What is the most important interview you will do? Most likely this is the interview with the hiring manager. If you have had great success in your virtual, and face-to-face networking, you might have already had some interaction with the hiring manager – AKA your next boss. But you most likely will still have to complete the process of the formal job interview with the hiring manager. You should feel good, and confident that you have made it this far. You are now a member of a very small, and elite group of applicants that have been called in for this most critical interview. But interviewing with the hiring manger can be a different conversation that engaging with the recruiter (whether it is the corporate in-house recruiter, or an agency recruiter), and it is a different conversation than the potential interview with the hiring manager’s boss. This section in the series on Career Jump Start, will show you the best way to interview with the hiring manager. Because you need to come in with good questions, you may even consider this conversation as interviewing your next boss.
Let’s consider the general process, and establish when this interview with the hiring manager happens. This interview most likely happens after you have expressed interest in an organization or job. You most likely have submitted your resume, and a job application. The decision maker in filling the position has taken in interest in you, and you probably have had some conversations with the corporate recruiter. Be aware that in some cases, you will be called in for an interview with the in-house recruiter, and if the recruiter really likes you, and if there is a window of opportunity, the recruiter may have you speak with the hiring manager, or other important stakeholders after you finish with the recruiter. To use the interview opportunity to best advantage, be prepared to speak with the hiring manager when you go in for the interview. Do your research, and have your successes, and good questions in mind when you enter into the interview. But be confident! You have made it past your interview with the recruiter. The corporate recruiter has given you a pass. You are now inline to interview with the hiring manager, your work team, and possibly your boss’s boss. Before we address preparing for the interview with your next boss, let’s recap what the company, or organizational recruiter’s job is.
THE GATEKEEPER: The corporate recruiter’s job is to review resumes, and select the best candidates for the open position. These are usually ones that show job stability, meet the job requirements in education, skills, and work experience. They may also make selections based on some skills that may not have been published in the job description. Remember sometimes, the recruiter may call candidates in to gather information around a new direction, or a new technology the organization is considering. Be aware as well that it is common that recruiters are working to fill multiple positions at the same time. If you don’t move forward on your first job submission, the recruiter may still keep you in mind for other related positions. This actually makes the recruiter’s job easier. if you are not called back to interview with a department member, or the hiring manager, try not to take it personally. Chances are it is a situation where the team dynamics don’t feel right to the recruiter, or it may be a situation where you have been called in to pick your brain, and to see what the market is for candidates. Once you make the cut in the resume’s, the candidate is called in for an interview with the corporate recruiter. Many times, there is a rating grid that the interviewer works from to drive the interview. This grid can contain elements to look for in the interview such as giving concise answers, degree of discomfort when asked difficult or personal questions. The recruiter may also have a set of prepared questions that all candidates are asked. This is especially true in interviewing for government, or non-profit position. Recruiters may also be checking your responses to see if they are consistent with your resume, and/or job application. Consider this, and make sure your resume is putting your best foot forward, but above all be honest, and consistent in the information you put forward. In the interview, be both honest, and consistent. Most likely, the recruiter will also be assessing your personality during the interview. Frankly stated, they will be assessing if you have a stable personality, and/or considering how your personality will fit into the organization or team. If you have been called into meet with the hiring manager, you should feel good. You are most likely one of only two or three to be presented to the hiring manager. For more details see section 7 in this series.
If you have made it past the in-house recruiter, and gotten the green light to proceed, your next conversation will most likely be with the hiring manager, your next boss. Here is how to best prepare for this critical engagement – how to interview your next boss.
LOOK SHARP: A few days in advance of the interview, try on your best suit, or dress clothes to make sure they fit! If they don’t - not to panic – most suits can be taken in or out as need be. The day of the interview get your best suit, or dress clothes ready. It is better to overdress than underdress. Make sure dress clothes, or suit, dress shirt, pants are clean and pressed. If you are really on a budget just ask the cleaner for a press only. Then take a brush to your dress clothes.
