Senior leadership interview - help!

[RosieLeaLovesTea]

Hi
i have been shortlisted for a senior leadership role in local council. It’s on Tuesday. Heading up a new service -Head of Department.
i have been told the interview will be 4 panels and it will last between 9.30am and 1.30pm. So we may move around for different panel discussions or be asked questions by different groups. I am sure there will be service users and a representation group. There could also be a data exercise or a meeting simulation exercise.
can anyone give any tips or advice for attending an interview at that level? It’s my first time.

You’re applying for SLT and want advice from Mumsnet? Are you sure about this?

Yes cos SLT just come out born ready for panel interviews 😜

@RosieLeaLovesTea OP approach it as they are your colleagues rather than superiors you need to impress. That’s the hardest mindset change I think. The reason it’s so long and there’s many panels is because at that level you’ll be working with lots of different people closely, and they need to see they can work with you. Treat it like a trial work day in a shop, but the professional version. The data exercise and meeting simulation exercise are probably pass/fail ones, if you know how to handle data and have been to meetings, it’ll be fine, it’s just something they want to check on the day. Congratulations on progressing to this point of the application process and I wish you the best.

Do you work for the authority already OP?

Good luck op. Gruelling!

I have done head of interviews with councils but not had 4 panels so I don't know if that's another level! In my experience they were competency based and very specific eg teamwork, crisis situations, budget management etc. good luck!

Don't be afraid to ask for a question to be repeated or even clarified.

It's fine to take a short pause before giving an answer

Smile

I did one with 5 panels last year. Be prepared to feel like you're repeating yourself because sometimes they ask similar questions and are looking for similar information. Definitely ask for questions to be repeated or take a piece of paper and a pen and make notes as they ask the question. I would always ask for it to be repeated so that you can make sure you've covered everything they want you to.
Good luck!