Doyouhave15minutes

Account Executive

Interview with VP of Operations and VP of Finance

I have an upcoming Account Executive interview where I have the opportunity to sit down with the VP of Operations and VP of Finance separately for a 1:1. Are there any specific questions based on your interview experience that you would ask for either position?

In my previously held roles, I typically only met with HR and Sales.

🗣 Interviewing

15 comments

Sort by:

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

What a great opportunity! I’d be asking the VP of Finance about the company’s current state and long term goals. Not sure what stage the company is in (start up, public, ??) but have a conversation about relevant position in the market. Ask how AEs are expected to contribute to the success of the company and what they’ve seen the most successful reps do.

VP Operations is interesting. I’d want to ask how s/he sees sales contributing and how the role fits in the day to day operations of the company.

Best of luck to you!

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Operations answers are enlightening. They don't typically spin a story.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

They want to know you are someone they can work with. You need to create a strong level of comfort with them. They are professionals and you need to be too.

Ask about how you’d be working with them if you took the role. You can ask if you’d be dealing directly with them or with someone else in groups. But overall they will be depending on you to bring in sales and they will determine if you’re going to be a help or hinderance to them.

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

Couple challenger type questions if you feel it:

Finance: The org seems to be doing well with X. Do you think there’s anything inflation/recession proof in the business model?

Opps: in the abstract, what does perfect process look like to you?

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

I like this, but you always want to ask the normal “how do you see someone successful in this role selling your product?” They have seen where things fall apart, and also where they have went well.

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

Yep- agreed-solid starters. It doesn’t always have to require thought. But if it fits the room, one can get brainy. In my experience, real executives like to made to think. You make them think, they think you can think. …that’s what I think

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Asking them a question that lets them share their experience - beautiful.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Force them to interact, and you can generate that engagement that you need.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Any time you can make a C level exec feel smart without making yourself look stupid, it’s a good thing.

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

☝️ to live by.

JDialz

Politicker

Chief Operating Officer

Hell yeah. Ask them about their level of involvement with [whatever dept you would be in], and what their priorities are for that department in the next four quarters. Then work the key points of your resume into how you will be a key part of making that vision a reality.

SoccerandSales

Big Shot

Account Executive

That’s pretty cool that they are opening the hiring process to other members of the team. Finance is really where you can ask the questions about company performance, future goals, and where sales fits with those goals. Operations I would ask something along the lines of “what is one thing that our customers have in common?” Obviously they deal with customers more and can help to formulate your ICP for you

CPTAmerica

Opinionated

President/CRO

Ask their opinions on what creates bottlenecks for them when deals close. Deals with odd discounts, poor enablement expectations, etc. Hypotheticals are always good "If you could change anything with the current sales structure what would it be?"

pirate

Big Shot

🦜☠️ Account Executive

That's pretty cool! Maybe have a look at the both roles as personas (research open positions, if those people are hiring for anyone else) and think what could be what they need at the moment. It could be a smaller start up company so they might want an opinion on your character as well.
Good luck on the interview!

Maximas

Tycoon

-3

Senior Sales Executive

Besides the normal questions I always ask that involve both Base&OTE.. Here are 2 more I believe they'll help you a bit to guarantee the role.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpB1ewlDeGW/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Good luck.

Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.

Products

The War Room Jobs Salary Guide Tech Sales U

Company

About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty

Contact

Press Careers

If you are hired as a contract sales rep by a Bravado customer, we may ask you to prove access to the employee email account provided to you by that customer. This data will be shared with customers to track your sales productivity; customers can use this data to confirm you meet the minimum activity requirements to pay out your ramp stipend and commission.

Doyouhave15minutes

Interview with VP of Operations and VP of Finance

15 comments

Related posts

VP Sales JD

Sales Director Interview

The Finance Manager