Pachacuti

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Interviewing your future boss / subordinates

I have a series of interviews tomorrow (Nov 22) in which I'll be interviewing with both C-level people but also with those I'd be managing.

I'll admit that I have always felt awkward interviewing with those I will be managing and therefore have never done well in those interviews. So I thought I would tap into the Group Think here for advice:

What has impressed you when you have interviewed someone who'll be managing you?
What questions have they asked you which have been "the best" (however you define being the best is)?
IF YOU have been been in this situation before, what have you successfully done when interviewing with those you'll be managing?

Any other bits of advice would be most welcome.

🧢 Sales Management

🤝 Interviewing/Offer

14 comments

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TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

oh wow i have never interviewed with the ppl id be managing. sounds super uncomfortable haha

ThatNewAE

Big Shot

Account Executive - Mid enterprise

But that's how it should be, right? You should know who you'd be managing and whether or not you want to manage them in the first place. No ? 👀

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

maybe. but you are being brought in to be a leader going forward. not JUST a leader for the current team. as a director or VP i would want to make sure my managers are solid, and have the ability to manage many different types of ppl.

if you had to hire a new manager if ppl left and new ppl were hired then that would be a waste.

punishedlad

Tycoon

Business Development Team Lead

Personally, I'd say avoid any ridiculous questions that are just meant to throw off the interviewee for the sake of it. I don't think they add anything to the interview and can be a bit infuriating. I once had an interviewer ask me "So you come home and find a penguin in your closet. What do you do?"

I get they were trying to be fun, or whatever, but it really just distracted from the rest of the interview IMO.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

I’ll be interviewing with the people I’d be managing so I doubt I’ll be asking off the wall questions, but I get your point. Thanks!

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

Rolling 20's all day

Yuck, this kind of question always makes me feel like I've wasted my time taking the interview.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

In short: Ask about them, what they value, what they will find helpful. Ask them about when they've been successful and what support they needed to get them there. Ask them about a deal they're working on currently, and where they're stuck/what would help them get it over the line.

This is a good time to listen more than you talk, which I have no doubt you knew already.

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

Great POV questions here. I like it.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

I like that, asking about "what they value" over "how do you like being managed" (which I cringe at asking).

I already view a good manager as being a good problem solver rather than someone who tells people to "sell more" or some inane thing like that.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

My best managers have been collaborative.

Also willing to come in and use the VP title to be that executive touchpoint/person who can eliminate hurdles with the customer - so willing to play a role to help get a deal across the line.

Mendizo

Opinionated

Sr. Director

I always recommend to people a couple of key questions, and the top thing is to really actually care about the answer, not just ask it for the sake of trying to look smart:

1. How can I help/support you in your work? (Shape this based on your role). Everyone will have input on how you can help them, whether they report to you or you report to them.

2. For C-level, ask them a couple of specific questions for their thoughts on growing the business, shaped to your industry. That is what they have to think about day in, day out, and to see their management team take an interest is usually a good thing.

3. For those you'd be managing, also ask them for their feedback on how things are going, what is working and what is not working. I tend to stay away from explicitly asking "what could I help with or fix", as that sets you up for potentially unrealistic expectations down the road ("I told this person what needs to be fixed, why aren't they fixing it?"). But learning what is working or not working doesn't put you in the hot seat, but rather as an outside-in observer and still lets them open up to you.

4. My favorite end question is always "What have I not asked that I should be asking?"

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

I have used #4 in the past but I'm on the fence about it. Perhaps a question like "what do you wish you knew then that you know now"?

activity

Politicker

VP, Business Development

The best questions I ask are generally around culture and how their average work week looks. You can get a better sense if you would like working with these people and would fit in with their culture.

FoodForSales

Politicker

I have never done that. Let us know how it turns out!

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Pachacuti

Interviewing your future boss / subordinates

14 comments

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