Questions for leadership positions Everything you need to know about a manager interview. What is asked in an interview? Questions when applying for a job

How to behave in an interview? What questions are asked at the interview and what are the most correct answers to them? How to properly prepare for a job?

Hello dear readers! Alexander Berezhnov, one of the authors of the HiterBober.ru business magazine, is with you and is our guest today Ksenia Borodina - recruitment specialist, psychologist.

Ksenia has already conducted hundreds of interviews and knows all the intricacies of this important event. Our guest will share the tricks and secrets of practicing HR specialists and give actionable recommendations job seekers.

In one of the previous articles, we talked in detail about . And now we have come to the logical continuation of the topic - the interview.

1. What is an interview and in what form does it take place

Xenia, I salute you. I propose to start with the most important. Tell us, please, what is an interview, how is it carried out and what types of interviews exist? This is necessary so that our readers understand where they have to go and what to expect, since for some of them this will be the first experience of getting a job.

Hello Sasha. Let's start with a definition.

Interview- it dating process a job seeker and a potential employer (his representative), as a result of which 2 parties want to receive the necessary information about how they fit each other.

There are several types of it.

For example, the number of participants distinguish between individual and group interviews.

Individual interview. It takes place one on one, where the employer or his representative on the one hand and the applicant on the other participate.
Group interview. As a rule, it is carried out by a professional recruiter (recruitment specialist) from a company in need of personnel, with a group of potential applicants for a vacancy. group interviews most often held for mass vacancies in companies, for example, for the position of "sales manager".

Interviews can also be divided according to the number of decision-making "instances". According to this principle, they are divided into single-level and multilevel.

As a rule, for executive positions that do not require high level preparation and great responsibility, applicants go through one interviewer. Such interviews are called single-level, that is, they involve a conversation with one person.

If you want to apply for the position of a sales assistant in a store household appliances, then more often you will have an interview with the director of the store, where your further employment is expected. This is an example of a one-level interview.

Multilevel interviews involve the acquaintance of the applicant with representatives of several leadership levels.

For example, if you are applying for a marketing specialist position in a big company as "Coca-Cola", then you will be interviewed with the head of the regional branch, the head of the marketing department of the company's plant and with the director of this plant.

Sometimes multi-level interviews are held in person with each "level", and sometimes communication with the candidate is carried out remotely.

Thanks to the development modern means communication, some managers prefer to conduct interviews via Skype (less often by phone).

This is especially true in cases where the applicant is looking for a job with the prospect of moving to another region or even another country.

The interview process itself is often stressful for the candidate. Indeed, as a rule, a person sends his resume to several organizations at once and receives an invitation to be interviewed, sometimes on the same day with an interval of several hours.

And each such meeting, where you need to competently present yourself, requires both physical and emotional effort.

2. Stages of passing the interview

Ksenia, I think that now our readers have got an idea about the interview as a process and its features, and now I propose to talk about the stages that the applicant goes through in the interview process and the features of each of them.

Indeed, the entire process of passing the interview can be conditionally divided into 4 stages:

Telephone conversation;
Preparing for the meeting;
Interview;
Summarizing.

Each of them has its own characteristics, which you need to talk about so that you, as an applicant, go through each of the stages as efficiently as possible and get the position you are applying for.

Stage 1. Telephone conversation

This is the first stage of direct communication with a representative of the company in which you are applying for a job. Usually it is a consequence of sending your resume to this company.

If the company is more or less large, then in most cases the employee responsible for recruiting will call you.

When talking to him, be polite, and also remember his (her) name and preferably position. Next, specify exactly where you need to come, (address) and at what time. Also specify a contact phone number for communication.

If you need to take something with you, for example, a passport, a document on education or a portfolio, then the recruiter will tell you about it during a telephone conversation.

Stage 2. Preparing for the meeting

At this stage, I recommend that you imagine your future interview with a potential employer and "live" it. This will be especially true for people who are afraid of the interview itself or they have a fear of failing a meeting with a recruiter.

To tune in to the process and overcome possible fears, I suggest you do the exercise "Meeting with the President". This is done before the interview.

Imagine that you have been invited to the Kremlin and are now sitting at a meeting with the president of the country. The video cameras of the leading TV channels are directed at you and a bunch of journalists are recording everything you say.
Try to imagine yourself in this situation and get used to this role. Think about what you will ask the president and what you want to tell him. What questions he will ask you and how you will publicly answer them.
To do this exercise, stay alone so that no one distracts you and imagine such a meeting in detail for 7-15 minutes.

Then go to your interview. After such a "visualization" you are guaranteed to be easier to pass it. After all, you have already experienced the most “terrible” interview in your life.

A few more words about preparation.

Preparing for an interview includes 3 important points:

Preparation of self-presentation and its rehearsal;
Preparation of a portfolio (awards, articles about you), works and examples confirming your competence for this vacant position;
Rest and further entry into the "resource state". This term refers to your working state in which you are as focused and productive as possible.

Stage 3. Interview

To understand in detail how to pass a job interview, you need to be prepared for different nuances.

