Three Headhunters reveal their interview questions

Even as an executive or leader, a job interview can feel like an adrenaline rush, blending excitement with nervous energy. How do you say the right thing and make the best impression?

It is a crucial moment where your ability to articulate your skills, experiences, and motivations can profoundly influence your future.

To help you navigate this crucial moment and make the best impression, we have gathered insights from three experienced headhunters. Understanding common interview questions can help you prepare effectively for the big meeting. 

Arne Poul Bender, Lone Vinther and Tobias Thus share their tips on how to deliver standout answers in a job interview.

 

Mastering some of the big questions with Arne Paul Bender:

Arne Paul Bender, Partner at Birn+Partners: ”As headhunter, I often encounter interview questions aimed at uncovering key insights about the candidate. Some of the following questions demonstrate your qualifications, strategic thinking and leadership capabilities”.

 

1. What is your vision for the company, and how do you plan to achieve it?

How to answer:

• Show that you understand the company’s current situation, market, and challenges.
• Clearly outline your vision for the company’s future.
• Detail your plan for achieving this vision, including specific steps and initiatives.
  
  

Insight: This question assesses your understanding of the company, your strategic vision, and your ability to execute a plan.

 

2. How do you prioritize and manage competing demands from various stakeholders such as shareholders, employees, and customers.

How to answer:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of balancing the needs of different stakeholders.
• Outline your approach to identifying, prioritizing, and addressing stakeholder demands. Discuss any frameworks or tools you use.
• Share a specific instance where you successfully managed competing demands, highlighting your decision-making and negotiation skills.
  
  

Insight: This question reveals your ability to balance and align different interests.

 

3. Can you give an example of a major crisis you faced as a leader? How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?

 How to answer:

• Describe the crisis and provide context about the nature of the crisis and why it was significant.
• Explain your actions and detail the steps you took to address the crisis, focusing on your decision-making process and actions.
• Discuss the results of your actions, emphasizing how you mitigated the crisis and any lessons learned.

Insight: This question evaluates your crisis management skills and resilience.

 

4. How do you ensure innovation and continuous improvement within an organisation?

How to answer:

• Explain how you create an environment that encourages new ideas and continuous improvement.
• Describe specific initiatives or programs you have implemented to drive innovation.
• Share examples of successful innovations or improvements that resulted from your initiatives.

Insight: This question looks at your ability to foster innovation and continuous improvement.

 

As a headhunter, it's my job to ensure you present your best self. By understanding the intent behind these questions and preparing thoughtful responses, you can create a positive impression and effectively demonstrate your qualifications, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities.

 

Mastering some of the big questions with Tobias Thus:

Tobias Thus, Partner at Birn+Partners: “Throughout my career as a headhunter, I have observed many candidates struggle with common leadership questions that offers a prime opportunity to impress us. A question as “What is your approach to building and leading high-performing teams?.

Often, candidates mistakenly assume that answering this common leadership question is straightforward and fail to give it the thoughtful response it deserves. I will give you some tips on how to best approach these leadership questions seen from my headhunter perspective”.

 

1. What is your approach to building and leading high-performing teams?

How to answer:

• Describe your leadership style and how you foster a productive and cohesive work environment. Your response should convey not just your style, but also how it translates into real-world results.
  For example, if you describe yourself as a transformational leader, explain how you inspire and motivate your team to exceed expectations. Illustrate how your leadership style adapts to different team members' needs and how it fosters an environment where creativity and collaboration thrive.
  
  
• Talk about how you train, and retain top talent. Mention any specific techniques or programs you use to develop high-performing teams.
  
  
• Give examples of teams you have led successfully, highlighting the outcomes achieved through your leadership. Use specific examples to highlight your approach.
  For instance, you might describe a situation where you revamped a team’s workflow or introduced a new performance management system that led to significant improvements in productivity and employee satisfaction. Focus on the challenge, the actions you took, and the measurable outcomes, such as increased team performance metrics or reduced turnover rates.
  
