While no interview is easy to crack, interviewing for a director job is even more challenging. After all, as a director, you would be expected to oversee important operational tasks in the organization. Directors practically run the company, so the existing board members will be very particular about whom they choose.
Hence, you must go beyond the regular questions asked during an interview to become a director. There are some crucial questions that you are going to face, and you should face them with confidence. While the usual questions regarding educational qualifications and job experience are still important, you have to show how they are relevant to becoming a director.
Most importantly, you should know very well about the company you are applying to become a director. Suppose you don’t know about the aims and objectives of the organization. In that case, you won’t be able to answer the questions correctly. Nor will you be able to chart a path about what more you can add to the table for taking the company forward.
Hence, preparing specific questions for a director interview is very important.
Why Should You Prepare Thoroughly For a Director Interview?
Only after someone has spent years in the industry and has gathered enough knowledge and experience they can apply to be a director. At this point, they are well-experienced and have probably given and even taken multiple rounds of interviews. Then why is it so important to prepare well for the interview to become a director?
Here is why?
1. The Employers Want to Know About Your Management Style
As a director, you will be making major decisions for the company. You will be responsible for taking crucial steps to enhance business operations and financing in the future. And they need to know that you are up for the task.
2. The Employers Will Check Your Communication Skills
You may have been an excellent employee in the past, but being a director requires a different level of communication. You will have to interact with senior managers, stakeholders, and other directors in the company, and they will test you for it.
3. The Employers Will Ascertain Your Experience
They will check if all the experience you have gathered over the years has equipped you with the knowledge and expertise to become a director. On top of that, you will need excellent management and leadership skills to land the job, and they are going to test you for all of this during the interview.
4. The Employers Will See if Your Visions Align With Those of The Company
Your employers will check whether your and the company’s goals match, without which you won’t be able to take the company forward or bring the kind of success the company wants. Your values should be similar, and they should feel that the company will grow under your leadership.
Questions to Prepare For a Director Interview With Sample Answers
Here are some questions that you should particularly prepare for a director interview. You can customize the answers based on your company and personal experience.
1. Why do You Want to Become a Director?
It’s the easiest question but the hardest to answer. While you may have a good idea about what you will do once you become a director, it’s often challenging to answer why you want to become one in the first place.
Sample Answer
I want to become a director because, by now, I have gathered enough experience in the field that will help me lead an organization from the front. I can put all the skills and experience I have gathered to good use by helping a company overcome its challenges. I have always wanted to lead, and becoming a director will allow me to do so.
2. Why do You Want to Become a Director in Our Company?
Your employers will want to know why you want to become a director in their company. It’s when you demonstrate how your values align with the company’s values and will show why you are passionate about the position. It is important to be specific while answering this question.
Sample Answer
By becoming a director in your company, I can make a difference in organizational matters. While I am inclined to work with your company because it has carved a niche in providing high-end service to the customers in terms of (mention what the company does), I have also seen some challenges you are facing. (Talk about two main challenges, then offer solutions). With my fifteen years of experience in the industry, I can contribute towards overcoming those problems.
3. What is Your Management Style?
By asking this question, the employer wants to know how you intend to lead your organization. They will see how you interact with your juniors, superiors, and other directors. You can answer this question by talking about what kind of manager you were and how your management style had made a positive impact earlier.
Sample Answer
As a manager, I prefer to lead by setting examples. But I also like to consider everyone’s views because this is what a true leader does. At the same time, I do not hesitate to make tough decisions when needed.
During my stint as a manager (talk about some previous incidents where you made crucial decisions), I helped bring the team back on track. I can continue doing more of the same as a director in your company.
4. What Are Your Objectives For The Organization?
By asking this question, employers want to know what you can bring to the table to make it grow.
Hence, it would be best to focus on where you want to take the company from where it is. For this, you need adequate homework and research to talk about how you can contribute.
Sample Answer
I have seen some of the company data that is publicly available and believe that the company has always lived up to its potential. And yet, there is always room for growth. I can make a difference to the department (talk about a particular department where you feel the company is behind). I can make the following contributions. (List the various ways in which you intend to change).
In addition, I would also like to experiment with a few aspects as I believe the company has the resources to be deployed in this segment. (Talk about a new area you are thinking of exploring.) It will show that you are not just interested in keeping the operations running but someone with a vision.
5. Tell us About Some of The Challenges You Have Faced Previously And How You Overcame Them
When asking this question, employers want to know about your attitude when faced with a difficulty. You can pull up some incidents from the past, but make sure you talk about those which also served as a learning experience. Say how you learned from it and that has given you the insight you have at present.
Sample Answer
During my stint as a manager in (name the company and year), we faced a few problems. (List two problems at this point). Although it was initially daunting, my team and I worked through it. (Highlight your problem-solving role at this point). We came out winners, which was a tremendous learning experience (talk about the lessons you learned during the process).
6. What Plans Do You Have For The Company Ten Years From Now?
When employers ask you this question, they want to know about your plans for the company. And it would be best if you researched the areas the company needs to improve as much as possible. Then say what additions you plan to make to the organization.
Sample Answer
The company is doing wonderfully well, but there is always room for growth. I will make sure that the current operations run as smoothly as possible. But I would like to add a few things to the company that will solidify its position in the next decade. They are (list the areas that you want to add on or improve upon).
Then I will implement them by (talking about the plans in detail to show that you have a strategy to make your ideas come true.) It should be easy to achieve with the support of your company’s brilliant team.
Mistakes to Avoid During a Director Interview
Here are some mistakes you should try to avoid during a director interview:
- Do not talk about your personal growth only. While becoming a director is a high-paying job, you should refrain from talking only about it because it would indicate that it’s the only reason for your interest in the position.
- Be sure to research the company. And that means not going through only what kind of work the company does. Rather, focus on some of the company’s challenges recently and try to offer solutions to those problems.
- Show your eagerness to work for the company. But focus on what you can bring to the table. Try highlighting how you can make the company stand apart and become a brand.
- Try to avoid making generalized statements. Use data, facts, and statistics to show that you are updated on what is happening in the industry. Use specific incidents and examples to show that you are aware of the challenges. Also, mention the specific solutions you came up with to demonstrate your problem-solving skills.
Conclusion
Being a director is a huge responsibility. You should demonstrate during the interview that you are willing to work hard to lead the company forward. And for that, you must work hard and put the company’s interests ahead of your own.
You will make it as a director only when your employers are convinced you will be excellent in all these aspects. Hence prepare well for the interview, be humble and professional during the process, and you should land your dream job.
