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When interviewing for jobs, senior executives face unique challenges. Executives call the shots. The buck stops with you. People laugh a little harder at your jokes. You have teams of people at your disposal ready to act on your commands. You are in total control.
Now you’re in an interview. You’re not calling the shots. Nobody thinks you’re funny. Beyond the offer of an obligatory cup of coffee or bottled water, nobody is going to do anything for you. You are in the hot seat. You do not control what happens in the room but you must be IN control.
For masters of the universe, being IN control can be more difficult than it sounds. When you make the rules, it’s extra hard for you to follow rules, and in a job interview - especially a high-level one - there are rules you should follow. It is to your advantage to shift tactics.
Rule #1: Do not take the position you are in charge. You’re not. The people conducting the interview are in charge — from the admin assistant who brings you that cup of coffee to the Chairman of the Board — and you need to impress them.
Rule #2: Be cognizant of your body language. Your body language tells a story. What does your posture say? Are you sitting back casually or sitting forward in your chair? The former communicates that you are aloof, the latter engaged. Body language reveals how you perceive yourself and your position to those around you.
Rule #3: Confidence – YES. Arrogance – NO. Interviewers can perceive the difference. This isn’t the time to get smug.
Rule #4: Being mindful of the “I” and not the “we”. Give credit to others. You’re a senior executive because of your leadership skills and your achievements are accomplished by leading other people to the promised land. If you come across as a one-person show with lots of, “I did this,” and “I did that,” it may turn interviewers off.
Rule #5: Have multiple hard copies of your resume to hand out during the interview. This may seem like a rookie mistake, but it happens more frequently than you imagine. Don’t assume the search firm did it for you or the interviewers printed them out.
Rule #6: Dress and act the part. This is a delicate balancing act. You’re a senior executive. Look sharp and polished.
Rule #7: Be prepared and don’t be defensive. It’s a job interview. You’re going to get grilled about how you lead a company and affect change. Your management style is going to be dissected. Your expertise will be questioned. When you’re not used to being professionally assessed you may feel like you’re under attack. You’re not under attack. You should expect to discuss how you do things in a calm, confident, and objective manner.
Rule #8: Remember the other candidates are senior execs as well. There are many other candidates with similar education, experience, and talents as you. You are not going to automatically get a job and if that’s your attitude you have even less of a chance. Your interviewers are looking for the right piece to complete a complex puzzle. Regardless of your qualifications, “the right fit” is an intangible that will most likely be decided in the interview room.
Rule #9: Treat everybody in the interview process with kindness and respect, from the receptionist to the CEO. Don’t come into somebody else’s office and order people around. Don’t talk down to anyone.
Rule #10: Align with your executive search firm before your interview. Don’t leave anything to chance. In advance, have a candid discussion with your search firm about what they will be responsible for what you will handle. For example, ideally, you shouldn’t be discussing compensation in your interview. Your search firm should initiate and negotiate those terms so you should direct any questions about it to them. However, if you haven’t discussed it with them in advance and they aren’t prepared when the call comes, it reflects poorly on you.
Philip Roufail contributed to this article.
Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.
