligence;
  • leadership qualities;
  • innovative thinking;
  • influence;
  • views and judgments;
  • commercial savvy;
  • strategic vision;
  • attracting resources from outside;
  • effectiveness;
  • the ability to build relationships with a third party;
  • the ability to motivate and manage relationships;
  • experience in the international field.

A job seeker who wants to take a leadership position must be well prepared. He needs to know the answer to each of the listed points. In addition, you should not bring theoretical knowledge, here you should talk about practice, personal experience.

As a rule, the interview takes place as follows: first, the employer must tell about the position itself, responsibilities, possible prospects and career growth. Clarifies details and details. Further, the applicant can already ask the manager or the employer the questions that interest him. Here we will clarify: the candidate not only can, but must ask them! If the applicant does not have any questions during the conversation with the manager, then he looks absolutely uninterested in the work. Not worth preparing whole list counter questions, it is enough to ask about three or four.

Do not forget that the interview is conducted with the aim of getting to know the candidates as best as possible, "probing" them, to check their abilities and qualities. After you have been offered to take a vacant position, you can ask all your questions.

Sometimes the interview begins with a request from the employer to the candidate to tell him about his life position, goals, plans for the future, difficulties and prospects. Answers should be comprehensive and clear, so you should prepare answers to them in advance.

Questions asked in a management interview


In addition to the standard interview questions for all (tell us about yourself, about the company, your positive and negative sides, etc.), it is acceptable to ask questions typical for future leaders. These include:

  • What are your leadership qualities?
  • Tell us about your past professional mistakes and lessons learned from them?
  • Do you know how to influence employees?

In addition, the manager may invite the applicant to present a specific situation and ask him to find a way out of it. Since the interview is held with the aim of finding a leader, the following question is quite possible: "What qualities should an excellent leader have?" Your task is to list them.

Most importantly, remember that in order to competently manage personnel, a leader must have the following qualities:

  • self-confidence;
  • courage;
  • worldview;
  • communication skills;
  • a tendency to self-analysis;
  • the ability to create and manage a cohesive team;
  • the ability to support their subordinates.

It is these qualities of a good leader that should be highlighted when answering the question posed. Of course, when talking with a manager or leader, you should not breed demagoguery. This will only tire the interlocutor and appear in the form of a chatterbox. But the "bare" facts of your life and experience will also be inappropriate, because an applicant for a leading position must be able to speak competently and beautifully, observing the golden mean.

Citing an example from personal experience, tell us about how you were able to get out of this situation, what tasks you solved, what result you achieved. Maintain consistency in your story. But you shouldn't constantly “Yakat”. You may seem like an upstart to the boss, which you absolutely don't need.

How to answer the manager's questions correctly?

So, you came for an interview, as you want to take up the vacant position of the head. An employer is sitting in front of you, and your future career depends on how you show yourself. But how to properly build a dialogue and answer the employer's questions?

First, listen carefully to the interlocutor, do not be distracted by extraneous thoughts. When you hear a question, quickly analyze: what does the employer want to hear from you? If suddenly you did not understand something in the question or did not hear it, ask again. It will be better than an incomprehensible or incorrect answer.

Secondly, remember that the answers must be correctly structured. They must have a beginning, a middle and, accordingly, an end. First, briefly describe the situation, the problem you encountered. Then, mention the tasks you have set for yourself to solve the problem.

In the middle of the answer, it is worth talking about the problems that you had to face in this situation, and how exactly you solved them. In the end, draw conclusions, describe the indicators by which you measure your success.

Try to prove to the employer that you are always focused on results in your work.

Qualities for hiring


What qualities should an applicant have? Of course, each employer sets for itself certain criteria for selecting candidates. But there are those qualities that a candidate needs in any interview:

  • Confidence in your strength;
  • neat appearance;
  • work experience and professionalism;
  • letters of recommendation;
  • demeanor;
  • sociability.

In addition to these qualities that are standard for all job seekers, there are those that every manager should have, namely:

  • the ability to manage, organize the work of the team;
  • ability to work in a team;
  • to be an initiator, to achieve results;
  • be able to cope with several things at the same time;
  • with all responsibility and seriousness, have a good sense of humor.

Study and memorize the listed qualities well before going on with an employer. But what if the applicant believes that he does not possess all these qualities at all? Give up a leadership position? Not at all. Very often we are able to show certain advantages and opportunities directly during work. You just have to remember about these characteristics and strive for them. That's when you will definitely succeed!

Etiquette: hiring