Middle managers interested in a senior managerial position often assume that, as they already have adequate professional knowledge and experience, they will breeze through a job interview. Even after numerous such interviews, they tend to make the same mistakes that needlessly cost them the possibility of career advancement. What are these mistakes?
According to Forbes.com, the fundamental mistake is to think that sufficient managerial experience and an ability to talk about oneself is enough. To become a senior manager, you should avoid the following missteps in the recruitment process.
1. Overconfidence
Do not assume your experience will speak for you. You must speak for yourself. And do what candidates for lower positions do: write a good CV, be informed about the firm and prepare for the interview. Do not confuse confidence with arrogance.
2. Lack of preparation
Candidates for senior level positions are expected to find out detailed information about the firm, including its major projects, financial situation, business strategy and current issues. They should know its reputation in the field. Furthermore, they should also find out as much as possible about the person who will interview them and other managers in the firm.
3. Description of responsibilities
Neither your CV nor the job interview for a senior level position should be a mere description of your former responsibilities. You should give specific examples of what you have achieved within the given responsibilities. Show the influence of your accomplishments on your employers' business results as specifically as possible.
4. No questions
Not only interviewers should ask questions. Candidates for senior positions are expected to ask about the goals and challenges of the firm in order to understand better what exactly the firm deals with and who it is looking for. Then you can better present your own experience and goals and offer possible solutions to the firm's current needs.
5. Plain thanks
Some candidates believe it will help if they send the interviewers a written or e-mail thank-you note after the interview. This may be the case with lower positions but it is not enough for higher ones. You should add a summary, describing what you learned in the interview about the needs of the firm and what you can offer in meeting them.
-kk-