How to bring your difference to the table in an interim interview

If you are new to interim management, there is also a good chance that you have not attended an interview for a while! It is important to remember that the skillsets needed for an interim appointment are very different to a permanent appointment, so don’t make the mistake of expecting the interviewer to just spend their time drilling down into your CV.

We believe Gig Executives are immensely valuable in today’s workforce. With a change-readiness approach combined with a will to do things differently, Gig Executives are the agile talent needed at leadership tables wanting to scale their capacity and supplement their capability.

So the way you present in an interview needs to prioritise your ‘future skills’ just as much as your past experience. And with a wealth of expertise to draw on, it can be difficult to know where to start!

Use story-telling to convey the impact you had or the results you achieved rather than your career overview. There are a number or traits unique to being a successful interim manager and ensure you are using examples where you have demonstrated the following:

• Outcomes focused– talk to what the problems were, what you did to solve them, and then draw the parallel to the organisation’s situation.
• Ability to work with ambiguity – interim managers work in uncertain environments. Demonstrate your ability to lead in a time of change and how you balanced business objectives with people priorities.
• Relationships – underpinning the success of any interim manager is the ability to build credibility with people at all levels quickly. Display your success in simplifying complexity and taking people on the journey with you.
• Objectivity – detached from company politics or culture, interim managers have the ability to provide a fresh perspective. Give confidence that you will be able to contribute honestly while concentrating on what’s best for the business.
• Problem Solving – quite often interim managers don’t have a confirmed position description, but rather is presented with a broader business challenge. Show that you have listened to their challenges and come up with ideas on how you might translate solutions into practical deliverables.
• Strategic advice balanced with operational delivery – At an executive level there is an expectation that you will strategically contribute to the organisation direction. However often in the absence of expertise or capability in the team, interim managers have to be prepared to be hands on to ensure delivery. Demonstrate your ability and willingness to do both.

Fisher Leadership specialises in supporting executives with the transition from corporate life to working as interim managers. Register your interest if this is something you are interested in.

If you would like to frame your value in a way that speaks to future facing organisations, why not contact us about AVI. You will be guided through our digital platform to capture and profile the difference you bring to the new world of work.