Interview with Executives
I have finally reached the last stage in my interview process. The job I am applying to is in the financial/insurance industry and I am being flown out to interview with the top level of executives, including the President. This is a very large, publicly traded company and to this point, I have aced all of the initial interviews. In my previous interviews, I had the chance the learn more about the company and was run through the pretty basic questions about my background and how I saw myself fitting in with the company. I have done many of these types of interviews before and have found them easy to do. My question pertains to how best to prepare myself for the executives. Each meeting is to be roughly half an hour with each one. From what I have been told, this final step is more of a formality, but I am still wary of what questions will be asked of me and what questions should I be asking them. I am somewhat under the impression that this is a "welcome to the family" meeting, as they are providing me with exceptional accommodations. A little about myself, I am newly graduated. 3.3+ Undergrad Business GPA , solid work experience, but none in this field. The position itself would not be in the same office as the executives, but there is very little in terms of a bureaucracy, i.e. above me would be a regional VP, then the executives themselves. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you. While this part may be a "formality", it is a very important one. If one of these guys doesn't like you, you won't get the spot. If they take an exceptional liking to you, they may watch out for you and your career for a long time. (No pressure). My advice is to do what you've been doing. Listen carefully to what they're telling you, ask relevant and appropriate questions. Be yourself, but don't forget that you're in an interview. It isn't over until it is over. Good luck! Tess Be prepared for some kind of social event--maybe lunch, dinner--and be sure to mind your manners. No food fights! This certainly sounds like a promising. situation for you Hope you'll post a follow-up and let us know how it went. Best wishes. Dwight
Thank you for the advice. Just for clarification, there are going to be social functions where I get to meet the other applicants. I believe everyone interviewing for this pool of jobs is receiving the same treatment as I am. Do either of you, or anyone else for that matter, have any other good tips of how and executive interview is conducted? My resume and transcripts have been put under the microscope and I have had an in-depth view of the level of the organization I would be hired in at, but I am just not sure what kind of questions would be appropriate to ask on the executive level, seeming as they probably would not have any pertinent information to my specific position. Sorry for being so long winded, I guess the short question is, what kind of questions should I ask during an interview with executives? Don't ask something stupid just to have something to ask. Ask something relevant to the conversation and your potential position in the organization. There is a "generic" question that you can probably work in if nothing else. Ask them: "If you had no barriers of time, money, staffing or other resources, what is your vision for the (specific position, department, company)?" If your potential position is entry-level, use the department or company instead. Be sure to include the part about no barriers because otherwise they don't think big enough. Ask each person this same question even if they're all in the room together. Sometimes you get a very specific answer like "I'd like to increase sales 20%". Sometimes you get a more philosophical answer like "I'd like us to be known as the leader in our field..." LISTEN very carefully and you can get some great insight into where they're coming from. If you can then tag it back to your skills and abilities, do so. Such as- "That's interesting because I took a course in Marketing to Diverse Segments in my senior year and I can see how that would really apply...." Good luck! Tess Have some pleasant non-work-related banter ready. Lunch or dinner are occasions to get to know the executives and fellow applicants on a more personal level. Not too personal, mind you, but talking about golf with executives seems like a slam dunk. I thik your biggest problem might be over-thinking this interview. | |
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Career Tips
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