How to interview for a leadership position. For a leading position

By the standard, the goal of every interview is to identify strengths and candidates.

But the interview of the manager is a rather specific process, because during it it is necessary to identify both the level of competence in terms of personnel management.

What the employer wants to see

At the interview of the future manager, the employer will not only find out information about the past and skills, but will also try to determine whether you have the following qualities:

• Effectiveness.
• Expressed leadership qualities.
• The way you think.
• The level of influence on other people.
• Ability for strategic planning.
• Ability to analyze and implement positive decisions.
• Self-confidence.

Your answers to questions and behavior in general will tell about these. Try to show that you are truly a leader:

• Don't speak too softly and timidly - speak confidently and clearly.
• Do not show your excitement through gestures or facial expressions - do not bite or lick your lips, do not snap your knuckles, do not twist the first object in your hands, etc.
• Dress presentable - not too provocative, and not too old-fashioned.

What questions will have to be answered

• Questions to identify the level of competence, for example "How well do you know the area in which our company operates?"

• Leader identification questions: "How do you see the ideal leader?" Try to match the set of ideal qualities with those that you possess. The main thing is not to over praise yourself and try to avoid hackneyed qualities (determination, determination, etc.).
• Questions regarding future success in the position: "What does it take to be successful in this position?"

To answer correctly, first read the list of requirements specified in the card of the proposed vacancy.

• HR management: “How to keep an employee in position?”, “How to motivate employees?”. If you do not have an intuitive understanding of this, then familiarize yourself with the basics of personnel management using the literature or the Internet.
• Mistakes and Failures: "What was the biggest mistake you made at work?"

Do not say that you did not have mistakes, as this will indicate that you do not know how to recognize them and that you do not adequately assess the situation and yourself in it. It is better to remember in advance some small

An interview is called an extremely important event, and not only for a potential employee, but also for the head of the company. The first wants to get a job, the second wants to get a highly qualified employee. How to get an interview for a managerial position - further in our article (what to look for, and what questions the recruiter will ask you). We will also tell you what answers should be given to the questions posed to you and what should not be done in any case.

First, let's say a few words about the preparation stage on the eve of the interview - what can you do for yourself in advance (while still in your home)?

Preparatory stage before the interview

Of course, any person before going to an interview strives to be as ready for it as possible. This is the right decision, because only in this way can you impress a potential boss, demonstrate to him your best qualities that the company needs so much. Therefore, you should start preparing for this event in advance - and not "feverishly" and indistinctly thinking about what to say, already in the employer's office. In fact, this is the most common mistake among job seekers - not being very serious about taking one or another interview.

If the institution conducts interviews for the position of the head, the selection is made according to the strictest criteria. Only the most outstanding candidates will be selected. Work in any position requires the availability of appropriate knowledge and skills. But one who wants to become a leader must have other virtues - just having knowledge is not enough. A potential leader must show his personal qualities, solid work experience and achievements in this area. He should be different (for the better) from the applicant applying for an ordinary position (say, a consultant).

What the recruiter is interested in

What the recruiter is interested in

When conducting such an interview, the recruiter will try to carefully study the candidate from every available side. The applicant will have to answer a huge number of questions - from a variety of areas. Most of all, in such cases, such qualities of a candidate are studied as:

• intellectual level;
• qualities inherent in a leader (whether this candidate has them);
• innovative thinking (whether he will be able to offer any new ideas that will contribute to the development of the company);
• the ability to influence others;
• views and ideas;
• commercial savvy;
• strategic vision;
• attraction of resources from outside;
• effectiveness;
• ability to negotiate with a third party;
• the ability to attract attention and lead in relationships;
• solid work experience.

Questions from the candidate

Often the interview is carried out according to the following scheme: first, a potential boss talks about the position itself, lists responsibilities, likely prospects and career growth. This is followed by clarification of details and details. Only after that, the candidate himself has the right to ask the recruiter his questions at the interview.

Small but important clarification: the applicant not only has the right, he is obliged to ask such questions! If he has nothing to ask his potential boss, then he has no interest in future work and position. There is no need to prepare a huge list of these questions - you can limit yourself to two or three.

