6/26/2017 SampleInterviewQuestions|Bridgespan

3 m

Sample Interview Questions

hiringtools|recruitingleaders

mm
Samplequestionstousewheninterviewingacandidateforyourorganization.

mp b q:

Letsopenupwithyourinterestinthisroleandourorganizationtellmemoreaboutthatandwhyyourfeel
yourbackgroundandexperienceareuniquelysuitedtobeingsuccessfulhere.
Havingreadthejobdescription,wherewouldyouseeyourselfableto"hitthegroundrunning"ifyouwereto
behired?
Wherewouldyouanticipateencounteringthesteepestlearningcurveinthisjob?Whatskills/experiencedo
youhopetogainworkingatourorganization?

mp - q:

Tellmeaboutyourcurrent/mostrecentroleatXYZorganization.Howbigisyourteam?Budget?Howdoes
yourworkfitintotheorganizationsoverallstructure?
Whydid/wouldyouleave[nameofmostrecentorcurrentorganization]?(Thiswillhelpyouunderstandthe
arcofhis/hercareer,andascertainifthemovesmakesense.Inessence,didthispersonreallypursuegrowth
ineachcareermoveorisheorsheonasidewaysordownwardcareerspiral?)

mp q:

WhatdoyouseeasyourtopthreeachievementsorlegaciesinyourroleatXYZorganization?Why?
Whatdoyouseeasyourgreatestchallenges/failuresinyourroleatXYZorganization?Why?
Describetheroleinwhichyouhavebeenleasteffective.Why?
Walkmethroughthebestexampleof(growth,turnaround,etc.)thatyouled.Whatdidittake?

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6/26/2017 SampleInterviewQuestions|Bridgespan

Tellmeaboutatimewhen,becauseofyouranalysis,therewasamajorchangeofstrategy,operations,orkey
decisionsinyourorganization.
Howdoyouplanyourwork?Prioritizeyourwork?
Ifyourmostrecentmanagerhadtocharacterizeyourstrengthsandweaknesses,whatwouldheorshesay?
Haveyoueverbeeninasituationwherethegoalswerenotclearlydefined?Howcomfortablewereyou?How
didyouworkthroughthis?
Describeatypicaldayatyourprevious(orcurrent)position.

mp q b m m:

Whatwasthehighestperformingteaminwhichyouworked?Whatwasyourrole?Whatwasyour
contribution?
Givemeanexamplethatdescribesyourworkingstyle(e.g.,probeforindependentversuscollaborative
deadlinefocusedversusnot,etc.)
Whatisdifferentaboutthewayyouandyourcurrentorpreviousmanagermanagepeople?
Tellmeaboutthebestandworstdirectreportsyouhaveevermanaged.Howdidyouworkwiththem?What
doyoulookforincolleaguesyourecruit?
Givemeanexampleofhowyouhaveprovidedprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiestoyourteam
members.
Givemeanexampleofpersuadingacolleagueorteammembertochangehisorherapproach.Howdidyoudo
it?
Ifyourmostrecentmanagerhadtocharacterizeyourabilitytoworkinateam,whatwouldheorshesay?And
thosewhoreportedtoyou?
Howdoyougivefeedback?Howdoyoutakefeedback?Provideexamples.
Whatisyourleadershipstyle?Howhasyourleadershipstyleevolvedovertime?

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b fm f-pf pf :

Tellmemoreaboutyourvolunteerexperienceandwhyyouthinkithaspreparedyouforafulltimenonprofit
role.
What(volunteerrelated)resultsmakeyouproud?Howdidthatworkhelpyourefinewhatyourenowlooking
forinanonprofitrole?
Whydoyouwanttoworkinthenonprofitsector?Whatdoyouthinkwouldbedifferentaboutitcomparedto
yourroleintheforprofitsector?
Howdoyourexperiencestranslatetothisroleatourorganization?
Whydoesourmissionresonatewithyou?
Howdoyoudefineconsensusdrivendecisionmaking?Whenhaveyouseemthiswork?Whathasbeenyour
experienceofthecomplexitiesofconsensusdecisions?

mp f q:

Whatdo(ordid)youenjoymostandleastatyourcurrent(orprevious)job?
Ifweaskedyourcolleagueswhattheymightwanttochangeaboutyou,whatdoyouthinktheywouldsay?

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6/26/2017 SampleInterviewQuestions|Bridgespan

Whatisimportanttoyouinaworkplace?
Whatisyourbiggestpetpeeveinaworkplace?
Whatqualitiesdoyoulookforinamanager?Inacolleague?Inadirectreport?

q:

Wheredoyouseeyourselfinthreetofiveyears?
Ifrelocationmightbenecessary,doyouenvisionanyobstaclesinrelocating?
Areyoucomfortablewiththecompensationrangeforthisposition?
IsthereanythingatallthatIhaven'taskedyouthatyouwanttobesureispartofthisinterviewprocess?

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