20 Interview questions you should ask executive-level candidates
Whether you are a high-level recruiter working internally in an organisation or an executive
search consultant, it is a constant goal to be as efficient and precise when you interview
candidates. In this article we will focus on executive-level candidates and which questions
you should consider asking during the interview.
You can learn a lot from a candidate’s resume and of course many high-level candidates
have a very sleek and professional resume – for this reason you should not concentrate on
questions directly related to the content of the resume – this would not be efficient use of
your time.
Which questions should you ask to learn the most about a senior level candidate?
As you probably know you should ask situational questions – meaning questions which
would display the candidate’s behaviour in specific situations. Such situations might be
similar to those the candidate will encounter in the role you are interviewing for.
The second type of questions you should ask are motivational questions– meaning
questions that will reveal why a candidate would behave in a certain way given a particular
situation. Other questions within this range are questions revealing how the candidate is
motivated – in other words: what drives them? What makes them want to excel in the role?
Here are our 20 favourite executive candidate interview questions and what each one
reveals:
Question
(S=situational – M=motivational)
Purpose of the question / what will you
learn from the answer
1. (S) and (M) Describe the biggest change
you’ve ever dealt with. How did you adapt?
What you’ll learn: Whether they have the
experience to take on a stressful role.
2. (S) Think back to the best partner or
supervisor you’ve ever worked with: what
did you like about the person’s
management style?
What you’ll learn: The leadership skills
your candidate strives for.
3. (S) Describe the toughest decision you
have ever had to make at work.
What you’ll learn: If they have the
experience necessary to face the
challenges this role offers.
4. (S) and (M) What recurring problem did
you have in a previous (or your current)
role that you wanted to resolve but didn’t?
Why not?
What you’ll learn: Goals, potential
weaknesses and possible motivation for
role change.
5. (M) Have you thought about leaving your
present position before? If yes, what held
you back?
What you’ll learn: Values and how
motivated your candidate is to find a new
opportunity.
6. (S) Describe a time when your supervisor
What you’ll learn: Reactions to perceived
criticised your work. How did you react and missteps and/or failures.
what did you do?
7. (M) What types of decisions are the most
difficult for you to make? Why?
What you’ll learn: Weaknesses that may
affect the role.
8. (M) What makes you effective?
What you’ll learn: Work style and whether
it complements your company’s culture.
9. (M) What support do you feel would be
necessary for both you and the company
to be successful?
What you’ll learn: Whether expectations
and requirements match resources
available to the company.
10. (M) Which three things about your last role
gave you the most satisfaction?
What you’ll learn: Values which the
candidate will bring along to this role.
(M) In which areas would you like to further What you’ll learn: Potential for growth
develop yourself?
within your organization.
What have you done to improve your verbal What you’ll learn: Verbal communication
communication skills?
skills; insight into own blind spots.
What are you doing to improve your
listening skills?
What you’ll learn: Whether they actively
work to respond to other people
meaningfully; insight into own blind spots.
(S) How did you sell a new idea to your
management team (describe in detail) and
what was the result?
(S) How do you keep your team focused?
What you’ll learn: Leadership abilities and
interaction skills.
(S) How do you influence and sell to coworkers?
What you’ll learn: Ability to manage and/or
influence laterally.
How would you describe what WE do?
What you’ll learn: Depth of understanding
of your company’s mission.
(M) What’s the most interesting thing
about you that isn’t on your resume?
What you’ll learn: Personal values and
other interests.
(M) If you had a choice of any job and any
company, where would you go?
What you’ll learn: Personality, other
interests and creativity.
Which questions that you think are
important have I not asked you?
What you’ll learn: Ability to reflect in the
situation and willingness to disclose things
that might have been missed in the
interview.
What you’ll learn: Motivational and
leadership personality.
Article URL: https://aimsinternational.com/en/2017/11/20-interview-questions-ask-executivelevel-candidates/