Favorite Questions of Executive Recruiters

Helpful Hints

The following are some tips from executives and recruiters themselves on fielding their unexpected questions:

Know what the meeting is for. An interview with an executive recruiter is typically different from a meeting with an actual hiring manager. Some recruiters schedule meetings just to introduce themselves to a top executive. But if a specific opportunity is being discussed, recruiters want to learn about your intangibles — if you would fit the company's culture, get along with your future boss and colleagues and so on. "My goal is to get the candidate in a free-form discussion — to understand how he thinks," says Mr. Martin.

Understand yourself. To honestly demonstrate who you are and how you think, you must have good insight into your values, interests, temperament and motivators. When you know what you enjoy and motivates you professionally, you'll provide unforced answers that indicate whether you'd be a good fit. "It's in your best interest to let the recruiter know what you like and what kind of organization you'd thrive in," says Mr. Stevenson.

Think before you answer. Don't say the first thing that comes into your head. Pause for five or 10 seconds or longer before offering your response. "If I don't get an immediate response, it tells me I've asked a worthwhile question," says Mr. McSherry. "I've forced a candidate to think a little bit."

Consider the underlying intent to the question. Every query is designed in some way to relate to the opening and whether you would be a good hire, says Mr. Martin. "They always relate to the search," he says. "What I ask depends on what the company is looking for and is tailored to the assignment and cultural fit of the company."

Realize you don't have to respond. Sometimes the right answer is "I don't know" or "I don't have an opinion," says Mr. Timm. "People who have an answer for everything often have the wrong answer for everything," he says, "so sometimes it's OK to take a step back and say you'd like to think about something."

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