Best time to interview- first or last?

[knitpicker]

Advice needed! I’m the only internal candidate for a CEO role. Submitted application, called for interview - these are being held on sept 1&2. Do I (a) be available either day (b) only be available on the 1st and be in the first tranche to interview or (c) only be available on 2nd when they are weary and happy to see a familiar face?
Any HR experts out there with tactical advice please?

Typically if you are the preferred candidate, you’re interviewed last, especially as an internal candidate.

Last!

Thank you 😌

Definitely last.

But, and I mean this kindly not nastily, if you need MN to answer such a basic business question, are you the right person for a CEO role?

Last always

@RockingMyFiftiesNot

Definitely last.

But, and I mean this kindly not nastily, if you need MN to answer such a basic business question, are you the right person for a CEO role?

Oh come on, get over yourself. It’s actually not that straight forward. I interview loads and the last candidate often doesn’t get the job as the panel can be jaded and tired and don’t give them the same opportunities to expand on things or talk as earlier candidates. And knowing tactical arrangements for interviews may have nothing to do with the OPs ability to do THIS specific role. Op last is ok, much better than being first. Being the final person after two long days might not be ideal but hopefully for the reason and given above you should be ok.

@Twickerhun I don't need to get over myself.
How can someone run a company, and make key strategic decisions, if they need to ask other people when they should
be interviewed? Someone with the experience required to become CEO will likely have been interviewed many times before for previous jobs and will have been involved in the selection of senior team members, surely??

@RockingMyFiftiesNot

Definitely last.

But, and I mean this kindly not nastily, if you need MN to answer such a basic business question, are you the right person for a CEO role?

This comment certainly doesn't sound very kind.

Yep nasty comment and not helpful- it’s a small charity in a niche sector with academic qualifications much more important than strategy around interviewing techniques.

I agree that last is best. I always put the strongest candidate last if I'm scheduling.

Good luck with the interview, OP. Don't get too hung up on the academic qualifications though, they're never going to be that important for a CEO role. Qualifications might be a prerequisite to get an interview, but it will all be about relevant skills, experience and vision at that level. Hope it goes well!

Thank you 🙏🏻

@knitpicker

Yep nasty comment and not helpful- it’s a small charity in a niche sector with academic qualifications much more important than strategy around interviewing techniques.

I'm really sorry, it wasn't intended to be nasty, just honest. I wouldn't expect someone applying for a CEO position, where they would be running an organisation, and need to make major strategic decisions, to have to ask questions about an interview process. I couldn't see beyond that, realise now I shouldn't have said anything at all.

I'm used to working in an environment with C-level execs where you're not doing people any favours if you don't point out the obvious. But MN is not that kind of environment so I should have known better. I apologise again.

Apology accepted. It’s not a big corporate entity with a C-suite structure, it’s not even in the UK - perhaps I should have mentioned all of that in original post. I haven’t interviewed much for roles, I ran my own company for a long period. I was totally floored when a quick question turned into a debate as to whether I was capable of the job. Way to tear a person down there - even if it is an anonymous chat forum.

I would choose to go first given a choice. That strategy has worked for me. Surprised that most people are saying the opposite.
Good luck OP.

Good luck! I wouldn't focus too much on where in the line up you are. Just pick when you think you'll perform best. Maybe not just before lunch.

Thank you. I did think long and hard about posting what I did, and I stand by my reasoning behind saying it but won't post something like that again on a forum. I am a very caring person which you probably won't believe now but it was concern behind saying it rather than nastiness. And I hate that I left you feeling torn down.

I did also respond to your initial question. My reasoning for thinking that last is best is that if a really good candidate crops up before you, the interviewers can ask you the kinds of questions that provide you the opportunity to show that you are better than that candidate (you won't know that is happening of course). Which won't be the case if you go first.

Given that you haven't much interview experience, is there anything worrying you about the Interview/preparing for it that we can all help with?

I've always said last is best but that was before my DH got his current job. He wasn't the last to be interviewed however he was called within 24 hours to be offered that role and they cancelled the remaining interview.

I've never had the opportunity to choose but when I've been interviewed first, I've always been offered the job. I think my profession make a pile of shortlisted candidates in their preferred order (starting with the definites down to the maybes), pass them to HR who allocate times without shuffling any paper.

I thought the same as @RockingMyFiftiesNot tbh. I'm not a CEO but I thought they'd need to be fairly decisive.

Anyhoo, wishing you all the very best OP! Be confident that you're the best candidate for the role.