  

Insight: This question delves into your understanding of leadership dynamics and your ability to cultivate a high-performance culture. It’s not just about what you do, but how you do it and the tangible results that follow. Your answer should reveal your strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and capacity to inspire and guide a team towards achieving its goals.

 

Another question could be:

 

2. Can you describe a situation where you had to make a tough decision that was not popular? How did you handle it, and what were the results?

How to answer:

• Describe the situation and provide context about the tough decision and why it was unpopular. Explain the circumstances leading up to the decision, the different options you considered, and why the decision was challenging or unpopular.
  
  
• Walk through the steps you took to arrive at your decision. Discuss how you gathered and analyzed information, consulted with stakeholders, and weighed the potential impacts of your decision. Highlight any ethical considerations and how you balanced them with the needs of the organization. Emphasize your analytical skills and how you made a well-informed choice despite potential backlash.
  
  
• Focus on the outcomes of your decision and how you managed the aftermath. Discuss how you communicated the decision to those affected and how you addressed any resistance or concerns.
  Explain the short-term and long-term impacts on the organization, and highlight any positive results or lessons learned from the experience. If applicable, mention any improvements or changes that occurred as a result of your decision.
  
  

Insight: This question assesses your ability to handle difficult situations with integrity and strategic thinking. It reveals how you approach decision-making under pressure and manage the consequences of unpopular choices.
Your response should demonstrate resilience, ethical judgment, and the capacity to lead effectively even in challenging circumstances. It’s an opportunity to showcase your problem-solving skills, ability to maintain team morale, and how you balance stakeholder interests.

 

These questions reveal a lot about a candidate's personality, skills, and potential leadership fit for the role. Structured, honest answers will help you stand out and leave a positive impression.

 

Mastering some of the big questions with Lone Vinther:

Lone Vinther, Partner at Birn+Partners: "In many of my recruitments as a headhunter, this is my one big question ”Why should XX hire you?”. It provides a unique opportunity to showcase your qualifications and align them seamlessly with the company's needs”.

During an interview it is a crucial moment for this question ”Why should we hire you” for any candidate. Use this question to effectively promote yourself and convince the employer of your suitability.

Crafting an effective response demands a persuasive elevator pitch that highlights your strengths, experiences, and how they uniquely qualify you for the role. Let’s take it in steps:

Craft an elevator pitch

Approach this question like delivering an elevator pitch—a concise, impactful summary of who you are, your background, and your relevant experience. Aim for a 30-60 second pitch highlighting why you are an excellent fit for both the role and the team.

Craft your elevator pitch in advance

Prepare by reflecting on what attracted you to the job, demonstrating your enthusiasm for the role and company while aligning it with your career objectives. Use real-life examples of three key skills or experiences relevant to the job, encompassing both 'hard skills' (like leadership management) and 'soft skills' (like empathy communication).

Be informative yet concise

Stick to three main points to maintain a sharp and engaging response, tailored to showcase how your unique qualities and skills can address the company's needs.

Practice

Rehearse your pitch to ensure confident delivery, balancing preparedness with spontaneity to avoid sounding rehearsed.

Here is a tailored example:

“The innovative approach of XXX impresses me, and this job aligns perfectly with my career goals. I believe there are three key reasons why I’m the ideal candidate:

1. Leadership and team development: I have a proven record of empowering and cultivating high-performing teams.
2. Business acumen: I contributed to a 25% sales increase over two years through strategic product repositioning.
3. Strategic problem-solving: I excel in creative solutions, guiding organisations through change and disruption.”

Crafting a compelling response to the big common question “why should we hire you?” can leave a lasting impression and increase your chances of securing the job. Prepare for it.

Remember, each question is a chance to present not just your qualifications, but also your enthusiasm and fit for the role. By mastering these common interview questions with insights from top headhunters, you'll be well on your way to making a memorable impact and securing your desired position. Good luck!