Ace the Leadership Interview with These Top Interview Questions!
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Keep your answers concise and relevant to the needs of your employer. Every single question they ask will measure you against other candidates vying for the same career opportunity.
A job interview is a crucial and unavoidable part of securing a job. It is a situation where first impressions are vital. Many capable individuals miss out on the position they desire due to a poor interview performance. That being said, you must be fully prepared. Avoid mistakes and fill any gaps in your preparation.
Research and Preparation Mean Everything!
Yes. Of course. Have a great resume but also, the more time you spend preparing in advance, the more comfortable you’ll feel during the interview. Keep in mind, however, that an interview is a test. You don’t need to study for hours, but you do need to:
- Research the organization thoroughly.
- Understand what they are looking for in a new employee.
- Be ready to discuss your experience and what makes you an exceptional fit for the job.
Good Luck!
Top Leadership Interview Questions
- Why are you interested in this position? (Translation: What do you know about our company?)
- Walk me through your resume and tell me what in your resume aligns with what we need from you in this position. (Translation: How does your experience serve us?)
- Give me a specific example that will support your leadership skills in the face of XYZ challenges. (Translation: Produce evidence that you are ready for this position.)
- What skills and experience do you bring to [desired title] and how will that benefit us? (Translation: We have other candidates in mind—how would you be a better choice?)
- Tell me about your biggest success in being able to identify and develop opportunities to accelerate increased revenues and improve profitability within _______ environment. (Translation: Can you handle this job?)
- What has been your biggest success? (Translation: What has been your peak contribution in this industry?)
- Give me an example of when you were able to establish, measure, and optimize XYZ. (Translation: Do you have real knowledge of this industry and position?)
- Describe a time when you had to resolve a conflict among a team you managed. What was the issue and how did you manage it? (Translation: How will you fit into our company culture?)
- What is your management philosophy? (Translation: Will your leadership style align with ours?)
- Is there any requirement for this job you feel you do not meet? (Translation: What worries you about this job and should I be worried, too?)
Again, keep your answers concise (but not robotic). If they want you to elaborate, they will engage you further. Begin your answers by summarizing the achievement, then go into the “why” and “how.”
Example: When I was an Executive Director at Gamble, I solved their market challenges. They were down 30% when I came on board, and within 6 months, I brought them out of the red. Today, they hold 45% of the market—a 125% increase since last year. I accomplished this by…
Please contribute additional leadership questions in the comments below. We would love to share them with all careerists.
Good luck!
Rosa Elizabeth Vargas
www.careersteering.com
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Some other questions I propose:
– What is servant leadership?
– Which leadership style you think is the best?
– How will you handle insubordinate employees?
These are excellent additions. Thanks!