For those who devote their lives to climbing the corporate ladder, there’s often no experience as exciting or intimidating as applying for a C-suite position. You’ve applied for an executive position, you’ve been thoroughly vetted, and finally, you’ve been invited for an interview. Now, the rest is up to you.
Here are some practical tips to consider as you prepare for an executive job interview.
Practice Calm Communication
As someone who has advanced to this point in their career, you’re likely well-versed with effective communication. However, the stress and pressure of facing an executive hiring panel can leave even the most seasoned professionals wondering how to impress a recruiter.
Practice answers to questions you expect to be asked during your interview. Consider working with an interview coach to help you find your natural rhythm as you respond to questions so that you’re clear and concise in your answers.
During the interview, don’t hesitate to pause and take a breath to collect your thoughts before responding. Keep your answers short and specific by using the STAR approach: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
Prepare Specific Examples
As you advance up the career ladder, hiring managers will want to see more specific proof of your success. It’s not enough to claim that you’ve improved profits at your current position — you must quantify the improvement, showcase the process, and provide the numbers to back up the claim.
You should have a snapshot of these claims on your executive resume. Prepare the supporting documents that showcase the details of your successes over the years to present at your interview, if requested. It can also be helpful to have a one-pager to refer to when answering questions rather than shuffling through paperwork.
Practice a Career Synopsis
“Tell us more about yourself” is a common part of an interview at any level. Of course, as you advance through your career, that answer will become longer and more detailed. To prepare for your interview, it can be beneficial to expand your elevator pitch into a career synopsis that hits the highlights.
Keep a printed copy of your resume handy as a reference point when outlining your experience. Tie your career journey into why you’re applying for this position and what you’d bring to the table as an executive.
There’s a fine balance between highlighting your experience and accomplishments and going on a tangent. Try to cap your summary at two minutes, using bullet points to touch on the most important highlights.
Research the Company’s Pain Points
It’s integral to dedicate time and energy to researching the company you’re applying for. Specifically, you’ll want to identify any pain points the company could currently be facing and start to ideate how you would lead the business through those challenges to achieve success.
If the position for which you’re applying is in a different industry than the majority of your work experience, it’s also crucial to get a better understanding of that industry before your interview.
Research the Interview Panel
In addition to the industry and company, you’ll also want to prepare yourself by researching the members of the interview panel. Who are they? What is their role within the company? What common touch points do you share?
Knowing some basic information about the people conducting the interview will make it easier to connect and build rapport. When it comes to landing an executive-level position, fitting with the company culture is almost as important as the experience and qualifications you bring to the table.
Prepare a List of Questions
Finally, prepare a list of questions that you’ll ask the interview panel about the company, the road ahead, and what they envision for your role. Having questions ready showcases your interest and enthusiasm in the position.
When in doubt, don’t hesitate to hire a professional interview coach to help you prepare for your big interview. It’s well worth the investment when applying for a job at the executive level.
