Job Interview tips? Particular focus on 'leadership' qualities

[Steve-O]

Got an interview on Monday for a more senior position at work, which is in effect what I do now, plus extras - i.e. being team leader basically, training new staff, assisting the manager etc etc. So, I am fairly well covered on most of the interview as it's all about what I do now. Only bit I am struggling a little on is 'leadership' which I know they are going to ask about.

Although I've had bits and bobs of showing leadership - i.e. previous jobs where I've covered when manager has been off etc, I am not quite sure just that is quite enough on it's own. It's the old story of not really having had that experience, but how do I get it if someone doesn't give me a chance to prove it.

Any ideas on that particular area or more general tips are welcome! :agree:

[IndieHibby]

Got an interview on Monday for a more senior position at work, which is in effect what I do now, plus extras - i.e. being team leader basically, training new staff, assisting the manager etc etc. So, I am fairly well covered on most of the interview as it's all about what I do now. Only bit I am struggling a little on is 'leadership' which I know they are going to ask about.

Although I've had bits and bobs of showing leadership - i.e. previous jobs where I've covered when manager has been off etc, I am not quite sure just that is quite enough on it's own. It's the old story of not really having had that experience, but how do I get it if someone doesn't give me a chance to prove it.

Any ideas on that particular area or more general tips are welcome! :agree:

I expect they are less interested in how much experience you have had and more interested in how your answers indicate your attitude ( and hence provide insight for them into how you may perform ) towards the idea of leadership:

Q: "Tell me about a great leader from history whom you admire"

Good A: "Winston Churchill - he was prepared to make hard decisions based on what he felt was right, rather than pressure from others"

Baaaaad A: "Stalin - he took no **** from nobody, yes Siree!"

In seriousness, it may help to know what line of work you are in. But otherwise they are going to want to know that:

1. You see the role of leader as one who shows colleagues a positive and aspirational role model
2. Will be known as someone who is just as willing to do the ****ty-jobs that he asks them to do
3. Is good at the core-role (i.e selling in a sales team) so that people don't question his authority
4. Understands how to get good performance from staff (not "shouty-shouty" for a start)

etc.

Hope this helps.

[Kojock]

Tell lies and talk bull*****. The amount of people who got promoted at my old work place using this method was staggering. :aok:

[TrickyNicky]

Got an interview on Monday for a more senior position at work, which is in effect what I do now, plus extras - i.e. being team leader basically, training new staff, assisting the manager etc etc. So, I am fairly well covered on most of the interview as it's all about what I do now. Only bit I am struggling a little on is 'leadership' which I know they are going to ask about.

Although I've had bits and bobs of showing leadership - i.e. previous jobs where I've covered when manager has been off etc, I am not quite sure just that is quite enough on it's own. It's the old story of not really having had that experience, but how do I get it if someone doesn't give me a chance to prove it.

Any ideas on that particular area or more general tips are welcome! :agree:

If they think your good enough for the interview Steve-O then your good enough to do the job.

Confidence and Belief in your ability.( sorry to use the word belief- as tarnished by Heart of Midlothian FC but you have to have it mate )

Let them know that you are tough on yourself, you will constantly push yourself, you really,really want this job and you will do every damn thing to make sure that their decision to give this job to you is the correct one.

By the way I'm my own boss and make it up as I go!

[Steve-O]

Clearly this is on the wrong forum...can Admins please move to the Holy Ground? :doh:

Edit - thanks for moving.

Thanks for tips so far. Some food for thought. I am racking my brains for all these non-existent examples of when I've shown leadership qualities but some good points made about telling them what I will do, rather than what I've done before :agree:

[jonny]

Got an interview on Monday for a more senior position at work, which is in effect what I do now, plus extras - i.e. being team leader basically, training new staff, assisting the manager etc etc. So, I am fairly well covered on most of the interview as it's all about what I do now. Only bit I am struggling a little on is 'leadership' which I know they are going to ask about.

Although I've had bits and bobs of showing leadership - i.e. previous jobs where I've covered when manager has been off etc, I am not quite sure just that is quite enough on it's own. It's the old story of not really having had that experience, but how do I get it if someone doesn't give me a chance to prove it.

Any ideas on that particular area or more general tips are welcome! :agree:

Open up your mind a bit to the wider world for examples - remember you can use examples from your personal life as well, club captain in whatever sport, role model/leading example to your kids, nieces or nephews or even siblings etc. Any time you've dealt with conflict, whether it be in a sport, at home or in the work place. Any authoritive roles you've had - chaired a meeting, referee in a sport, scout leader, teacher, any training courses you've conducted....
Being well rehearsed in the companies goals/aims and making sure you let the interviewer know that you are. When giving examples try and associate them with common leadership traits; good decision making, assertiveness, empathy, integrity, equality and even likability.
You probably know most/all of this but hopefully something has helped. Good luck!

[Col2]

Search leadership capabilities on google and loads of example.

I was asked last week what my top 3 leadership capabilities were and I said:-

1. Inspire/motivate -e.g. colleagues around me to deliver and add value
2. Vision- outline where we are trying to get to medium/long term and how we would do it, what the blockers/opportunities were
3. Reward/praise- recognise performance, praise at right time, instilled team and community feeling amongst colleagues.

[NAE NOOKIE]

Tell lies and talk bull*****. The amount of people who got promoted at my old work place using this method was staggering. :aok:

Got to agree with this.

I work beside a guy who is technically proficient, has excellent man management skills, is never late, is never off sick and has acted up in the next grade for years ..... in any other workplace he would have been recognized for all of this and promoted. But because the only criteria for getting promotion where I work appears to be the ability to talk the talk he's stuck..... Its not me by the way.

Perhaps you should phone Calin Calderwood for some tips ..... he talked his way into a job he clearly couldnt handle and couldnt have cared less about ... what a guy!

Just remember ... theres a famous saying, which I'm sure I'm about to misquote ... Everybody gets promoted until they reach their level of incompetence.

Good luck :greengrin