Do not forget that the main purpose of the interview is to reveal as many details as possible about each candidate. In other words, we are talking about "probing" them, testing their abilities and skills. You can take an interest in all other issues of concern to you only when you have already been offered to conclude an employment agreement.

Sometimes at the very beginning of the interview, the employer asks the candidate to report on his life position, tasks and plans for the future. In other words, what would he like to achieve in his career. These questions need to be answered clearly and comprehensively, so it is best to prepare for them well in advance - while still at home.

Of course, any job seeker is concerned about the following question: how to successfully pass an interview for a managerial position?

Questions from the candidate

What the manager most often asks about

What questions should someone who wants to get a managerial position answer?

The interview includes not just standard questions for each case (a story about yourself, a company, about your advantages and disadvantages, and so on). It also asks questions directly related to future responsibilities. They sound like this:

1. What leadership qualities do you have?
2. What professional mistakes have you made in the past? What conclusions have been drawn?
3. Can you influence employees?

The recruiter also often invites the candidate to come up with a specific case and asks how the applicant will solve the current situation.

Since the main purpose of the interview is to find a leader, they may ask the following question: "What (in your opinion) qualities are inherent in an excellent leader?" You will need to list them.

It is worth not forgetting the following important point: competent management of working personnel presupposes that a manager has the following qualities:

1. He should give the impression of a confident person in himself and his strengths.
2. Must be bold.
3. Have a worldview.
4. Possess communication skills.
5. Must be able to self-analyze.
6. Should create a close-knit team without any problems (which will listen to him without unnecessary objections).
7. Must be able to provide support to any of his subordinates.

All of the above qualities of an excellent leader stand out when answering a question posed by a manager. Of course, answering the questions of a manager or an employer, you do not need to fall into demagogy. That is, you should not start long explanations and explanations - this will definitely not lead to anything good for you - the interlocutor will simply get tired of you and consider you a chatterbox (and will try to "get rid" of you as soon as possible under any euphonious pretext).

At the same time, the "dry" circumstances of your experience will also not make the best impression, since competent and beautiful speech is extremely important for a leader - observing the "golden" mean.

If you are talking about your own experience, be sure to explain how you solved the problem, what tasks you did in your time and what you managed to achieve. Here it is necessary to remember this important point: make sure that your story is consistent (phased). In this case, do not regularly insert the word "I". The manager may think that you are an upstart, selfish, which will not add to your chances of getting the desired position.

Questions and answers: how to give competent answers

So, you will have an interview, because you have a desire to find a job in a managerial position. You go to the office and see the manager (or direct employer) who invited you earlier for an interview. Now everything depends solely on you - how you will show yourself and build your future career. How to build a competent dialogue? How to answer manager's questions?

What should you pay attention to? The following features.

The first feature: Listen to the questions of your interlocutor carefully and focused. There is no need to be distracted by anything and think about something extraneous. This is completely unnecessary. Have you listened to the question to the end? Great, now do a quick mental analysis: what answer would the employer like to receive from you? If something is not entirely clear to you (the question asked to you is not completely clear), it is better to apologize and ask to ask it again. This is much better than an indistinct or incorrect answer to the question posed.

Try to present the manager with evidence that the most important thing for you in your work is the achievement of your goal and the result!

Candidate qualities

What qualities do you need to have to be hired?

What qualities should a potential candidate for a leadership position have? Naturally, any chief prescribes specific criteria for himself, according to which applicants for a vacant job will be selected. At the same time, there is a list of those qualities that must be possessed by a candidate passing any interview (regardless of the level of the desired position).

The candidate must:

1. Do not doubt yourself and your strengths.
2. Look neat and tidy in appearance.
3. Possess letters of recommendation - for example, from a previous job from a satisfied employer.
4. Behave culturally.
5. In addition, the applicant must be sociable - be reasonably sociable and not squeezed, otherwise he will never become a leader. This quality is extremely important, since a person working in such a position must be able to find a common language with different people - including his own subordinates.

