Executive Recruiter Interview Questions & Answers


Executive Recruiters are responsible for finding and recruiting high-level managers and executives to fill job openings in a company. They can work for recruiting agencies or organizations.

Executive Recruiters are also responsible for ensuring that incumbents are adequately oriented and trained upon their arrival.

Whether you're a job seeker preparing to be interviewed for the role of Executive Recruiter or an employer preparing to interview candidates for Executive Recruiter position, these Executive Recruiter interview questions will help you prepare yourself for the job interview session.

Executive Recruiter Interview Questions

Below are a list of some skill-based Executive Recruiter interview questions.

  1. What is executive recruiting?
  2. Describe a standard hiring process.
  3. Do you have experience working with expats?
  4. What executive role do you have the most experience in filling?
  5. Where are the best places to source candidates?
  6. Which of your hiring decisions do you regret the most?
  7. What is your experience in conducting in-person and online interviews?
  8. What would you do if no one shared your reservations about a candidate?
  9. How do you prepare before interviewing a candidate?
  10. You will face very senior professionals in this role. How do you embody poise and professionalism?
  11. Describe a time when you couldn't find the right candidate for a position. What strategies did you use to overcome this challenge?
  12. How would you detect deceit when interviewing a candidate?
  13. Describe a challenge that you previously faced while interviewing or hiring candidates. How did you overcome it?
  14. What would you do to ensure that the new incumbent was well oriented?
  15. Provide an example of when you had several candidates that were good matches for a position. How did you select the winning candidate?
  16. Describe some common challenges of hiring leaders
  17. Tell us about your experience in our industry.
  18. How do you evaluate the job performance of an executive candidate who is under a non-disclosure agreement?
  19. Which jobs in our industry are the hardest to fill and why?
  20. Walk me through the types of placements you have made as an Executive Recruiter.
  21. After speaking to your client/hiring manager about a new position, how do you structure your search? How do you go from your long list to your short list?
  22. Are you certified as an executive recruiter?
  23. What was difficult about sourcing in companies you’ve previously worked for?
  24. List and describe your favorite tools for tracking and following up with candidates.
  25. Talk about a hiring process from a previous company. What worked well? What didn’t work well? What would you change?
  26. Do you believe that technical skills or industry experience are more important for candidates?
  27. Provide an example of a time when you presented a candidate to a client who ultimately decided not to move forward with the hire. What did you learn from this experience?
  28. How do you quickly learn industry terminology for roles that are new to you?
  29. If a candidate was hesitant to accept a role at your client’s company, what would you do to convince them to accept the offer?
  30. There is a high volume of qualified candidates for one of your client’s open positions. How do you narrow down your list to find the best fit?
  31. How do you react when you and your client disagree on the quality of a candidate?
  32. Tell me about the most prestigious placement you have made in your executive recruitment career.
  33. In your experience, what is the most challenging part of working with executive-level candidates?
  34. What makes you stand out as an executive recruiter?

Executive Recruiter Interview Questions and Answers

Every interview is different and the questions may vary. However, there are lots of general questions that get asked at every interview.

Below are some common questions you'd expect during Executive Recruiter interviews. Click on each question to see how to answer them.

  1. What is Your Salary Expectation?
  2. Tell Me About Yourself
  3. Are You a Leader or a Follower?
  4. Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?
  5. What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?
  6. What is Your Greatest Strength?
  7. What is Your Greatest Weakness?
  8. Why Should We Hire You?
  9. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?
  10. Why Do You Want This Job?