For example, very often a specialist who conducts a conversation with you will ask you questions and offer to complete small buildings (cases).

case- this is modeling (analysis) of a problematic or non-standard situation and ways to solve it by a candidate (applicant).

Suppose you are applying for the position of sales representative or sales manager.

To test your erudition, stress resistance, creative thinking and professional knowledge, a recruiting specialist will give you cases for analysis.

Case example:

Recruiter : You are on your way to meet an important client. Major negotiations that you have to conduct, if successful, can bring you a monthly income level and a promotion. Suddenly, your car breaks down in the middle of the road. Your actions?
You: I will get out of the car and try to get a taxi or passing transport to the meeting point with the client.
Recruiter : You were driving through a back road far from the city, there is no passing transport.
You: I will look on the navigator where I am and call a taxi to this place.
Recruiter : You do not have a navigator and your phone is dead.
You: I will try to fix the car breakdown by myself and then continue driving.

And so your recruiter can "drive" you, each time complicating the conditions in which you find yourself.

As I understand it, this is done in order to see if such a force majeure will lead you into a stupor and what exit options will you offer (savvy test)?

Sasha is absolutely right. Also, the HR specialist in this case wants to see how long you will try to find a way out of this situation (testing your perseverance).

One of the very popular cases is called "selling a pen." It is used mainly in sales interviews, but sometimes HR people play similar games with candidates for other positions.

Stage 4. Summing up

If at the meeting you were confident and clearly answered all the questions of the HR specialist, then you will have a great chance of getting the desired job.

At the end of the interview, you will be told how long you will receive an answer if you are hired. If you are going through a multi-level interview, then wait for an answer about passing the next stage.

I usually say this:
If I don't call you back by such and such a time, it means that we have made a decision in favor of another candidate.

You can also ask the recruiter yourself when exactly to expect the result of the interview and in what form it will be.

Now, if I get a job, I will definitely work out possible cases. Ksenia, I am sure that our readers will be interested to know how to behave in an interview and what can confuse an HR specialist in the behavior or appearance of a job seeker?

Sasha, indeed, should understand that the higher and more responsible the position for which a potential employee applies, the more requirements are placed on him.

Let me give you a few general key points from their practice, which must be taken into account by all candidates without exception when passing a job interview.

Accuracy and neatness. This applies not only to the appearance, but also to your condition in general. Never show up for an interview drunkenness, after a “stormy rest” or a sleepless night. In the eyes of a recruiter, you will immediately earn the status of a “reveler”, and with it the rest of the process of interview relevance will be called into question.
Friendly and good manners. Whatever position you apply for, good manners and adequate behavior will definitely add points to you. Find out the name of your interlocutor and address him by name. Moreover, it is worth addressing exactly as he introduced himself. For example, if a recruiter said that his name is Ivan, then call him “You”. “Ivan, you said that ...” If he gave his name and patronymic, then this is exactly how you should address your interlocutor.
Proficiency in professional terminology. You will definitely like a recruiter if without abusing terms, use them 3-4 times during your interview, and also explain how you use (used) these terms in practice. For example, if you say that at your previous job you were able to increase sales by 30% per month, thanks to an increase in conversion, after analyzing the number of incoming calls and the size of the average bill, then this will count as a plus.
General level of erudition. Also, a couple of times in the topic, you can mention famous books that you read or seminars in your specialty that you attended during the year. Recruiters pay attention to the craving for knowledge and the desire of a person for self-education. This is especially important if you are applying for management or "intellectual" positions in the company.

In a word, you need to "sell" yourself and show yourself with favorable side. Moreover, this must be done both from a professional point of view and from the point of view of general human values and rules. If you want to get a job, it is important to correctly and clearly answer the questions of an HR specialist.

4. Interview questions and answers

I heard that there are a number of questions that almost all recruiters ask job seekers. Ksyusha, can you give some examples and good answers to them?

Oh sure.

In addition to the cases that you will be given at the interview, for successful completion you will need to answer a series of "tricky" questions. They are also chosen by your recruiter for a reason.

After all, the decision to enroll you to work depends on how you answer them.

Interview questions and correct answers:

