This is actually one of the 50 most common interview questions you will be asked. So be prepared for it with a good answer that qualifies you for the position.
The interviewer wants to make sure that you know the answer because you took the initiative to find out essential information about the company prior to your interview. There are lots of ways that you can look up information about the company's CEO and a lot of information that you can glean about the company from what you know about their CEO.
Points to Emphasize
Answering this important common question involves showing the interviewer you took the time to find out essential information about the company.
- Emphasize similarities between yourself and the CEO. In addition to their name, mention specific qualities the CEO has that align with your own.
- Bring up specific points in their education and experience. Your interest in the job will shine through if you show that you did thorough research.
- Project confidence and enthusiasm. Your answers to all interview questions should be stated confidently and enthusiastically.
- Act interested. Perhaps a better tip would be to be interested. If you are not interested in the job, this will be apparent to your interviewer.
Mistakes You Should Avoid
Avoid these common mistakes when responding to this question.
- Don't act like you are interested in replacing them. Even jokingly, responding with an answer that implies you are going to replace them is in poor taste.
- Avoid saying anything negative about the company's CEO. Instead, highlight the good things about him or her.
- Avoid making something up. You might not have done your research to find out about the CEO. In this instance, be candid and honest.
- Don't act like it doesn't matter. This question might seem trivial but it actually tells the interviewer whether you have qualities that already align with specific people in the organization.
Sample Answer
This might seem like a quick question but you can use the opportunity to highlight your qualifications for the position.
Thanks for the easy question! In my research, I found that your CEO John Doe has had a lot of volunteer experience. I read that he spent a lot of time in Mexico with XYZ Foundation, which is impressive to me since I did the same thing a few years ago. I would love to talk with him about his experiences there.
This might seem like a quick and easy question, and it might even seem irrelevant to the job description, but knowing the answer and giving specific examples can make a big difference on the interview's outcome.
