How to Ace the Second Interview With the CEO of the Company
- 1). Research the company and its CEO. Professional networking sites such as LinkedIn and Spoke are useful for learning more about someone's career -- especially concerning previous employers or a climb up the ladder with the current organization. Use your research to find common ground and interests you have with the CEO -- you're not researching the person to become one of her connections or part of her network. Focus on understanding the skills and qualifications the CEO has that enabled her rise to a C-level position with the company.
- 2). Construct questions to ask the CEO. Use your knowledge of the company's products as well as any information you have about the organization's long-range plans to develop questions that show you've done your homework. Well-constructed questions demonstrate a genuine interest in the company, your ability to analyze information and your critical-thinking processes.
- 3). Review your notes from interviews with the company's recruiter and hiring manager. Your interview with the CEO might be a perfunctory measure to get another perspective about whether you fit the organization's culture. Recall your responses to previous interview questions; however, focus on professional characteristics you bring to the organization rather than your functional capabilities and job knowledge. The CEO likely will want to know that you are a suitable employee in terms of the company's culture. CEOs typically rely on recruiters and hiring managers to vet candidates according to job qualifications and verifiable work history.
- 4). Compare the organization's mission and values statement to your business principles; list parallels to bring up during your interview with the CEO. For example, assume the company you want to work for is dedicated to providing superior customer service. Recall your work experience to describe times you've been commended for your customer service skills, communication and conflict-resolution capabilities.
- 5). Draft practice interview questions and rehearse your responses. Ask a trusted colleague or friend to critique your responses. If you know someone in the same industry or if you have a mentor who works in a CEO role, ask him for feedback on your responses from the perspective of a high-level executive. Revise your answers accordingly, and rehearse your interview responses until you feel you can converse with the CEO comfortably and answer questions extemporaneously.
- 6). Try on your interview attire for a dress rehearsal. Waiting until the last minute to prepare for your meeting only creates anxiety on the day of the interview. You should be as calm as possible for your interview with the CEO. Drive to the meeting place to determine your travel time if this is your first trip to the organization's office location.
- 7). Remind yourself that the CEO is human -- there's rarely anything special or superhuman about executives who lead small businesses or even large conglomerates. They have had to overcome some of the same obstacles you have during your career; the fact that the CEO is in his position could be the result of happenstance, or it might be the result of hard work. Nevertheless, it's possible the CEO might experience interview anxiety as well.
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