Interview help

LuvSD

So I applied for a new job the other week and had the initial interview yesterday. I guess it went better than I though because they called me today wanting to set up a time for the final interview with the CEO.

I have never interviewed with someone so high up. Anyone have any experience/tips/advice for what I may expect?

Thanks!

MeatballEsq

Congrats! That sounds promising.

Can you give us some more info about what your job would be? What industry it's in? 

I'm guessing the initial interview was to figure out if you could do the job, had the experience, etc. This one might be more about making sure you're the right fit for the position (personality-wise, etc). Remember that people spend a lot of time at work, so they want to like those they are spending that much time with.

So be friendly and be yourself!

MeatballEsq

Oh and what is the size of the company/office?

LuvSD

@tonir319 - Thanks! It is an assistant controller position for a department store. I think they said there are 250 people that work at headquarters.

MommaP12

Congrats!!!  Wow, I've never interviewed with a CEO, so I can understand your nervousness.  Maybe be prepared to talk about the various ways to manage your area (I know nothing about being a controller), some best practices you've seen.  Be prepared to answer the highs of your careers and the lows (I was just asked what my biggest failure was, ugh.  I was also asked what type of people I find to be the most difficult to work with, ugh.)  Be prepared to answer what you would do in the first 30, 60, or 90 days perhaps?  I'll see if I can think of others though was going for a product manager role and not a controller.

GOOD LUCK!!

LuvSD

@MommaP12 - thanks and thanks for the sample questions! I am definitely going to give them so thought.  It will be interesting to find out what he asks me. This will be my first managerial position, which they are aware of, so I am assuming they are expecting it to be a learning process.

 

hmp1

Know the company in and out. Do as much research as you can. I know our execs can't talk very high detailed about our day to day working procedures but they know every high level detail about the company - forecasting, expansion or right sizing...

I would brown nose a little too. Like ask some company related questions and ask a personal question like how they got to their position as the CEO (assuming you are looking to move up within the company). Talk about the various career paths the company offers.

MommaP12

No problem!  If you are managing others, be sure to be prepared about how you will motivate people, deal with difficult people, etc.  

I thought I answered the "most difficult people to work with" one well.  I said quiet people were sometimes a challenge BUT, only because they are often good listeners with good ideas who prefer to keep to themselves so you have to work hard to make them feel comfortable enough to speak up and contribute since it's not in their personality.  Trying to turn a negative into a positive!  

MeatballEsq

Since it's a managerial position, be prepared to talk about to talk about how you do/would motivate people, how you manage conflict, etc.

Think about what your career goals would be in this position (the typical "where do you see yourself in 5, 10 years). 

Good luck!

LuvSD

hmp1 said:

Know the company in and out. Do as much research as you can. I know our execs can't talk very high detailed about our day to day working procedures but they know every high level detail about the company - forecasting, expansion or right sizing...

I would brown nose a little too. Like ask some company related questions and ask a personal question like how they got to their position as the CEO (assuming you are looking to move up within the company). Talk about the various career paths the company offers.

I tried researching but because it is a family-owned business and it isn't public I couldn't find much. I looked on their website and it didn't say a whole lot. Any ideas on where else to look?

hmp1

Since this is your first manager position, research management styles and see which one best describes what you feel your style will be or want to be.

LuvSD

These are all awesome ideas! Thanks!

LyndseylovesHugh

I have nothing to add, everyone has given great interview advice.  But I do have personal experience to share.  I had to interview with the CEO of my last company and I was sooooo nervous, so I know how you feel!  But the way I look at it is, the CEO is very busy and would not "waste time" interviewing someone that they want to hire.  So my guess is they want to hire you but need his stamp of approval.  That is how it was at my company, if you were talking to him it was pretty much a done deal.   So just go in there and be yourself because they obviously like you!

MeatballEsq

BunkinMama said:

Good luck!  Sending job glitters to you.

With my recent interview they asked me to use the STAR method.  When a question is asked I was required to answer with Situation (Describing the problem or goal) Task: (What were you working towards) Action: (Describe the actions you took)  Result: (Describe the outcome).  

Meeting the CEO, I would say it is more of a personality check.  Be yourself, and relax.

OMG I just went through an interview like this. It was completely annoying. I hate those types of interviews. 

kelbel527

Look for articles online about the company, even though they aren't public know how many locations they have, where they are, anything released about their expansion strategy and financial performance? 

When asking the CEO questions, I would definitely get him to talk about himself & his career path (everyone loves that).  But I would also make sure to ask things about his vision, what he looks for in a controller and leaders in his organization.  He likely works closely with the controller (depending on their structure), so what things does he expect and what opportunities are there that you could contribute when you come into the role.