Tell us about yourself. It would seem a simple task, but for many people it is at this moment that a stupor begins: “mooing” or “nuking”. Here you should present yourself with better side within the vacancy for which you are applying. Briefly describe your education, work experience and achievements that distinguish you as a specialist. Speak clearly without excess water and philosophizing.
Why did you leave your previous job? Tell us here about your motivation "to", that is, that you are striving for development and new opportunities in work that you currently see in this position. Don't say "from" in the key of motivation, i.e. "I ran away from bad conditions, low wages and a decaying team. In no case do not scold the previous place of work and your former leader. After all, any person, including your interlocutor, will think that if you change jobs in the future, you will also speak negatively about his company.
Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years or your plans for the long term? The best answer here is that you associate your professional future with this particular company. This way you will form an impression of yourself as an interested employee who is ready to devote a large number of time for this work. After all, nowhere is the “turnover” of personnel welcomed.
Do you have weaknesses(limitations)? If yes, please name 3 of them. By asking this question, the recruiter wants to understand the level of your maturity. A person who says that I do not see any shortcomings in myself or will think for a long time how to answer this question will lose points in the eyes of the personnel specialist. Do not answer like this: “My shortcomings: often late, conflict with colleagues (management), lazy.” It’s best to say here that you are a “workaholic”, that is, you like to go headlong into work, and this is not always right, a “perfectionist” - strive for perfection in everything and because of this, sometimes you lose speed. And your third drawback is the desire to get along with everyone a good relationship. And sometimes you are too kind to subordinates, because you do not want to punish them for the inadequate quality of the work performed.
Name your strengths. Describe your real strengths that are directly applicable to the job you are applying for and give examples with facts and figures. For example: “I believe that one of my strengths is the ability to think in numbers. At a previous job, I analyzed the sales funnel, identified patterns and, based on this, developed a new sales model that brought the company additional 500 000 rubles or 15 % for the first month of implementing my marketing model.”
Did you make mistakes at your previous job? Which? Here honestly tell me exactly what mistakes you had. But the most important thing is that they are not fatal and be sure to supplement the answer to this question with the fact that you yourself corrected them. For example, you wrote to the client the wrong mobile phone and he returned to the store to exchange it. And you managed not only to avoid conflict situation but also sell him more additional accessories to the acquired mobile device.
What level of compensation (salary) do you expect? Here you should objectively assess your competencies, say how much you want to receive and justify the benefit of the employer company if it makes its choice in favor of you as an employee. Also analyze the level of salaries offered by similar companies for similar vacancies.
How did you hear about our company? Usually this question is asked by the employer's representative in order to find out which channel for searching for candidates is working. This question is not tricky, rather it is simply informational and is aimed at optimizing the search for personnel for this organization. Just answer as it is, for example, you found out about a vacancy on your company's website.

In addition to answering common questions, I have compiled a table to show which key criteria are important for a candidate and how they are confirmed.

A visual table of the main criteria for evaluating a candidate at an interview

The first column contains the evaluation criterion, and the second - indirect evidence that the candidate has this criterion.

№	Candidate Quality	Proof
1	Honesty	Ability to be honest about your shortcomings with examples
2	Level of professional competencies	Examples of measurable achievements in the previous job, availability of awards and portfolio
3	Resilience and will	Manifestation of calmness when analyzing cases
4	Tact	Polite tone, soft gestures, open posture
5	Creativity	Quick and non-standard answers to tricky recruiter questions
6	General literacy rate	Correct speech, use of terms

5. How to pass a job interview - 7 main rules

That is, as I understand it, an interview is a rather creative process and there are no clear standards in its conduct, or is everything here individually?

Quite right, Sasha. Every HR professional approaches the interview process differently. There are recruiters who simply technically "drive" the candidate through the list of questions, determining his prof. fitness.

I do it a little differently. That is, I approach the interview process individually for each applicant. I try not only to classify him according to the “suitable / not suitable” principle as a specialist, but also to determine his psychological type, motivation features and internal potential.

It's great, you can see that you really love what you do. Ksenia, let's now move on to the most important part of our interview and talk about what rules a candidate needs to follow throughout the interview from beginning to end in order to maximize the chances of getting the desired job?

If you have to be interviewed, then follow the following rules and then your interview will certainly open the way for you to career and financial opportunities in a new job.

Rule 1. Find out everything about a potential employer

This is the first and very important stage of preparation.

Firstly, this information will help you find out who you are going to work with for a long time (perhaps several years). Open the Internet, the print press and see what exactly sets your potential employer apart from other companies. Perhaps this is the introduction of innovations, working conditions or methods of promotion (marketing).
Secondly, all the data and facts you have learned about a potential employer will help you in your interview. In the process of passing the interview, compliment the company, show off the knowledge of the facts about it. All this will have a positive impact on the final decision on your candidacy.

What you need to know about the company you are applying for:

History of creation and leadership. When it appeared - the year of foundation. Who is the leader now, and who was at the helm earlier. What are the features of the style of business management and what is the life philosophy of the top management. Also find out what symbolizes form style and the company logo and what is its corporate culture. What values underpin the organization.
Main directions of activity. What this organization produces or sells, and perhaps it provides services. What is their feature? Why did she choose this particular market segment?
Features of doing business. Does the company have competitors and who are they? What is the scale of the organization's business, in what territory (city, region, country or international format company). How does seasonality and other factors affect the success of the company. How many employees work in it and what is their organizational structure.
Achievements and important corporate events. Perhaps the organization recently became the winner of some competition or opened new office. This information will also be useful for a comprehensive understanding of the current affairs of the company.
Facts and figures. What is the market share of the company in its segment and its financial performance: revenue, growth rate, number of clients and open offices.

Having comprehensive information about all the features of the future employer, you will certainly get advantages over other applicants.

Rule 2. We prepare a self-presentation and rehearse it

When you find yourself at an interview, in most cases you will be asked to tell about yourself. As I said earlier, it is this request that confuses many applicants.

