Everyone thrives to have more influence at work. They want to become leaders, do something great with the career they are given and be better liked by those around them. Additionally, power translates into more money.
However, prior to obtaining an executive level position, you’ll notice that it’s imperative that you learn to interview with senior management. Despite the task seeming highly intimidating on the surface, effective C-level interviewing can be executed at any age.
Below, the sales recruiting experts at KAS Placement have listed 4 strategies for interviewing with high ranking personnel in an effective, calm manner that instills confidence and increases likability.
4 Tips for Interviewing with Senior Management
The quicker you learn how to ace a high-level interview, the quicker you get ahead in your career.
1. Have your answers paint a picture of success with an underlying tone preaching execution.
When the interviewer is discussing issues that need to be overcome, don’t show intimation.
Rather, stay calm and note that hurdles exist to be surmountable. Effectiveness is a highly desired trait; display that your thought process is one geared towards solutions rather than perseverating on problems. After all, a hurdle is just another situation that has to be taken care of.
While you want to be honest about the work it may take, you don’t want to appear intimidated or daunted by the task. Make sure to maintain a “been there, done that type of mentality.” Recognize that achieving the discussed goals will take work, discipline and willpower, however note that anything worthwhile does.
2. Persuade through relevant stories.
As a job seeker, you are not going to convince a senior level hiring manager that you possess the traits necessary to be a success by outright stating that you are intelligent, resilient, optimistic, motivational or competent. Rather, to be effective in persuading the hiring manager, vividly discuss instances in which you displayed these behavioral facets and allow the executive to come to their own conclusions.
3. Turn all distractions off.
Research carried out in 2005 by psychologist Dr. Glenn Wilson found that persistent interruptions and distractions in the office (or in this case while interviewing) carried a profoundly negative effect on our ability to be productive.
The study found that excessive use of emails, social media, text messages and online videos scrambled our brain to the tune of losing 10 IQ points and hindered short term memory. This is twice the amount of marijuana.
It is most effective for interviewees to carve out a few hours prior to the interview and get away from the computer (or at least the Internet), turn off the phone and engage in focused thinking.
Moreover, the timeout from online activities will allow the thinker to think in a more positive manner and better anticipate a beneficial outcome from the meeting.
4. Act ‘aloof’ to aggressive, manipulative or rude behavior.
Interviewees who are unable to adapt to dealing with difficult interviewers forfeit a significant amount of potential career options and most likely lose a chunk of their income potential. For most, their fundamental flaw is that they personalize the thoughts of the interviewer too much.
For instance, if a interviewer alludes to the fact that they are interviewing many other candidates, a humble smile will be one of the best approaches. This calm demeanor is paramount to gain an advantage on competing interviewees. Many job seekers will immediately take offense to what is being said and will end up alienating the recruiter or hiring manager.
In business, the companies that hire the best employees are the companies that win; the majority of senior mangers firmly this. Remain calm and gain their confidence by viewing the interviewing process more realistically as well as optimistically. Think of the meeting as less of a pressure situation and more of a collaborative conversation.