It is worth noting that all of the above qualities are considered standard for any candidate for a managerial position. But there are those that should be inherent directly to the leader himself. He must:

1. To be able to manage, work with the team entrusted to him.
2. Be able to work with a team.
3. Offer your initiatives to achieve the desired result.
4. To be able to solve several cases at once, and not just one.
5. Be not only responsible and serious, but also have a good sense of humor.

In other words, he should be able to laugh where appropriate - and focus where serious work is at stake.

Summarizing

To summarize, we want to point out the following: be sure to read and learn all of the above criteria before going to an interview for your dream job. What should you do if it seems to you that you do not have all the above qualities at all? Is it really worth giving up and not going to a leadership position? Not at all.

Sometimes we show our best qualities after we start our duties. Just don't forget all these characteristics and try to match them! You can definitely do it!

In our article, we told you how to get a managerial position (how to get an interview) - what points to pay attention to so that the employer makes a choice in your favor! We talked about what questions are asked at interviews most often and gave recommendations on how best to answer them. We hope that the information provided has been useful to you!

Hello! This article will show you how to get through an interview.

Today you will learn:

1. How to behave in an interview;
2. What are the stages of the interview;
3. What mistakes are most often made by candidates for the position.

Few . We all understand that the opportunity to get a job in the desired company depends on how well the interview is passed. Therefore, the most correct decision is to prepare for its passage. How to do it right so as not to miss your dream job, let's talk today.

Interview: the essence of the concept

Interview call a personal meeting of an applicant with a potential employer or employer's representative when applying for a job.

The purpose of the interview is to find out the capabilities and skills of the applicant, as well as to discuss possible cooperation.

What is an interview

There are several types of interviews. We will talk about each of them in detail below.

• Biographical -represents an analogue of the questionnaire, discusses the professional experience of the applicant, his education, what he plans to do in the future;
• Free -represents communication in the style of the applicant's story about himself: by and large, this is self-presentation;
• Situational -the interviewer formulates a situation for the applicant. And the one who is being interviewed must explain how he will behave in it. Situations can be different: to test skills, to identify the level of resistance to stress, to test the motivation and values \u200b\u200bof the applicant;
• Stressful -this type of interview is very different from others. Its essence lies in the fact that the applicant is deliberately provoked into a conflict in order to find out how he will behave. This is very effective if stress resistance is important for the future place of work. During the interview, the applicant is asked provocative questions, they are also asked to answer them quickly, practically without hesitation;
• Based on the study of the applicant's abilities -the professionalism and personal qualities of the respondent are assessed. It considers not only the results that a person has achieved, but also how he achieved this. Leadership qualities, communication skills, focus on getting results and so on are also assessed. Typically, this type of interview is conducted by a group of interviewers of 3 people, the decision on the applicant is made immediately after the interview.

There are a lot of managerial vacancies today. But there are even more people who want to get this position. How do you prepare to be at the forefront of this job race? Especially if you feel like working as a manager is your path in life?

The labor market in the modern world is like gladiatorial fights. And to get through this fight, you need significant advantages, will and a constant desire to reach the maximum. In this article, we'll go over the basics when preparing for an interview. What should you pay attention to, how to be confident and how to show your competence?

Employers' requirements

But let's start with how employers view candidates? Seeing the situation from their point of view, we can soberly assess ourselves. Correct the direction of your personal growth. What do they require? It is important for employers that the employee is fully and unconditionally dedicated to the needs of their company. In most ads we find the following requirements:

• Ability to build relationships, negotiate.
• Prompt decision making.
• Self-dedication in work, responsibility.
• Self-organization and ability to organize others.
• Scrupulousness.
• Self-development skills.
• Ability to set goals and develop plans.
• Success orientation.
• Ability to manage your time.

Everything is correct. A company that has a comfortable moral and psychological climate works betterwhere employees are jointly responsible for the result of work, and are not afraid to take initiative. For this, the person who is at the head of all processes must be the undoubted leader. He must develop strategic thinking, have a high level of self-control, and also need to understand his motives and subordinates. After all, if a person has no motive for activity, it is impossible to "force" him to work. Working with people also involves a lot of responsibility.

