CEO

CEO interview questions

Your new hire should be experienced, know the industry inside-out and have great leadership skills, like resilience, patience and an influential flair. They have a data-driven approach, attention to detail and sharp negotiation skills.

Top tips: 

• Schedule an onsite introductory interview to talk about their skills and your business needs. 
• Use tangible criteria to understand if they’re a good fit for your company.
• Include board members and other execs in the hiring process.
• Diversity is key for a thriving workplace. Keep an eye out for management and exec-level candidates from varying backgrounds and aim to eliminate bias from your hiring process.

Problem solving interview questions

• What is our company’s mission and vision?
• Who are our biggest competitors? How do we stand out?
• What would you do in your first 30 days as CEO? 
• What changes would you implement during your first year in the company? How would you ace a 5-year plan?
• What are the biggest challenges our industry faces in the next 5 years?
• What’s the most helpful tech you’ve used? Would you bring it to our org?
• What is the top innovative product or service you’ve worked on?
• How do you make a big financial decision? What criteria do you use?
• In 5 mins, prepare a small pitch to present our company to a potential investor.
• What would you do if a product or service we made failed?

Behavioral interview questions

• What makes a good leader?
• What is the best and the worst part of being a CEO?
• What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career? How did you overcome it and what did you learn?
• Name two strengths and two weaknesses you have and how they can impact your role.
• What’s your preferred team management tool and why?
• What do you find hardest about management?
• How would your coworkers define your comms style? 
• How would you deal with a conflict between two employees?
• What’s the toughest decision you’ve had to make? How did you approach it and what was the result?