If it's a department store, retail is very fast paced and everyone will likely be thinking about the holiday coming up, so I you could focus questions around holiday strategy.  So you'll also want to demonstrate that you can work in a retail-type environment and adapt to change.

Like others said, I'd be prepared to talk about management style and what you can bring to the table as a leader.  But above all - be yourself and be confident.  When our leadership interviews they're usually looking at less technical knowledge and more about whether or not they can work with you and whether or not you have long-term potential.

 

kelbel527

tonir319 said:

BunkinMama said:

Good luck!  Sending job glitters to you.

With my recent interview they asked me to use the STAR method.  When a question is asked I was required to answer with Situation (Describing the problem or goal) Task: (What were you working towards) Action: (Describe the actions you took)  Result: (Describe the outcome).  

Meeting the CEO, I would say it is more of a personality check.  Be yourself, and relax.

OMG I just went through an interview like this. It was completely annoying. I hate those types of interviews. 

@tonir319 - I totally ask these types of questions.  You'd hate me.   

@LUVSD - CAR is another type of using the STAR method (I like 3 stages instead of 4).  Context, Action and Result. So many people forget to mention the results of their actions, which I think is key.  My guess is like bunkin said, a CEO is going to ask more personality questions.

MeatballEsq

kelbel527 said:

tonir319 said:

BunkinMama said:

Good luck!  Sending job glitters to you.

With my recent interview they asked me to use the STAR method.  When a question is asked I was required to answer with Situation (Describing the problem or goal) Task: (What were you working towards) Action: (Describe the actions you took)  Result: (Describe the outcome).  

Meeting the CEO, I would say it is more of a personality check.  Be yourself, and relax.

OMG I just went through an interview like this. It was completely annoying. I hate those types of interviews. 

@tonir319 - I totally ask these types of questions.  You'd hate me.   

@LUVSD - CAR is another type of using the STAR method (I like 3 stages instead of 4).  Context, Action and Result. So many people forget to mention the results of their actions, which I think is key.  My guess is like bunkin said, a CEO is going to ask more personality questions.

You're in HR aren't you?! The only people that like those questions are HR people. 

For the most part I don't think those types of questions translate well into my line of work. 

MeatballEsq

BunkinMama said:

BunkinMama said:

Good luck!  Sending job glitters to you.

With my recent interview they asked me to use the STAR method.  When a question is asked I was required to answer with Situation (Describing the problem or goal) Task: (What were you working towards) Action: (Describe the actions you took)  Result: (Describe the outcome).  

Meeting the CEO, I would say it is more of a personality check.  Be yourself, and relax.

OMG I just went through an interview like this. It was completely annoying. I hate those types of interviews. 

Well there must be something good about it. I just approached it like I was telling a story.

I'm sure there is, and I'm sure it's appropriate for certain types of positions (especially management positions). I just don't think it applied to my type of interview.

FWIW, OP I don't think the CEO is going to use that method. It will be less formal than that. 

LuvSD

@tonir319 @BunkinMama @LindseylovesHugh @kelbel527 @hmp1 @MommaP12

I think I got everyone. Thank you so much for all of your great advice! I think the interview with the CEO went pretty well. He asked some behavioral type questions but it seemed pretty informal. He talked a lot about the position and what it would look like in the future.

Now all they need to do is a background check and check my references. Fingers crossed. This could be awesome!

hmp1

Yay! I'm glad it went well.

kelbel527

Awesome! FX you get the job!

miss50

FX .... Moving back to the quad cities?

LuvSD

miss50 said:

FX .... Moving back to the quad cities?

I currently live in the quad cities.

MommaP12

Fingers crossed for you @LuvSD!  Keep us posted.

Ummm, @LuvSD and @miss50 my BFF lives in the Quad Cities, before kids I'd visit her 2-3x a year and vice versa!  Now, we meet in the middle a couple of times a year for a girls weekend.

I could really go for some Whitey's right now!!!  

LuvSD

@MommaP12 - I LIVED on Whitey's last summer when we were super pregnant. I'm talking like 3-4 times a week. It was bad but awesome all at the same time.

MeatballEsq

That's awesome! Keep us updated!

amandad715

LuvSD said:

@MommaP12 - I LIVED on Whitey's last summer when we were super pregnant. I'm talking like 3-4 times a week. It was bad but awesome all at the same time.

I am so glad that DS needed some extra snuggle time this morning so I read this thread. Whitey's FTW!!