| Interviews are tough at any level and the questions | | | | Has your work ever been criticized by peers? |
| and expected answers at an executive level can be | | | | If you say no, the interviewers will not and should not |
| even tougher. The key to a successful interview is | | | | believe you. They want to know how you respond to |
| thorough preparation and then understanding fully what | | | | criticism and how professional you are in such |
| is being asked of you. I give some examples of | | | | circumstances. You should indicate the positives of |
| executive interview questions and the expected | | | | teamwork and peer appraisal that has helped you |
| answers below: | | | | grow and mature in your career to date. |
| What criteria are you using to select companies to | | | | How rigid do you stick to your goals? |
| interview with? | | | | They want to know that you can balance strict |
| The interviewers expect that you will be applying for | | | | deadlines with a level of flexibility if necessary. Things |
| similar roles in other companies within the industry. | | | | change in the workplace all the time. This could be |
| They expect that you have exercised some judgment | | | | driven by internal factors such as management |
| when applying to these companies. So when you say | | | | shakeup or by external factors such as regulation or |
| something like you only want to work in a startup - are | | | | competitive forces. Always be willing to embrace |
| you being consistent? | | | | change. |
| Will you find it difficult to leave your current company? | | | | What is the best way to react in a work crisis? |
| You probably will especially if you have consolidated | | | | At an executive level crisis can mean many things. It |
| your position at an executive level. They really need to | | | | could be mean a final letter from your most important |
| know that you are committed to leaving and not trying | | | | client, a factory explosion, a mass exodus of |
| to "play" your current company into giving you a | | | | employees to a competitor or a deadly flu virus. The |
| counter-offer to further your career. They really do not | | | | interview question is testing how you deal with |
| want to waste their own or their colleague's time | | | | unforeseen situations, what is your strategy and what |
| interviewing you for no reason. | | | | you learn from them should they strike again? |
| Are you leaving your current role for monetary | | | | Have you ever had a personal conflict with a |
| reasons? | | | | colleague? |
| The interviewer wants to understand your true | | | | The interviewer wants to see what your professional |
| motivation for leaving. If it really is money, you will need | | | | ethics are and if you allow personal views get in the |
| to downplay it and sell the interviewer on the idea that | | | | way of business. You may not like everyone you |
| you want career growth and opportunity. You will | | | | work or interact with. You may never want to see |
| expect the money to come with that if you flourish as | | | | them outside of the workplace. However, while you |
| expected at the new company. | | | | are in the work place, you need to get on. |