So that this does not come as a surprise to you, you need to prepare in advance.

self-presentation- this is a short and capacious story about yourself in the context of the vacancy for which you are applying.

I emphasize that specifically in the context of a specific vacancy. That is, the emphasis in the story about yourself should be done on those qualities, experience and knowledge that will help you solve problems in the framework of your future work.

For example, if you are applying for a job as a sales manager, then as part of your self-presentation, tell us what recent sales courses you took, what experience you have in this area. Maybe you are so passionate about this topic that you have created your own website on it or a “club of successful sellers” in your city.

If you have an education that will help you in such work, for example, in the specialties: marketing, advertising, PR, then focus on this. If you have a construction or medical education, then just say that you have a secondary or higher education without indicating his profile.

It would be advisable to name the direction of education if you will sell goods in a similar industry as part of the profession "sales manager".

For example, if you get a job in a trading company selling building materials, then a construction education will be an advantage in your situation.

You should not focus on your hobby in your self-presentation, unless it will positively affect the results of your work.

How to prepare your presentation for an interview

Conditionally break your entire presentation into several blocks.

For example, your self-presentation may consist of 4 main parts, interconnected in meaning:

Education and professional experience.
Your achievements with facts and figures.
The benefits of working with you for the employer.
Your professional plans for the future.

Once you've mapped out your presentation, it's time to rehearse it.

To begin with, say all the theses that you plan to voice to the personnel specialist at the interview.

Then sit in front of a mirror and look at yourself, say everything that you have prepared, based on your plan. Most likely the first time you forget something or start to stumble. Then your task is to bring your story to the ideal and imagine that you are now at the upcoming meeting and tell about your beloved.

Fact
Many people have a psychological barrier when it comes to presenting themselves in the best possible light.

Rule 3. We observe the appropriate "dress code"

As a rule, certain professions require a special style of clothing. So, if you apply for an office vacancy, then your appearance at the interview must be appropriate.

For men a light-colored shirt and dark-colored trousers or jeans are suitable.
For girls it can be a blouse, a skirt of sufficient length and shoes with low heels.

If your future work involves active interaction with people in person, then in this case the requirements for your style of clothing will be especially high.

The exception to the rule is only "creative" professions. For example, a designer or photographer can afford to come to an interview in an extravagant outfit. In this case, your clothing style will emphasize a non-standard approach to solving creative problems.

In all other cases, "classic" and business style- your win-win option!

Also, in addition to the main style of clothing, the presence of accessories is welcome.

Accessories may include:

Wrist Watch;
tie;
decoration;
stylish notepad;
pen;
bag (purse).

Rule 4. Taking written notes during the meeting

An indicator of the general level of preparation of the candidate for the recruiter is the presence of the first notebook and pen. If you make notes to yourself during the interview, then first of all it will be very convenient for you. Indeed, at the end, based on your notes, you can ask clarifying questions or ask for clarification of the details of employment and other conditions for future work.

By the end of the meeting, you will have everything in full view. This is especially useful if you are doing multiple interviews at different companies so that you can then compare working conditions in different organizations and make an informed decision.

It is also necessary to take notes if you are going through a multi-level interview. Keeping the main points on paper will help you remember what was discussed at the meeting and better prepare for the next stages of the interview.

Rule 5. Make a list of questions for the recruiter

Typically, at the end of the meeting, your interviewer will ask if you have any questions for him. To do this, think in advance what you would like to know more.

You can write some questions for the recruiter at home in advance, and write some down right at the meeting in the form of notes. To do this, you must have a notebook and a pen with you.

Take care in advance that your notebook is of the proper aesthetic appearance. This means that if it is a “worn out” pack of yellowed sheets in which “fish was wrapped”, then this will characterize you as a sloppy potential employee.

Everything should be harmonious - this is an important principle for a successful interview.

Rule 6. Behave confidently and naturally in an interview

Do not try to “put on a mask”, be not yourself, or overly please your interlocutor. Unnatural behavior is easy to read by a person. Your facial expressions, gestures and style of conversation will involuntarily bring you to clean water.

It is better to go the other way in order to achieve a positive result. Follow the basic rules good manners be polite and tactful.

Do not interrupt the interviewer, speak calmly, but with some enthusiasm in your head.

You should intuitively understand where and what is appropriate to say. After all, an interview is a process of mutual decision-making on the cooperation of two parties: you and the employer.

Rule 7. We ask when and in what form the results will be announced to you

I hope that using these simple rules you will easily pass the job interview. At the end of the meeting, find out when and in what form to expect an answer about the results of the interview.

Simply put, how do you know if you've been hired or not?

Usually the recruiter himself will tell you at the end that the answer will be on such and such a day, for example, before 18 pm.

I tell my applicants that if I don't call you by 18:00 on such and such a day, for example, September 26, it means that you did not pass the interview.

Calling and personally telling everyone that their candidacy for this position was rejected is usually too troublesome.

Here's the rule at work:
“We called - congratulations, you have been hired! They didn’t call - your candidacy did not pass. ”

6. 5 Common Job Interview Mistakes

If you want to successfully pass a job interview and do it without “noise and dust”, then you should avoid the mistakes that I will discuss next.

