Prospex Recruiting Insights: Interviewing with Your Future Direct Reports
How to interview with someone who will be YOUR DIRECT REPORT!?
At Prospex Recruiting, we work closely with companies and candidates navigating high-stakes hiring decisions, from executive placements to leadership transitions. One topic that comes up frequently is how to approach interviews, not just with leadership teams, but also with the people you may eventually manage.
As a firm focused on leadership hiring and long-term team alignment, we see how these dynamics impact both hiring decisions and team success. Learn more about our approach and experience on our About Us page.
We talk frequently about how to interview with the people you will be reporting to or when interviewing with the leadership team.
What is the best approach to interview when the interview is with someone who will be reporting directly to you?
Start With the Right Mindset
First off, don’t come in too hot. Yes, this person will be reporting to you. However, they don’t report to you yet. They are a trusted member of the team and, so far, their opinion as to if you get hired will carry more weight than your interviews right now.
Best approach? Obviously, each situation will be looking for different traits in a leader, but approach the interview with a service-leader mindset. Make sure they know you are looking for how to support the team and the company in the best way to be able to hit the goals all around.
Questions to Ask a Future Direct Report
Good questions to ask:
👌 What are you looking for in a [leader/manager/supervisor/fill-in-the-blank]?
👌 What are some things I could come in Day One and work with you to improve?
👌 What management styles do you work best with?
Do Your Homework and Build Rapport
👌 What works well on the team and what could be improved?
👌 Review them on LinkedIN (assuming they have one) and have some relevant questions about their background just as you would for an interview with a superior.
👌 Be yourself! [I know, this isn’t a question but demands its own bullet point]. So much of the success of a leader/report relationship comes from a good, core cultural fit. This is an awesome time for both parties to assess that!
Listen More Than You Talk
Make sure to actively listen and let them do a good chunk of the talking – validate their responses and have a few examples to highlight some previous positive leadership moments you’ve had. This is your opportunity to build rapport with someone that could be reporting to you and instilling that excitement for you to come in and mentor them, as opposed to starting day 1 with a disgruntled team member!
Join the Conversation with Prospex Recruiting
Reach out to Prospex Recruiting on LinkedIn or on our website to run through a few scenarios so you are prepped for your interview!
⁉️ How have you approached an interview with a direct report?
⁉️ If you’ve been the direct report conducting the interview, what have you looked for in a leader??
We want to hear from you! Reach out to Prospex’s founders, Abby Roberts or Josh Roberts, with your thoughts.