SUCCESS STORIES: Your next boss will want to hear about your successes. So, as you prepare for the interview with your next boss, be prepared to discuss your successes in a concise way. Be prepared to talk about the challenge you met, what action you took, and how the challenged was resolved by your action. Try to keep your answers short but be prepared to go into detail if you are asked to discuss your past in depth. If you have recent successes, those you have accomplished in the last few months, or the last year, these are great examples to talk about. Also, be prepared to discuss times where things did not go well, and how you responded to those situations.
HANDY RESUMES: Remember to take copies of your resume with you to the interview. If you end up meeting with the work team you will want to have several copies with you. As a head’s up, don’t be surprised if your new boss has not read your resume. The hiring manager will probably ask you to go over your work history. This can be a good thing as you can highlight your skills, experience, and successes. Keep your resume in front of you during the interview, it can be a crib sheet to help you remember dates, and job sequence.
PUT TIME ON YOUR SIDE: Allow plenty of time to drive or commute to the interview. This might be in a part of the city that you rarely see, and traffic and road work can be unpredictable. Expect the unexpected – like traffic jams, and road closures. Have your GPS, and/or maps ready. Have the phone number for your recruiter on hand in case you get held up un-expectantly. If delayed, it is better to give a heads up to the recruiter who will pass it along to the manager.
MOOD CHECKING: When you greet the hiring manager, ask them how things are going. Managers can have bad days too. Sometimes body language speaks louder than words spoken. If things are not going well, this may give you information on how to manage the interview. It will also tell you the mindset of the manager the day you interview. Focus on listening to the manager. Listening tells people that you care about them, and their problems. This can be especially powerful if things are not going well for the hiring manager.
INTERVIEW YOUR BOSS: Now we come to the heart of the topic; how to interview your next boss. When meeting with the hiring manager (your next boss), make sure you have questions – good questions in mind to ask. Make them meaningful questions – meaningful to the hiring manager, the department, and meaningful for you. This may be your last chance to ask questions that will make you decide if you are willing, and able to take the job, and work under this manager. Use this opportunity to your best advantage. But before you bring your questions to the discussion, make sure the hiring manager has had time to ask, and get answers to all their questions. Once the manager is satisfied all their questions have been answered, this is now your opportunity to steer the discussion. Some good questions to ask include:
As you part thank the manager for their time. And tell them you are interested in pursuing the position. It is surprising how many candidates don’t end the interview by saying they want the job. Be diplomatic, but make it clear you want the job. (You can always say no later, if you decide not to take the job for whatever reason.)
READ THE TERRAIN: As you leave the interview try to reflect on how you feel about the hiring manager. Do you think your personalities would mesh? Did the hiring manager strike you as cold, patient, pleasant, competent, or disorganized? All of these impressions and more may tell you what working for this manager will be like. Also, as you head out of the interview, consider what impressions you get from people in the office. Do they seem happy, stressed out, serious? Does the office environment seem easy going, pleasant, or unusually quiet? Your sense of the office environment will give you feedback on what you will be walking into. This might be the last time you are in the organization offices before you receive an offer. So be aware, and pay attention to attitudes, level of activity, and body language as you leave the interview.
The final interview with your next boss is your chance to ask questions. When you ask questions, you are in control of the conversation. This is your chance to get information that will help you decide if you really want this job, and you really want to report to this manager. Remember, you are talking with the decision maker, so this is your chance to ask questions around specific duties, expectations, and how you can make your next boss’s job easier. Take best advantage of the interview opportunity. Start with looking the part; wear your best suit, or dress clothes. Be prepared to discuss the challenges you have met, what actions you took, and what the results were from your action. Put time on your side - allow extra time to get to the interview. Remember to take multiple copies of your current resume. As in any interview, focus on listening. This is a skill that your next boos will notice. Take effort to understand what your next boss is really looking for, and what problems they are looking to fix - you need to understand the manager’s needs. The best way to understand the manager’s needs is to actively hear the message, and ask questions.
