Navigating Interviews: Top 12 Anticipated Questions for Startup Owners – Part II
CPR wants small business owners and entrepreneurs to be prepared for interviews as well. We continue our two-part blog with the next six questions that you should be prepared to answer from candidates during an interview:
1. How Much Revenue Do You Anticipate This Year/Next Year? The more the revenue, the more perceived company stability.
Only some candidates will be brave enough to ask this question. Candidates for executive or management level positions will most likely ask this question.
How to Answer: Provide precise numbers if you are comfortable, or a range. Transparency is crucial and simply mentioning that you plan to increase revenue from the previous year sets expectations properly. You can share that you plan to “double/triple/increase revenue by X%” from last year or “over the next X years.”
2. Can You Tell Me More About the Day-to-Day Responsibilities of the Role? Candidates seek clarity on their prospective job duties to find out if they are suitable for the position or wish to perform the responsibilities of the role.
How to Answer: Offer detailed insights into the expected responsibilities, emphasizing key tasks and their contribution to the startup’s overall goals. Be honest about any uncertainties or new visions for the position. If true, communicate that the position is dynamic and the person in the role will be empowered to make the role their own.
3. What Challenges Does the Company or the Position Currently Face? Candidates seek transparency and want to understand the company's current landscape.
Imagine arriving on your first day of work to find that the company you joined hasn’t made a sale in several months, but they still hired you and never told you that during the interview? You would have many questions and wonder why this wasn’t a topic of discussion during the interview.
How to Answer: Be honest about challenges, emphasizing how you and your team are actively addressing them or turning them into opportunities. Explain how you foresee their prospective position playing a role to address the challenges as well.
4. Why is This Position Open? Candidates seek transparency about why the position is open and if there is any indicator to the company’s current landscape. They also want to know what kind of shoes they are filling if they get the role.
How to Answer: Be honest about whether the position is open due to someone vacating it or if it’s a new role due to business growth. Avoid disclosing specific details about the previous employee and redirect to what you are looking forward to in the future with a new person in the role.
5. How Would You Describe the Leadership Style in the Company? Candidates want to know the type of leadership they'll be working under and if they believe it will mesh. Everyone has their own unique leadership style.
How to Answer: It can be difficult to articulate your leadership style so it is a good idea to ask your team before the interview. Describe your leadership style using feedback from your team such as, “My team often describes me as hands-off and have told me they like that I allow them the autonomy to handle projects unless they need my help.” Use terms such as collaborative, inclusive, inspiring, or empowering, and align you’re your business goals.
6. How Do You Envision This Position Working to Support Hitting Company Goals? Candidates want to ensure the company has established goals and clarity on where this position fits in the organizational structure.
They want to know how the team they are joining contributes to the company’s goals and vision.
How to Answer: Outline the company’s goals and explain how you foresee the team contributing to those goals and within a specific timeframe.
Conclusion
Remember, an interview is a two-way street. It’s vitally as important for a small business owner to prepare for the interview as much as the candidate. By addressing these inquiries with confidence and clarity, candidates will appreciate the transparency and set the foundation for a positive and mutually beneficial relationship.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.