This is what most applicants do, and because of simple ignorance of elementary things, they fail, losing the opportunity to make a long-awaited career.

Mistake 1. Fear of an interview or “schoolboy” syndrome

Once again I repeat that the interview is a process of mutual choice and both parties are equal participants in this process.

Some job seekers come to a meeting and their hands are shaking, their palms are sweating, their voice is trembling. It is this behavior that is typical for students and schoolchildren when passing the exam. They seem to be in the position of a rabbit, which the boa constrictor is looking at.

You don't have to be afraid of the interview.

It is a big mistake to think that now an evil uncle or aunt will torment you. Indeed, as a rule, a personnel specialist who has been entrusted with hiring a person is a benevolent and attentive person whose goal is to find that very “gold bar” in a pile of ore and clay.

If you shine like gold with your talents, competent speech and show real examples of achievements and your competencies at the interview, then do not hesitate, you will be hired for this job!

Mistake 2. Passing an interview without preparation

In almost every previous block of our interview, I talked about the importance of preparation before the interview.

Don't neglect this rule.

Impromptu is good in many situations, but not at the time of the interview. And as many people know, the best impromptu is impromptu prepared.

Follow all the above rules and the consequences of this mistake will not affect you.

Mistake 3. Excessive heart-to-heart talk with a recruiter

Sometimes applicants get so carried away during the interview process that they move away from main theme and begin to "pour out the soul" to the personnel specialist.

This mistake is often found just among inexperienced applicants or candidates for lower technical positions, such as a loader, storekeeper, worker, and so on.

As a rule, among more prepared applicants applying for more responsible positions in the company, this mistake does not occur.

But still remember that you should not deviate from the topic if you want to get a job in good organization and enjoy the respect they deserve.

Mistake 4. Poor health and stress as a factor in failure

Anything can happen in life, and if you have an interview scheduled for 10 am tomorrow, and you feel bad or something serious happened to you that completely unsettled you, try to reschedule the meeting. In this case, notify the employer's representative by phone in advance.

After all, anything can happen: a child gets sick and you need to go to the hospital, a relative got into an accident, or you simply got poisoned by stale food.

Don't go to an interview depressed, in a bad mood, or not feeling well.

Mistake 5. Tactlessness, defiant behavior

Some job seekers are like tanks and turn the interview into a show, demonstrating not their best qualities. Those who like to argue with the interlocutor will definitely not get the desired job.

If a person behaves tactlessly and disrespectfully towards the partner side, then this immediately characterizes him as a brawler and potentially unsuitable employee.

As the cat Leopold said in the famous cartoon: "Guys, let's live together!".

So, you need to make friends with your interlocutor.

After the meeting, the representative of your employer should have an impression of you and how good specialist his business, and as a pleasant in communication and cultured person.

Don't Make These 5 Common Mistakes and Success is Guaranteed!

7. Illustrative video examples of how to successfully pass an interview from the TV channel "Success" in the program "Personnel decide"

Here I want to give you a few real examples interviews with expert commentary.

Be sure to watch them, because from the outside it is much easier to analyze the strengths of some applicants and the mistakes they make.

1) Interview for the position of sales manager of corporate tours:

2) Interview for the position of assistant manager:

3) Interview for the position of TOP manager:

You can find other episodes of this show on YouTube. It is possible that among them there will be an analysis of the case of the vacancy for which you are applying.

8. Conclusion

Xenia, thank you very much for such detailed answers. I hope that now it will be much easier for our readers to pass an interview for a job.

Prepare for the interview ahead of time;
At the meeting, behave naturally and do not worry;
Follow the rules of the dress code;
Be optimistic and friendly with the interlocutor.

Alexander, thank you for inviting me. I hope we will continue to cooperate.

I wish you all good luck and career growth!

Interview at leadership position

A successful interview for a managerial position has its own specifics and features. The task of such an interview is not only to assess the professional skills and knowledge of the candidate, but also the experience leadership work, achievements and competencies of the candidate as a manager.
We have already discussed the topics of questions at an interview in the article What questions are asked at an interview. We will consider additional questions at the interview for the position of the head, which can help you prepare for the most difficult and responsible interview. If you are not sure that you can prepare for the interview on your own, we are ready to help you! Our specialists have been conducting interview preparation consultations for many years, both in person and remotely, via Skype. At the consultation, you will be able to get prepared for any, even the most difficult interview.

Interview questions for a managerial position

2. Questions about leadership qualities . A leader is a leader, at an interview you will certainly be asked about how you see a successful and effective leader and what professional skills and personal qualities you possess as a leader.

The main thing is not to overpraise yourself and keep a balance between personal qualities and the skills of an effective leader. Try to avoid hackneyed qualities, such as determination, determination, analytical mindset.

3. Questions about achievements and results. Select the most significant and significant achievements in your career. When mentioning specific achievements, be guided by facts, backed up by numbers. When talking about your results, use combinations more often: "my team managed to achieve", "we worked together", etc. This way you can emphasize your role in the team and the ability to work in a team.

