Jagler: 10 key questions for job interviewers

Companies and nonprofit organizations hire Rose Spano Iannelli to recruit, interview and screen candidates to fill key executive leadership positions.

Over the years, Iannelli, co-founder of the Spano Pratt Executive Search firm in Milwaukee, estimates she has conducted more than 3,000 job interviews on behalf of her clients.

But don’t you dare call her a “headhunter.”

“No, that’s an antiquated term. We are executive search consultants,” Iannelli says. “We identify and recruit ‘targets,’ not ‘candidates.’”

Iannelli and her partner, Jamie Pratt, have built and maintain a proprietary database of more than 3,000 potential human “targets.”

“Everything that we handle is highly confidential and sensitive. That database is password protected, and only three people have the password,” Iannelli says.

Iannelli and Pratt work for a flat fee on a retainer basis to find the right person for the right job at the right employer.

Over the years in the journalism business, I have conducted countless job interviews. And truth be told, presuming a candidate has the resume, education and experience to gain a job interview with me, I usually know within the first three minutes of an interview whether I want to hire that person.

So, do I have a knack for judging talent and character, or have I just been lucky?

“I’d say you’ve just been lucky,” Iannelli says with a laugh. “I’m not a big believer in snap judgments. Leadership skills are complex.”

In the digital age, writing skills are more important than ever for effective organizational leadership, Iannelli says. She actually gives her “targets” questions to be answered by email as a way of evaluating their communication styles and abilities.

Repeat customers such as Chuck Stadler, chief operating officer of the Goodwill Center for Work and Training Southwest Campus in Greendale, say they benefit from Iannelli’s experience.

“Rose has been a great advocate for Goodwill in many ways,” Stadler says. “She has helped us recruit multiple executive-level professionals with a keen focus on finding individuals that fit our culture and understand who we are as an organization. In addition, she has facilitated networking opportunities that have enabled Goodwill to expand its mission through the connections she has made for us.”

So, what kinds of questions does someone with her expert pedigree ask in a job interview? She offered the following:

1. Do you believe you are successful? “The answer is typically yes. The real questions follow: How do you know, and how does your organization measure your success? Employers want examples of specific accomplishments and outcomes, including metrics, that align with the organization’s overarching goals.”
2. Who is your competition, and how does your organization compare? “Competitive intelligence and a solid understanding of where your company is positioned in the marketplace is an indicator of your business acumen. Employers are drawn to candidates with professional curiosity. And professionals who have good insight of their sector demonstrate enthusiasm and interest in their work.”
3. If you were to leave your organization today, what about that culture would you be happy to leave behind? And on the flip side, what would you miss the most? “Many candidates are eager to bid a fond farewell to ‘slow as molasses change’ or ‘constant limited resources.’ This is an area worth probing further to avoid repeating the same discontent as many organizations struggle with the ability to change quickly and needing to do more with less.”
4. Tell me about your worst day at work: How did you recover and what did you learn? “It is interesting to understand the candidate’s perception of what constitutes a bad day and the tactics used to recover, as well as the candidate’s ability to overcome and learn from the experience.”
5. Why have you chosen this line of work? “While not everyone has found their passion, most people eventually do become keenly aware of their natural talents and preferences. A thoughtful response can reveal self-awareness and motivation.”
6. If money were not a concern, what would you be doing today? “While gainful employment is a practical matter for most people, I am interested in getting a glimpse at what a candidate values and what brings a candidate joy.”
7. If you could wish for a skill that you don’t have, what would it be? “I’m interested in learning about aspirational goals and perceived weaknesses. And if it is an attainable skill, what’s the barrier to acquiring the skill to date: lack of resources, time or complacency?”
8. What grade would you give your life so far? “How does the candidate feel about themselves? Successful people are often optimistic and practice gratitude. They are self-confident but not egotistic.”
9. What’s on your professional bucket list? “And how does this position fit into that scheme? Presumably, the candidate has given this question some thought and is making logical career decisions that align with goals. This is helpful in calibrating if the candidate understands the true nature of the role and has accurate perception about the organization.”
10. What’s the biggest change your industry has made as a result of the recession? “Nearly every organization has engaged in some level of change in the past five years. In addition to business acumen and sector knowledge, this response can reveal how comfortable the candidate is with change and a fundamental understanding of the dynamics affecting their environment as a result of external factors."

Steve Jagler is the business editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Send C-Level ideas to him at steve.jagler@journalsentinel.com.

Rose Spano Iannelli

Title: Co-Founder with business partner Jamie Pratt

Company: Spano Pratt Executive Search, Milwaukee

Expertise: Recruitment and talent consultation

Previous experience: Area manager for another recruitment firm, marketing and real estate

Education: Bachelor’s degree from Cardinal Stritch University

Family and pets: Husband, Michael Iannelli; son, Nick Iannelli; and goldendoodle dog, Dino

Favorite movie: “Amadeus”

Favorite musical act: Billy Joel

Favorite Wisconsin restaurant: “Mimma’s — but I guess I’d better find a new one since she just announced she’s retiring.”