You’re the preferred candidate—are you ready for the final interview?

The interview with your manager’s boss is usually the last interview in the hiring process and in a way, it’s the most important one.??

There’s no doubt these kinds of interviews can be intimidating. If, for example, your boss is the Executive General Manager, their boss could be the Managing Director. If you’re going for a direct report as one of the C-Suite executives reporting into the CEO, your boss’s boss might even be the chair of the company.??

?So, how do you excel in the interview with your boss’s boss? Executive Interview Coaching founder Richard Elstone offers some tips.?

Tip #1: Explain how you’ll make your boss’s life easier?

Your boss’s boss wants to know that the person they’re hiring is not going to make the boss’s job – and therefore theirs – any harder than it already is. You need to explain that you are the right person for the role and can hit the ground running.?

?“Coming up with some examples of how you’ve made your current boss’s job easier is a really good place to start,” says Richard.?

“Sometimes that question isn’t asked explicitly, but it’s a good idea to address it anyway.?

?“Come up with actual examples about how you’ve improved efficiency and/or productivity for your previous bosses.”?

Tip #2: Be clear about your goals for the near-future?

One question that’s likely to come up is, “what are your goals for this role in the next 12 months”, says Richard.?

It’s extremely important to prepare for this question well, and to be clear in the way you answer it.?

One way to prepare before the interview is to do a 90-day plan of what you aim to achieve in those crucial first few months on the job. Check out our previous blog for tips.?

Tip #3: Be prepared for curveballs?

Sometimes during the interview with your boss’s boss, you may be thrown a few curveball questions, so be prepared for those, too.?

One question that can really throw people, according to Richard, is when the boss’s boss asks, “how can I support you?”??

Before the interview, consider how you’d answer this. Maybe you need more clarity on the Managing Director’s vision so that you can align your strategy accordingly. Perhaps you’d like to put your hand up for executive coaching, particularly if it’s your first leadership role.?

Tip #4: Think laterally for future roles?

During the interview with your boss’s boss, you may be asked what your next role would optimally be.??

Most people want to work up through the ranks and eventually move into their boss’s role, but a lateral move that rounds out your experience may be more beneficial, says Richard.?

“When answering this question, it’s a good idea to talk about what your goals are for the role you’re applying for over the next two to three years, then discuss what you’d like your next role to be,” he says.?

“If you’re working in strategy, maybe you want to have a similar role in the operations side or in the project space to round out your experience. If you’re in finance, you might want to move into operations, or if you’re in HR, you might want to move into sales and marketing.”?

Tip #5: Get personal, to an extent??

Your boss’s boss may ask what drives you. This is a great opportunity to share some personal details about your life outside of work.?

Maybe it’s your family that drives you, or you are passionate about volunteering in your spare time.?

“It’s an opportunity to bring in something more personal, just to give them a real sense of who you are as a person outside of work.”?

Tip #6: Prepare your own questions?

You’re bound to be asked whether you have any questions, and the last thing you want to do is look blank.??

?“I always say, ‘we have two ears and one mouth’, and if we can use them in that ratio, that’s probably the best scenario,” says Richard.??

?“Have some good questions prepared for the boss’s boss. Ask them what they consider the number one priority is for this role, for example.”?

Tip #7: Get expert help before the big day?

Interviewing with your boss’s boss can be daunting, but with the right preparation, you will feel confident going into the interview. That’s where Executive Interview Coaching can help.?

“They say there’s no such thing as bad weather, it’s poor choice of clothing. It’s the same thing here,” says Richard.?

“If you’re nervous before an interview, it’s usually because you haven’t prepared properly.?

“Our job is to make sure that you’re not nervous at the interview, so that you perform at your best in every sort of interview situation, whether that’s talking to the executive search consultant, at the meet and greet interviews or with the boss’s boss.”?

Get in touch today?

When you’re meeting with your boss’s boss, it’s important not to treat the interview as a tick-the-box rubber stamp. Your boss has put their neck on the line to recommend you for the role, and you still need to prepare.?

Our Interview Ready program will equip you with the skills, techniques and insider knowledge to excel in answering tough executive interview questions.??

With our program, you'll gain the confidence to nail every interview and land your dream job.?

To find out more, get in touch?today.??