4. Questions about future success in this position. A very frequently asked interview question is: “What do you think is necessary for successful work in this position?" Be sure to read the text of the vacancy, with the requirements of the employer for the candidate for this position.
Combining this knowledge with your professional and personal qualities, you will be able to answer this question successfully.

5. Questions about goal setting. Questions aimed at finding out to what extent you are able to set goals for yourself and for your subordinates and achieve the necessary results. Here, the employer often asks this question: "You need to increase sales in one week (accomplish a plan, turn in a project), what will you do, where will you start?"

Many managers, when they say that they will set a goal for employees, will control the fulfillment of tasks and motivate employees, forget to say that in order to achieve a goal, tools are also needed to achieve this goal. Remember this!

6. Questions about personnel management. There can be many questions on this topic. For example, some of them are: "What ways of motivating employees do you know and use?" "How will you keep an employee from being fired"? Every leader should know the answer to these questions.

7. Questions assessing the ability to act. The meaning of these questions is as follows: Your actions in past jobs show what can be expected of you in the future. Answers to questions about how you acted in the event of certain problem situations or conflicts, consider in advance..

8. Questions about the level of professional development. Questions aimed at clarifying the candidate's need for professional development. Questions at an interview for a managerial position may be about trainings, seminars that the candidate may have attended. Or about reading professional literature or other interesting sources of professional development.

9. Questions about mistakes and failures. The purpose of such questions is to reveal whether you are ready to admit your mistakes and failures, from which no one is immune. If you are asked about the biggest failure in your professional life, tell us about the biggest failure and the lessons that you managed to learn from this case. Never deny, do not say that you have never had failures and mistakes.

10. Questions about the level of income. Avoid directly answering this question. by the most the best option in this case it will be: “I am sure that your company offers a decent salary. But the main thing for me is not the salary, but the opportunity to contribute to the development of your company.”

If you are nevertheless asked to clarify the level of income you are applying for, what is an acceptable salary range for you, based on your expectations and information about wages similar jobs in the labor market.

An interview for the position of a manager is a responsible event not only for the applicant, but also for the employer. The first needs to please his potential employer and get a job, and the second is extremely interested in getting a good employee.

In one of the previous articles, we examined in detail, . The list of questions that are asked to the applicant for a managerial position is somewhat wider.

Indeed, in this case, a person should not only be a good professional, but also have excellent organizational skills, the ability to get along with people.

Without this, people in leadership positions, as a rule, do not stay long.

So, let's look at how the interview for the position of the head goes.

How to prepare for an interview

Considering candidates for a managerial position, the company will select the best of the best.

Applicants will be asked various questions regarding:

intellect;
qualities of a leader;
the presence of innovative thinking;
worldview;
strategic vision of the development of the entrusted enterprise (subdivision);
ability to build relationships with various business partners;
experience in the international field.

The applicant for the position of manager must properly prepare in order to give a clear and understandable answer to the questions asked of him. During a conversation with an employer, you can not pay attention to theory - your interviewer knows it without you. Better tell us about your practical experience.

As a rule, the interview itself goes like this: the employer talks about the upcoming work, about the duties that you will perform. The applicant is certainly told about the available career prospects. The candidate then asks questions that interest him. Note that two extremes will look equally bad: You will not ask anything about the vacancy at all, or you will ask too many questions. In the first case, the potential employer will get the impression that you are not at all interested in getting a job, and in the second case, he will simply get tired of you.

In some cases, the interview begins with conversations “for life”. Be prepared to talk about your life position, plans for the future, existing prospects and difficulties, how you plan to solve them, etc. Of course, the answers to these questions should be prepared in advance.

What questions are asked in an interview for a managerial position?

At an interview for a managerial position, they ask general issues: tell us about yourself, about the company, where you see yourself in 10 years.

Special questions are also asked:

What qualities of a leader do you possess?
Tell us about professional mistakes that you made. What lessons have you learned from them?
Are you good at influencing other people?

At the interview, you may be asked to solve a situational problem related to your future job.

A "school" question may also be asked. For example, what qualities should a real leader have?

Your answer should be something like this:

courage;
self-confidence (but not overconfidence);
broad outlook;
tendency to introspection;
the ability to negotiate with people, to unite the team.

During the interview, answer your interviewer's questions briefly and to the point, but at the same time competently and beautifully. Observe the "golden mean".

How to answer questions from your employer

Let us further consider such a practical issue as building a dialogue with your potential employer. How to correctly answer the questions of the HR manager (branch director)? First of all, listen carefully to the person sitting opposite, do not be distracted by extraneous thoughts. After you have heard the question, analyze: what exactly do they want to hear?

If something is not clear in the question, it is better to ask again. At the same time, use the verbal construction "did I understand correctly."

The answer to the question must be correctly constructed. This means that it must have a beginning, middle and end. First, briefly describe the situation, the problem. Next, tell us about the tasks you set for yourself to solve the problem. In the middle of your answer, mention how you dealt with the situation. At the end, draw conclusions from your own story, tell us about the criteria by which you determine success.

