Interviewing for the job you already have
You’ve been serving as Interim Director, Associate Dean, Dean, Vice President, Provost, or other title in higher education, and your institution is finally ready for the formal lengthy hiring process to make the position permanent. You’ve been doing the job for a period of time now, have worked hard, and you know you deserve to be selected for the permanent position but… the process has to give an equal opportunity to anyone, and you don’t know if some applicants may be stronger candidates than you. Your supervisor has been giving you positive feedback on your work performance, but still, nothing is guaranteed…
Are you finding yourself in this situation? If yes, keep reading (and please read last week’s article on how to perform highly while you’re interim). If someone you know is interim, please forward them both articles to help them.
Take nothing for granted
When I speak with coaching clients, some say “At my institution, the interim ALWAYS gets the permanent position because they have an advantage” and others state “At my institution, the interim NEVER gets the permanent position because we do a national search to attract the best talent possible.” While there is some truth to that, depending on the organizational culture, using absolute words like ALWAYS or NEVER can be disempowering.
If you believe you were made interim until someone better comes along, you risk not doing your best during the interview process and your expectation will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. On the other hand, if you think you’ve done such a good job that nobody could be better than you, you might be under-prepared, a bit entitled, and miss out on the opportunity to be the top candidate.
Focus on yourself and do your best
Please don’t waste time and energy worrying about who else is competing with you, especially if that can trigger insecurities. The hiring process is far from perfect but the best you can do is trust it, be prepared, and do your absolute best. Regardless of the ultimate outcome, you will feel better if you’re satisfied with how you presented yourself, than if too much of your energy and focus was wasted on worry.
Take time to be introspective and make sure to clarify who you are as a leader, and what are your top values and greatest strengths. Make sure you are ready to give a well-thought-out answer if/when you are asked about your leadership style, leadership practices, value proposition, personal brand and so on. Platitudes such as “I am a highly collaborative servant-leader” isn’t going to make you stand out. Almost everyone says some version of that.
Be ready to share your accomplishments
That’s obviously true for any interview, but in your particular case, you have the advantage of having done this exact job, so find the time to review what you’ve done and be ready to highlight your successes, as well as the partnerships you’ve developed. Some people candidates may think “I have a strong background and can hit the ground running” but you are already miles ahead of them. You’ve already gone through the learning curve, learned the culture, history, traditions, policies, procedures, and most importantly, you’ve had time to get to know people and create professional relationships. You are the only interim. There could be applicants considering a lateral move, who are experienced and accomplished too, but a change in leadership is always disruptive so if you’ve done a fantastic job and people have grown to trust you, you do have an advantage.
That being said, even if you know everyone on the hiring committee, don’t assume that they know everything about you. Make sure to put in as much effort (and I would suggest even more) than if you were interviewing elsewhere. Many colleges and universities have a highly rigid hiring process, and the committee members are given rubrics to score answers. They may be told that they cannot use any knowledge acquired outside of the interviewing process. In your situation, as an interim, you are likely to know everyone, but you must answer questions as if you didn’t.
Keep a positive mindset
When I work with clients to help them get a new position, I ask them to redefine success. Instead of thinking success is “getting the job” I encourage them to think success is “being proud of how well you did and have no regrets”. Obviously, I want them to get the job, and that’s the objective. But too much focus on that can make people feel anxious and fearful. Getting a job is not like getting a good grade on a test. It’s about perceived fit and only one person will be getting an offer. The lack of control or predictability can be nerve racking. If you think “If I don’t get the job, I will be crushed and humiliated, etc.” you will feed your fear and starve your confidence. Instead, feed your confidence and starve your fear.
Remember your worth, be prepared, and expect good outcomes. Don’t add stress to a situation that is already stressful. Executive positions are very competitive right now. I invite you to click here to schedule a complimentary call with me and discuss how I can help you keep a positive mindset, prepare a strong job application, get ready for interviews, and advance your career. I hope to get to talk with you soon.
About the author: Dr. Audrey Reille has empowered thousands of professionals through one-on-one coaching, group coaching, speaking engagements, and online courses. Audrey is the go-to executive coach for leaders in higher education administration. She empowers them to thrive by improving communication, confidence, executive presence, effectiveness reducing stress, optimizing strategies, improving professional relationships, and developing a strong and empowered mindset.