The manager is responsible for all work performed by subordinates. And, if necessary, should intervene and help solve the difficulties that have arisen. This means that he needs to know thoroughly the whole process that he controls. You need to plan time according to the importance of tasks.

Based on the above qualities, we can draw a picture of the ideal manager. Now ask yourself, what is your motivation after all? Are you ready to step by step closer to this ideal, achieve better results, climb the career ladder, and at the same time sacrifice the interests of your personality?

Create a "face". Secrets of the leader's image

We found that someone who has leadership skills and outstanding analytical thinking is more likely to get a job. Your task at the interview with all your appearance and behavior is to demonstrate all these qualities to the interviewer.

Show that you have your own view of things and events around you. Show that you have developed as a person and you have your own image. But don't overdo it. Your behavior should be natural. Otherwise you will look funny. It takes a little practice to create your image.

1. Exude confidence. Work in front of the mirror with facial expressions and gestures. If facial expressions or posture betrays stiffness, stiffness, then fortune may turn away from you. Do not fold your hands with a "lock". Also, you should not cross your legs. The best position is to sit up straight with your hands on the table or on your knees. Watch your posture. Make eye contact when talking. Otherwise, the interlocutor may get the impression that you have a problem with contacts.
2. Polish your speech. The leader must express himself clearly, concisely and to the point. But at the same time, speech should be free. Don't let your excitement ruin your impression. Remember that communication skills are essential for a leader.
3. Appearance. You will benefit if you dress personable and tasteful. Think about what kind of shoes you will wear. Pick up accessories. Your view shows the inner state. Show that your credo is neatness and neatness. Your hairstyle, arms, cuffs - everything should look perfect. But by no means pretentious.
4. Openness and optimism. It is important to show the interviewer that you are optimistic about the future: you have personal goals that you strive for. If the interviewer sees that you are enthusiastic and ready to move mountains for the sake of a goal, you can safely count on success. But still, personal goals cannot contradict corporate ones. On the contrary, they need to be brought closer together.
5. Courageous, active attitude and quick mind. You can show these qualities in conversation. To do this, find out everything about the company in advance and tell us what you think about its position in the market. Ask what top priorities the director of the firm sets for you. Find out if the owner plans to expand his business. All these questions will show your competence, and maturity, and mind at the same time.

Types of interviews and principles of conduct

Since the competition in the labor market is high, education and experience do not play a decisive role in the choice. Therefore, get ready for trials and worries. An interview may be arranged to test your knowledge, psychological stability, or other criteria. Everyone knows about the usual biographical interview. But let's talk about some types of interviews that go beyond simple one-on-one conversation. And how to behave on them.

Panel... During this interview, two or three people may talk to you. Each of them evaluates a specific criterion. And then he gives his verdict to the director making the decision.

The principle of behavior. Each interviewer has a different question plan. Don't interrupt him. You will be able to ask prepared questions at the end of the interview. Don't make excuses. Be honest and kind in your answers.

Stressful interview... It is conducted by one person or several at the same time. Their task is to take the applicant out of the comfort zone. That is, a person is deliberately pissed off: they can shout or, on the contrary, turn away and not listen at all. Try to be calm and natural. The candidate is deliberately pissed off to see how he copes with stress.

The principle of behavior. Be friendly and respond to the questions posed with dignity. If you remain calm and confident in dealing with a clearly inadequate interlocutor, you will successfully pass the selection.

Competency interview... You are asked a series of questions that will be further analyzed. The questions will be about the content of your work. Or simulate a situation from which you have to get out in a certain way. This is how the employer extracts the necessary information about the applicant and assesses the level of his training. The problems of psychological compatibility of employees often fall on the shoulders of the manager. The employer may want to know about your experience in solving such problems.

The principle of behavior. Try to imagine this situation and find at least some solution.

Knowing all the pitfalls that can block your path to achieving the desired position, you can better prepare. Working on yourself, you will certainly achieve your cherished goal. After all, luck accompanies the strongest.

An article on how to successfully pass interviews and answer questions from a potential employer.