After communication, the employer must understand that you are always focused on achieving results.

Qualities every applicant should have

Let's summarize the above. What qualities will help the applicant to take the vacant position of the head?

The list is like this:

neat appearance (meet by clothes);
self-confidence (a shy, stuttering person is unlikely to be a good boss);
professional qualities, work experience in the specialty;
sociability;
organizational skills, initiative;
Ability to work on multiple projects in parallel;
good sense of humour.

Our article, of course, is only a guideline for those who want to take a leadership position. In reality, the questions, of course, may differ from the template we have given. In this case, show creativity, resourcefulness. Show at the interview that you are a born leader and can work in a leadership position in this company.

According to the standard, the purpose of each interview is to determine the strengths and the candidate.

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

What does an employer want 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:

Efficiency.
Demonstrated leadership qualities.
The way you think.
The level of influence on other people.
Ability for strategic planning.
Ability to analyze and implement positive solutions.
Self confidence.

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

Do not speak too quietly 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 presentably - not too flashy, not too old-fashioned.

What questions will you need to answer

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

Questions to identify the leader: "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 overpraise yourself and try to avoid hackneyed qualities (decisiveness, 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 indicated in the card of the proposed vacancy.

Personnel management: “How to keep an employee in a position?”, “How to motivate employees?”. If you do not have an understanding of this on an intuitive level, then familiarize yourself with the basics of personnel management using literature or the Internet.
Mistakes and failures: “What is the most big mistake were you 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 inadequately assess the situation and yourself in it. It is better to remember in advance some small

So, you are applying for a management position in a successful company and you are discussing with a recruiter the possibility of an interview. Your future duties and work are presented to you in full accordance with your competencies.

Easy to say, but to do... A job interview is one of those events where you have to shine. You need to present your track record to the best advantage, but its description should not be too long and too detailed. It is necessary to behave liberated, but at the same time not allow yourself to be excessively relaxed. You should prepare in advance for typical interview questions, but the answers should not look rehearsed. Each of your remarks must hit the mark. And to achieve this is very difficult.

Naturally, you should try to find out as much as possible about the company and the people with whom you will most likely have to talk in an interview in advance. How more information manage to collect about the commissioner for hire, the more comfortable you will feel during the conversation. And the more you learn about the company, the easier it will be to ensure that your answers meet the requirements for the candidate.

In this article, we will try to describe the entire interview procedure, from preparation to its direct passage. We will give tips that will help you make a favorable first impression and competently answer the questions asked. You will gain an understanding of the verbal and non-verbal ways of communication that it makes sense to adopt or, on the contrary, avoid. We hope that thanks to our recommendations you will be able to score as many points during the interview as possible.

Training

The interview is designed to answer the question to what extent the candidate satisfies the requirements of the company, whether he will cope with the duties entrusted to him, whether he will be able to adapt to corporate culture and methods of work of the management team. When preparing for an interview, you need to think in advance what questions may be asked and formulate competent answers. You should be prepared to answer the following questions:

What do you see as your strengths? It is necessary to emphasize those of its merits that will help the company solve the problems it faces.

How would you describe your management style? You can say something like, "I used to prefer top-down management, but I've noticed that if I involve people in the decision-making process, it's easier for me to get their support, and almost always the end result is better in this case."

Why should we hire you? Re-explain how your strengths meet the needs of the company.

What salary do you expect? Be careful when answering this question. If you ask too much, you will be removed from the list of candidates. And if you ask for too little, you will obviously sell out. A good option in this case is to cite the results of an independent study and indicate some specific range. Even better, ask the interviewee to talk about the nature of the compensation provided by the company.

You will probably be asked about unsuccessful projects as well, so don't try to evade when the hiring commissioner starts to find out the details. Answer honestly, without trying to make excuses or becoming defensive. Avoid answers like, "It wasn't really my fault" or "I warned them it wouldn't work."

When talking about projects that didn't go according to plan for one reason or another, be sure to mention the actions you took, the end results, and the lessons learned. We can recall, for example, your appeals to other participants: “Having realized that we were not meeting the deadlines set by the client, I immediately organized a series of meetings, having talked with all the project executors. We managed to discuss the situation with the client and minimize losses. Ultimately, the client appreciated our frank position, and we were able to jointly develop a solution acceptable to all interested parties.”

Your interlocutor will probably ask what you see as your most serious shortcomings. Touch just one shortcoming and tell us what steps you are taking to get rid of it. For example: "I'm not very good at speaking in public, but I try to take part in presentations to executives, which has increased the level of my speaking noticeably."

It is not worth mentioning the shortcomings in the fight against which you have not achieved any success. For example, if you say that you avoid conflicts of any kind, your interlocutor may think that you are not good at managing conflicts or that your management style is “burying your head in the sand”. Similarly, when you are asked if you have implemented at least one application program, and your track record does not show this, do not say that you do not have such experience, but you can always learn if necessary. This is an unfortunate answer.