Author: Brian Kail, MBA, CPC, is a Career, and Business Coach. See AscendProCoach.com for more information.
Let’s consider the general process, and establish when this interview with the hiring manager happens. This interview most likely happens after you have expressed interest in an organization or job. You most likely have submitted your resume, and a job application. The decision maker in filling the position has taken in interest in you, and you probably have had some conversations with the corporate recruiter. Be aware that in some cases, you will be called in for an interview with the in-house recruiter, and if the recruiter really likes you, and if there is a window of opportunity, the recruiter may have you speak with the hiring manager, or other important stakeholders after you finish with the recruiter. To use the interview opportunity to best advantage, be prepared to speak with the hiring manager when you go in for the interview. Do your research, and have your successes, and good questions in mind when you enter into the interview. But be confident! You have made it past your interview with the recruiter. The corporate recruiter has given you a pass. You are now inline to interview with the hiring manager, your work team, and possibly your boss’s boss. Before we address preparing for the interview with your next boss, let’s recap what the company, or organizational recruiter’s job is.
THE GATEKEEPER: The corporate recruiter’s job is to review resumes, and select the best candidates for the open position. These are usually ones that show job stability, meet the job requirements in education, skills, and work experience. They may also make selections based on some skills that may not have been published in the job description. Remember sometimes, the recruiter may call candidates in to gather information around a new direction, or a new technology the organization is considering. Be aware as well that it is common that recruiters are working to fill multiple positions at the same time. If you don’t move forward on your first job submission, the recruiter may still keep you in mind for other related positions. This actually makes the recruiter’s job easier. if you are not called back to interview with a department member, or the hiring manager, try not to take it personally. Chances are it is a situation where the team dynamics don’t feel right to the recruiter, or it may be a situation where you have been called in to pick your brain, and to see what the market is for candidates. Once you make the cut in the resume’s, the candidate is called in for an interview with the corporate recruiter. Many times, there is a rating grid that the interviewer works from to drive the interview. This grid can contain elements to look for in the interview such as giving concise answers, degree of discomfort when asked difficult or personal questions. The recruiter may also have a set of prepared questions that all candidates are asked. This is especially true in interviewing for government, or non-profit position. Recruiters may also be checking your responses to see if they are consistent with your resume, and/or job application. Consider this, and make sure your resume is putting your best foot forward, but above all be honest, and consistent in the information you put forward. In the interview, be both honest, and consistent. Most likely, the recruiter will also be assessing your personality during the interview. Frankly stated, they will be assessing if you have a stable personality, and/or considering how your personality will fit into the organization or team. If you have been called into meet with the hiring manager, you should feel good. You are most likely one of only two or three to be presented to the hiring manager. For more details see section 7 in this series.
If you have made it past the in-house recruiter, and gotten the green light to proceed, your next conversation will most likely be with the hiring manager, your next boss. Here is how to best prepare for this critical engagement – how to interview your next boss.
LOOK SHARP: A few days in advance of the interview, try on your best suit, or dress clothes to make sure they fit! If they don’t - not to panic – most suits can be taken in or out as need be. The day of the interview get your best suit, or dress clothes ready. It is better to overdress than underdress. Make sure dress clothes, or suit, dress shirt, pants are clean and pressed. If you are really on a budget just ask the cleaner for a press only. Then take a brush to your dress clothes.
SUCCESS STORIES: Your next boss will want to hear about your successes. So, as you prepare for the interview with your next boss, be prepared to discuss your successes in a concise way. Be prepared to talk about the challenge you met, what action you took, and how the challenged was resolved by your action. Try to keep your answers short but be prepared to go into detail if you are asked to discuss your past in depth. If you have recent successes, those you have accomplished in the last few months, or the last year, these are great examples to talk about. Also, be prepared to discuss times where things did not go well, and how you responded to those situations.
