Question: If you’re the CEO of this company, what are the first three things you check about the business when you first start work?

Alternative Question Phrasing:

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Follow-up questions:

Why these metrics?
What would these metrics tell you?
How would knowing these things help you run the company?

Question Details:

Question Type:

Situational,Unconventional

Knowledge:

Entrepreneurship and Business Acumen,Management,Sales and Marketing

Skills:

Basic – Critical Thinking,Basic – Monitoring (Making observations of self and environment),Management of Financial Resources,Management of Material Resources,Systems Analysis

Abilities:

Cognitive – Inductive Reasoning,Cognitive – Speed of Closure (Thinking Speed)

Other Factors:

Candidate Preparedness,Executive Level,Management Level

Work Activity (Task):

Information Input – Estimating Characteristics of Objects, Events, or Information,Information Input – Gathering Information,Information Input – Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (for Problem Identification),Information Input – Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings,Interacting with Others – Monitoring and Controlling Resources,Mental Processes – Developing Objectives and Strategies,Mental Processes – Judging the Value of Things, Services, or People

Work Context (Person-Job/Team/Org Fit):

Job Structure – Freedom to Make Decisions,Job Structure – Frequency of Decision Making,Job Structure – Level of Responsibility (Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Organization Results)

Work Style (Person-Job Fit):

Achievement/Effort (Action/Result Orientation),Analytical Thinking

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

You looking to see if the interviewee understands the company or has done their research in the company. You are looking to judge the interviewee’s logical and strategic thinking in terms of business management at a high level.

Red Flags to Watch For:

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Sample Answer:

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Question Source: From Dropbox job interviews