1. Obtaining relevant knowledge and education
2. Search for possible work options
3. Interview
4. Acceptance for the desired position

If there are usually no problems with the first two points, then at the interview you should recommend yourself to the maximum. Sometimes, having a good education, a person can sit without work for months, because he simply does not know how to communicate and present himself correctly.

As a result, at the interview he is directly pointed to the door or the attendant is told: "We will call you back." This situation can arise with any unprepared person. To avoid it, you need to prepare in advance.

What do they ask in an interview? Questions when applying for a job

The employer is primarily interested in your professional qualities, your education and work experience. Few people are interested in your personal life, household chores and your dog's breed, even if it is the rarest. Speak clearly and to the point, avoiding unnecessary "water" in the text. In this case, it is very important to behave correctly:

• Be extremely polite and correct
• Do not argue again. Do not sort things out. Your job is to get this job
• Maintain eye contact and posture
• Correct "dodging" the question is also the answer
• Sometimes you can ask the employer a question. But this right is not given to everyone, but only to people who understand human psychology well and are able to "catch" the right moment

You can hear questions about your previous job, relationships with future colleagues, desired salary. Also, you may be asked what you know about the employing company.

Here is an important point: before you go anywhere to get a job, try to learn as much as possible about the company. Even if the information is negative, come up with something that could pass for the truth.

How to answer awkward interview questions?

Inconvenient questions are a favorite part of all potential employers. It is by her that they determine the hidden aspects of a potential employee, which he did not mention in his resume.

• One of the most inconvenient is the question asking to tell about yourself. People begin to get nervous and most often talk about their hobbies, views on the world order and relatives. To avoid embarrassment, say 3-4 sentences in general terms about your qualities and a few words about your hobby
• Often women are asked about their personal life, whether it will interfere with work. After all, there is a certain danger that a woman can go on maternity leave or sick leave. Answer firmly, which does not hurt
• The next question is the question of achievements. Don't talk about first place in the in-school long jump competition. This is unlikely to apply to your current job. Talk about how you grew up professionally. Discreetly, naturally
• It may sound strange, but some employers are genuinely interested in your zodiac sign. And if they don't like it, they will show you the door. It's stupid, but it happens. Don't lie when answering this question. If you were refused - thank you and silently leave the office. A serious firm will never be interested in such things.

How to successfully pass a senior executive interview?

• Prepare in advance for a manager interview. You must leave behind the impression of a knowledgeable and confident person in yourself and in your actions. Choose the right suit, be sure to make sure that the tie is in harmony with the boots
• Although this is no longer relevant in everyday life, business etiquette dictates its own rules. If you are a woman, do not dress vulgar or very brightly. Choose discreet colors in clothes, makeup, nails
• You should look confident, calm. Show emotion in situations where it is appropriate. Gesture, but not too much. This indicates excessive emotionality. Let's always finish the phrase, don't interrupt
• As for anyone else, it is important for you to show your best side. Try to show as many qualities as possible that a leader should have. Your potential employer should understand from interviewing you that you are a reliable person. Employers do not tolerate criticism at the interview stage. This also needs to be considered

Executive Interview Questions

These are the questions employers like to ask future leaders:

1. "Tell us about ways to improve the performance of the department you were in charge of in your last position." - Even if you are a leader so-so, do not rush to declare it. Think of situations in which you have successfully and profitably taken the initiative. Tell about them
2. "What methods of motivating employees do you actively use?" - This question should be answered very carefully. Don't rush to talk about wage increases. There are still other equally effective ways
3. “Tell us about your biggest mistake at work. What lesson have you learned from it? " - Do not deny the existence of this error. Then the employer will immediately decide that you are lying and you will not see the desired position. If you have had a huge disaster in your career, don't mention it. Tell us about a serious problem and how you cleverly overcame it
4. A question about finances and your desired salary. Don't give a specific number. Indicate that you are ready to work for the pay offered by you by the company
5. To the question of improving professional skills, the answer is given above in the article

Sales Head Interview Questions

For a basic list of possible interview questions, see the article above. However, the chances are that the employer will want to actually verify your sales skills. He may ask the following questions:

