Executives need to be proactive, not reactive during interviews.
Executive interviews should not simply be a series of questions and answers – they should be discussions.
You need to prepare yourself to steer the interview where you want it to go. “But she didn’t ask about my experience in compliance!,” is not an excuse for not being able to discuss the compliance expertise you wanted to showcase.
You need to have specific examples of how you handled specific areas in your previous jobs. For example, a CFO should be prepared with examples of:
- Tax minimization strategies
- Improved cash-flow projections
- RFPs and procurement
- Vendor/supplier/provider negotiations
- Asset re-deployment
- SEC reporting
- Receivables improvement
- Accurate overhead calculation and assignment
- Debt-service improvements
- Procurement and vendor/supplier negotiation
You also need to be prepared for personnel-management questions. “Tell me about a time when you experienced conflict and how you managed/resolved it.”
This doesn’t mean you should focus on the past, however. A potential employer has already qualified you (via your résumé or CV, LinkedIn profile, Google searches) or you wouldn’t have been invited to interview. If you’ve been selected for an executive interview, a potential employer wants to know a) what you know about their company, b) what big-picture help can you provide and c) are you a “fit” for the company.
“Sit up straight,” “Look the interviewer in the eye,” “Ask one or two questions at the end of the interview,” are examples of generic interviewing advice from coaches who haven’t worked in a C-suite.
Steve can help you prepare for interviews so you can make sure all of your strengths are highlighted. You’ll learn how to research the company, the interviewer and the ultimate decision maker. You’ll learn how to develop a two-way conversation that impresses an interviewer. You’ll learn how to pivot a conversation to where you need it to go.
Most of all, you’ll learn how to avoid talking about the past (what you did for other employers) and focus on discussing what you can do in the future for an employer.
A 30-minute interview coaching session with Steve is free when you purchase a cover letter, résumé and LinkedIn package.