Remember that just stating facts when answering questions is not enough. You need to describe everything in such a way that the facts are presented in the most favorable light for you. When evaluating applicants for a leadership position, the recruiting manager looks for good communication skills, the ability to offer design options decisions at meetings of the board of directors, willingness to take responsibility and lead a subordinate unit. Instead of describing the areas for which you were responsible, tell us more about the incidents that took place. Illustrate your ability to solve emerging problems, find a successful way out of a difficult situation and achieve the desired result. Describe the current situation, the people involved and your actions, but to avoid unnecessary digressions and details, stick to the CDR model:

O What circumstances or challenges did you have to face?
D- what actions did you take?
R- what results have been achieved?

Try to complement your answers with testimonies from trusted people who would emphasize the confidence and professionalism of your actions. It is desirable that it looks like an improvisation, and not like a rehearsed homemade piece. Answers like: “I belong to the category of managers who are able to effectively solve any issues in the company” or “I am a workaholic, and until the project is completed, I am ready to work day and night without rest” - they sound too pompous. Don't cross the line that separates a great answer from an embellished one. In other words, don't try to make yourself look like a superhero who begins every line with "I", "me" and "mine" and emphasizes his personal role in every possible way.

Memorize key events and dates relating to both the company you came to work for and your own track record so that you do not have to go into your portfolio every time for information.

Finally, don't think of yourself as a job seeker. You are a unique means of solving business problems facing the company. Seeing yourself as the solution gives you confidence that you can help the company achieve its strategic goals. And your confidence will be an additional factor for the recruiting manager conducting the interview. Presenting yourself as the solution will help you define your role in the new company, successfully negotiate the compensation package you deserve, and participate as equals in the management team.

big day

On the day of the interview, you must arrive at the location at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time. As you wait, think of yourself as the solution the company needs and tune in to what the interview will take place well. You can also observe employees entering and leaving the premises to see how comfortable they feel there.

When entering the office where the interview will take place, smile, raise your head and straighten your shoulders. Shake hands firmly with the person you will be talking to. When introducing yourself with a smile, repeat his name. At every opportunity, address your interlocutor by name. Everyone is always happy to hear from him. This will set up your interlocutor in a friendly way.

Do not sit down until you are invited. If you have a choice, avoid the sofa. You will fall into it like quicksand. Opt for a hard chair. Sit up straight with your hands on your knees. Do not cross your arms or legs as this indicates that you are on the defensive.

While your interlocutor is talking, show your attention by nodding your head from time to time and repeating the phrases he said. Make sure you understand the question correctly. Do not show that the answer to it was prepared in advance. Try to guess what is behind each of the questions. The interlocutor, for example, may ask if you have ever been involved in the implementation of the SAP system, but in fact he is interested in how smoothly this implementation went, whether it was possible to complete it on time and meet the allotted budget.

If you don't know the best way to answer a question, pause or use a clarifying line to buy yourself time to formulate your answer better.

Be natural during the conversation. Gesticulate. Smile at the slightest provocation. Smiling will help you feel confident. Look directly into the eyes of your interlocutor. If you are talking to a whole group of people, keep your gaze on each of them for a long time, not allowing your eyes to constantly move from one face to another.

The interview should start off well and you should be able to relax a bit. But don't take too many liberties by making rash comments or being overly familiar. During the interview, you must maintain a distance and show respect for the interlocutor. Don't say anything bad about your current employer, even if you're being pushed to do so. Raise the topic of salary only if you are asked about it directly.

At the end of the conversation, the interlocutor usually asks if you have any questions. Whether you are prompted to ask them or not, ask about the following:

What does the company expect from candidates for this position?

How will your performance be evaluated?

What tasks will you have to solve first?

Do not ask anything about the company that can be found in open sources on the Internet.

When the procedure comes to an end, ask if your interlocutor has received all the information of interest to him. Suggest Additional information, especially if you haven't been asked questions that you think are important for the position. Don't offer any background information unless you're asked to.

At the end of the interview, you get one last chance to show that you really want the position. By suppressing the slightest hint of despair in your voice, demonstrate your sincere positive interest. You could say, for example, “For me, the opportunities that are opening up here are of the utmost vital importance. Do you have any questions regarding my candidacy?” Ask what will happen next. And remember: the first impression you make is the most important during an interview. The idea that your counterpart will have by the end of the conversation plays a secondary role.

Debrief the meeting as soon as it is over. Mark for yourself the areas in which your answers did not sound convincing enough in order to correct the impression in the course of subsequent correspondence. Also, if you're planning a sequel, you'll probably want to remember who said what.

Send the employee who conducted the interview a letter of gratitude for the attention paid to you, additionally argue why you are a good fit for the specified position and express your readiness to provide any other information of interest to the HR manager at the first request.

Regularly, but not intrusively, continue to remind yourself. And remember: the job most often gets the one who wants it more than others.

Kevin Daly and Dale Clamforth are senior management at Communispond, a company focused on teaching its clients the art of management and sales, preparing presentations and improving communication skills.

Kevin Daley and Dale Klamfoth. How to Ace an Executive-Level job interview. CIO Magazine. March 11, 2008