HANDY RESUMES: Remember to take copies of your resume with you to the interview. If you end up meeting with the work team you will want to have several copies with you. As a head’s up, don’t be surprised if your new boss has not read your resume. The hiring manager will probably ask you to go over your work history. This can be a good thing as you can highlight your skills, experience, and successes. Keep your resume in front of you during the interview, it can be a crib sheet to help you remember dates, and job sequence.
PUT TIME ON YOUR SIDE: Allow plenty of time to drive or commute to the interview. This might be in a part of the city that you rarely see, and traffic and road work can be unpredictable. Expect the unexpected – like traffic jams, and road closures. Have your GPS, and/or maps ready. Have the phone number for your recruiter on hand in case you get held up un-expectantly. If delayed, it is better to give a heads up to the recruiter who will pass it along to the manager.
MOOD CHECKING: When you greet the hiring manager, ask them how things are going. Managers can have bad days too. Sometimes body language speaks louder than words spoken. If things are not going well, this may give you information on how to manage the interview. It will also tell you the mindset of the manager the day you interview. Focus on listening to the manager. Listening tells people that you care about them, and their problems. This can be especially powerful if things are not going well for the hiring manager.
INTERVIEW YOUR BOSS: Now we come to the heart of the topic; how to interview your next boss. When meeting with the hiring manager (your next boss), make sure you have questions – good questions in mind to ask. Make them meaningful questions – meaningful to the hiring manager, the department, and meaningful for you. This may be your last chance to ask questions that will make you decide if you are willing, and able to take the job, and work under this manager. Use this opportunity to your best advantage. But before you bring your questions to the discussion, make sure the hiring manager has had time to ask, and get answers to all their questions. Once the manager is satisfied all their questions have been answered, this is now your opportunity to steer the discussion. Some good questions to ask include:
- What is the department’s biggest challenge in the coming year?
- How would you describe your management style?
- What intangibles are you looking for to fill the position?
- What is the five-year plan for the organization?
- How would you describe the company culture?
- How would you describe your ideal candidate for the job?
- What are your biggest concerns right now?
- What upgrades would you like to see in the department?
- How soon do you want someone in the positon?
- What are the next steps in the hiring process?
As you part thank the manager for their time. And tell them you are interested in pursuing the position. It is surprising how many candidates don’t end the interview by saying they want the job. Be diplomatic, but make it clear you want the job. (You can always say no later, if you decide not to take the job for whatever reason.)
READ THE TERRAIN: As you leave the interview try to reflect on how you feel about the hiring manager. Do you think your personalities would mesh? Did the hiring manager strike you as cold, patient, pleasant, competent, or disorganized? All of these impressions and more may tell you what working for this manager will be like. Also, as you head out of the interview, consider what impressions you get from people in the office. Do they seem happy, stressed out, serious? Does the office environment seem easy going, pleasant, or unusually quiet? Your sense of the office environment will give you feedback on what you will be walking into. This might be the last time you are in the organization offices before you receive an offer. So be aware, and pay attention to attitudes, level of activity, and body language as you leave the interview.
The final interview with your next boss is your chance to ask questions. When you ask questions, you are in control of the conversation. This is your chance to get information that will help you decide if you really want this job, and you really want to report to this manager. Remember, you are talking with the decision maker, so this is your chance to ask questions around specific duties, expectations, and how you can make your next boss’s job easier. Take best advantage of the interview opportunity. Start with looking the part; wear your best suit, or dress clothes. Be prepared to discuss the challenges you have met, what actions you took, and what the results were from your action. Put time on your side - allow extra time to get to the interview. Remember to take multiple copies of your current resume. As in any interview, focus on listening. This is a skill that your next boos will notice. Take effort to understand what your next boss is really looking for, and what problems they are looking to fix - you need to understand the manager’s needs. The best way to understand the manager’s needs is to actively hear the message, and ask questions.
Author: Brian Kail, MBA, CPC, is a Career, and Business Coach. See AscendProCoach.com for more information.
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