By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
You are interviewing for a senior position. These initial screenings are high risk and require accurate and unwavering focus. Interviewers aren’t just checking boxes; they’re assessing your gravitas and leadership potential. Standard rules do not solve this problem.
1. Scheduling tasks: take control of your calendar
Never let a recruiter or HR person ambush you with an impromptu phone call. At your level, you manage your time – you don’t react to their time.
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If you are ambushed: Be clear: “This sounds fun, but I’m currently in between meetings. I want to give this the attention it deserves. Let’s schedule 30 minutes. Does it fit your calendar better at time X tomorrow or time Y later this afternoon?”
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Target: You schedule meetings for times when you are focused ensureeliminate the mental clutter that comes with your primary responsibility.
2. Technical excellence: Require perfect quality
Your communication should not suffer due to poor acoustics. This goes against your planning and attention to detail.
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Unitless roulette: Avoid relying on standard mobile phone connections for critical interviews. use a Internet phone line Use a dedicated headset or a reliable, clear landline phone. The connection must be professional grade.
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test: Be sure to conduct a test call with a colleague or friend immediately before your interview begins to confirm microphone clarity, volume, and connection stability.
3. Interview Cockpit: Strategic Setup
You need a dedicated, centralized area. Think less about “home office” and more about mission control.
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Create your zone: Conduct the interview in a quiet room, seated at a sturdy table or desk. This pose changes your breathing and voice, projecting authority and confidence.
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Visual anchor: Have a notepad or even a small mirror in front of you. This is not for vanity. This is a visual cue to maintain facial expression (smile, nod) and convey energy and warmth through the sound.
4. Acquisition of strategic information
This is an open book test. Use your notes, but use them like a highly organized executive reference summary.
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Cheat sheet: Develop a one-page high-impact reference sheet. Divide it into three parts: Company indicators/name, Key Achievements (PAR/STAR Stories)and Key questions for the interviewer. Use only bullet points.
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Water Law: Keep water nearby. A dry throat can be distracting. Coughing interrupts the conversation and disrupts your narrative.
5. The solemnity and rhythm of the voice
Your voice is the only vehicle through which leadership is conveyed.
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Change of pace: Avoid monotonous drones. Adjust your pitch and tempo to emphasize key accomplishments. Slow down when discussing major strategic decisions; speed up when showing enthusiasm.
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Silence is power: When you finish making a point, pause briefly. Don’t rush to fill the silence. It implies insecurity. Pause intentionally and then ask a strategic, confident question that shows you are in control of the conversation. Example: “Does this fit with the challenges faced by the current Director/VP?”
6. Absolute focus: No need to multitask
You are the vice president. You manage multiple workflows every day. Do no Do it here.
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Zero tolerance: Do not check email, mute calls to receive messages, or work on deck. Your focus must be all. Any lapse in concentration will make your answer sound less detailed, less strategic, and less convincing.
7. Rehearsals are mandatory
Even experienced VPs need to rehearse how to tell complex stories.
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Record your story: Record your own 3-5 most impactful strategic achievement stories. Listen critically. Do you sound like a leader? Is your language accurate? What you are selling is Influence and scale Are you a job, not just a task? Keep refining until the delivery is clear and compelling.
This is how a simple screening call can be transformed into a show of executive power.
Ⓒ Big Game Hunters, Asheville, NC 2025
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About Big Game Hunter Jeff Altman
Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter is a coach who has been a recruiter for a hundred years. His work spans career coaching, executive job coaching, job coaching, and interview coaching. He is the producer and former host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 job search podcast on iTunes with over 3,000 episodes.
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice on networking more effectively, how to negotiate job opportunities, or leadership coaching? Schedule a discovery call on my website, www.TheBigGameHunter.us
My courses can be found on my website www.TheBigGameHunter.us/courses
Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/thebiggamehunter
Watch my videos on YouTube at JobSearchTV.com.
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