1. "Try to sell me this pen right now." - Quite a banal question, but it is he who fully reveals the sales skills of the candidate. Include your creative thinking in this matter
2. "You got a very unhappy and scandalous client, calm him down and sell something." - This task is much more difficult. Even one in four cannot cope with it. As a rule, the employer himself plays the role of a capricious client, so a candidate for the position of a sales manager will have to act very carefully and smoothly. The client must be immediately reassured, talked to him as politely as possible. Listening to your polite calm tone, the buyer will switch to it.
3. “You are very overworked. There are a lot of orders, employees do not have time. Everyone wants to go home, no one wants to stay late at work. How do you motivate your subordinates to work? " - Say what, according to the experience of previous years, worked effectively

Sales interview questions

The sales manager is ranked lower than the head of the sales department. Requirements for it are lower than for the latter. Most likely, the employer will not ask you to simulate the situation, but will ask the following questions, in addition to the main ones:

1. "Rate your sales knowledge on a scale of 1 to 10." - Speak as is, but sometimes it is allowed to raise the bar a little. But only if your sales skill level is not very high
2. "What are the main qualities that a sales manager should have?" “Your logic is needed here. It is better to prepare for such a question in advance. Think about your best qualities and qualities that you lack to become a successful salesperson. Name them
3. Why should I (the employer) hire you? - One of the most provocative questions. Talk about sales, about your success in this area. Prove yourself

   Administrator interview questions

The administrator must be able to talk with people and resolve emerging disputes. His main qualities: sociability and the ability to quickly find the right solution.

The employer has the right to ask you about communication skills. He is not interested in any sales, because the main thing for you is consultation in matters of service and control over the activities of employees.

Employer interview questions

Oddly enough, but it is possible and even necessary to ask a potential employer questions. The main thing is to understand at what point you need to do this. Above in the article there are several options for similar questions

Do not ask the employer about his personal life, do not invade his personal space. Nobody will like this. On your part, questions about career growth, work schedule, vacation, weekends are possible. The question about bonuses and a direct question about salaries would be wrong.

Job Interview Test

Employers conduct hiring tests quite often. Especially in cases where the company is interested in hiring the most suitable employee, and not the person on the street.

There are two types of tests:

• To test professional knowledge
• General knowledge test

Tests to test your professional knowledge contain questions directly about your profession and related fields. To prepare for such a test, think about what you do poorly at work or not at all. Read books or articles on the Internet about it. A seminar or a detailed video course will be of great help.

The general knowledge test is very similar to the regular school test. You are required to have knowledge of school subjects and a broad outlook. Of course, the employer will not ask you to solve the most difficult problems from the exam, but the level of your knowledge should be appropriate for the position you want to get.

To successfully complete interviews, meet the following requirements:

• Be a little restrained, but not constrained
• Never cross your legs or cross your arms over your chest
• Talk to your employer as equals
• Tell us about your best qualities as a specialist
• If the employer's question seems too personal to you, if possible, translate the topic or ask a counter question.
• Monitor your speech. Pronunciation must be correct
• Your clothing sets the tone for the conversation and creates a certain impression of you. Take your clothes seriously

Reviews:

Marina, 31 years old, Ufa

I was interviewed by a reputable company for the position of an accountant. It was difficult, I was constantly bombarded with tricky questions. Only the innate sense of the interlocutor and the suit helped, oddly enough. That day I was wearing a strict white pencil skirt, the jacket was more or less strictly cut, also white. The blouse is blue. Natural makeup. During the interview, my future employer carefully assessed me, my image. Judging by the fact that I was hired right after the interview, she liked everything.

Irina, 24 years old, Moscow

It was difficult for me to find a job in Moscow, but I used to fight to the end. My self-confidence helped me get the position of office manager with a large company. I boldly answered questions, did not pour water. " Since childhood I have been shy, but at that moment I paralyzed my fear so much that I stopped being afraid at all. But then, after the interview, she poured cold sweat. She showed herself confident and had to correspond to this opinion about herself in a new place. Now not a trace of shyness remained.

How to successfully pass interviews: video