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Chief of Staff Interview Questions

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Chief of Staff interview questions and answers.

  1. Describe a situation that tested your ethics. See answer
  2. What process do you follow when evaluating productivity? See answer
  3. How has your academic background prepared you for a chief of staff position? See answer
  4. How do you stay up-to-date with business best practises? See answer
  5. What types of projects do you have experience leading? See answer
  6. Describe your leadership style. See answer
  7. How do you motivate your staff to perform at a high level? See answer
  8. Describe your communication style. See answer
  9. Why do you want to work as the chief of staff for this company? See answer
  10. What’s yourmost important role as chief of staff?
  11. What’s the most essential skill as chief of staff?
  12. What’s your experience with strategic planning?
  13. What qualities do you look for when hiring employees in key leadership positions?
  14. Describe a time you organised a diverse group of staff to accomplish a goal.
  15. How do you communicate the company’s goals to various departments and key positions?
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Hire your next Chief of Staff today.

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Hire your next Chief of Staff today.

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Chief of Staff Interview Questions and Answers

What's your most important role as chief of staff?

A successful chief of staff understands their position within the organisational structure. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's understanding of the full scope of a chief of staff's duties and responsibilities. What to look for in an answer:

  • Awareness of what a chief of staff does and their daily tasks
  • Ability to perform high-quality work within a busy executive environment
  • Ability to prioritise tasks and stay flexible to the needs of the chief executive officer

Example:

"The most important role of a chief of staff is to act as a trusted confidant of the CEO. I need to balance providing leadership for the company and helping the CEO with their tasks."

What's the most essential skill as chief of staff?

A successful chief of staff possesses many skills, abilities, and needs a lot of experience. The question's goal is to determine the candidate's opinion of a chief of staff's most essential skills. What to look for in an answer:

  • Communication skills to explain their opinion
  • Understanding of a chief of staff's duties and responsibilities
  • Knowledge of essential skills and abilities to be proficient in the role

Example:

"If I had to choose just one skill for a successful chief of staff, I would say communication is paramount. If they can communicate effectively, they can motive staff, express the CEO's goals, and make solid decisions based on analysis."

Describe a situation that tested your ethics.

A chief of staff is in an executive-level position and can be professionally and ethically challenging. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's response to a compromising situation. What to look for in an answer:

  • Solid moral and ethical standards
  • Critical thinking and analytical skills to evaluate a situation effectively
  • A relevant example in a previous role

Example:

"One example I can remember is being urged to complete a project faster by cutting corners. This is a common occurrence when profits are at stake. However, I'm not comfortable compromising my ethics and quality to accomplish something more quickly. Instead, I reallocated some resources to ensure we completed the project time and to the highest standard."

What process do you follow when evaluating productivity?

A chief of staff typically oversees the company's various departments and reports on productivity and efficiency. The question's goal is to evaluate the candidate's experience in analyzing key performance indicators. What to look for in an answer:

  • Solid foundational knowledge in business best practises
  • Ability to analyse data and provide recommendations
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills

Example:

"In my previous position, I would review key performance metrics from all departments every week. I follow a process of reviewing the data and analyzing it against the history to spot trends. Doing this weekly allows me to keep track of patterns and implement changes quickly."

How has your academic background prepared you for a chief of staff position?

Depending on your company, you may require specific education and training for the position. The question's goal is to determine the candidate's academic background and how it has prepared them for this role. What to look for in an answer:

  • Completion of company-specific educational requirements, such as a bachelor's degree
  • Ability to adapt experience to the benefit of the current situation
  • Communication skills to explain their educational history

Example:

"After completing my bachelor's degree in business administration, I took what I learned and applied it immediately in my career. For example, learning negotiation skills, best practises when hiring, and effective leadership skills provided me with a strong foundation to develop my experience."

How do you stay up-to-date with business best practises?

A successful chief of staff needs to stay current with business and industry trends and updates in best practises. The question's goal is to determine the candidate's process for staying up to date with their knowledge and professional development. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interest and enthusiasm for professional development
  • Interpersonal skills to network and develop professional relationships
  • Ability to adapt experience to the current situation

Example:

"I learned early in my career to stay involved in learning and networking. I'm part of several online professional groups that hold monthly networking events with guest speakers. I also commit to at least once intensive conference per year."

What types of projects do you have experience leading?

Because a chief of staff is implementing the CEO's vision and goals, they typically spearhead special projects within the company. The purpose of the question is to determine the candidate's experience in leading and implementing specific projects, such as IT or training. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to adapt past experience to new projects
  • organisational and communication skills to develop, implement, and manage large-scale projects
  • Interpersonal and leadership skills to provide direction

Example:

"Most of my experience leading projects within a chief of staff position was with IT and organisational restructuring. For example, I worked on a project to integrate IT into the service processes seamlessly. I also worked on a corporate restructuring project that was a three-year process."

What's your experience with strategic planning?

A successful chief of staff typically works with the board of executives when developing a strategic plan. The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's level of participation with this vital task. What to look for in an answer:

  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills to analyse data and provide insight
  • Solid foundational knowledge in business processes
  • Strategic planning experience

Example:

"I have several years' experience taking part in annual strategic planning sessions with my previous company. Every year the executive team would meet for several days to discuss the upcoming year's goals and objectives. My role was to prepare and present the historical data so that we could evaluate the next steps."

What qualities do you look for in key leadership positions when hiring?

A chief of staff takes part in the hiring process of critical positions within the organisation. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's process for screening and interviewing potential employees. What to look for in an answer:

  • Critical thinking and analytical skills to hire qualified employees
  • Communication skills to ask practical questions to evaluate candidates
  • Interpersonal skills to build rapport and assess a candidate characteristics

Example:

"When hiring new employees for key leadership positions, a candidate's experience is highly important. However, I also look for qualities that represent the company's values. For example, if a core value of the company is communication, then I'll look for that ability in a candidate."

Describe a time you had to organise a diverse group of staff to accomplish a goal.

A successful chief of staff can bring people together and rally together for a common goal. The purpose of the question is to evaluate the candidate's ability to lead a team of people from diverse backgrounds effectively. What to look for in an answer:

  • Communication skills to deliver the vision of the company
  • Interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence to understand what motivates individuals
  • Project management skills to organise and manage a project effectively

Example:

"In my previous position, diversity, and inclusion were core values held by the executive and company. So when undertaking a new initiative or project, the individuals selected were first chosen for their qualifications and then based on their unique perspectives they brought to the goal."

Describe your leadership style.

Each individual has their own style of leadership that develops with experience. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's qualities of leadership. What to look for in an answer:

  • Communication skills to express thoughts effectively
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills to analyse situations
  • Ability to develop and motivate individuals to produce high-quality work

Example:

"I would describe my leadership style as collabourative and mentoring. I believe in hiring the best people for the right positions and trusting them to do their jobs without micromanaging. My job as a leader is to provide a clear direction and offer guidance and mentorship."

How do you motivate your staff to perform at a high level?

A successful chief of staff needs to inspire employees to produce high-quality work. The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's process for encouraging staff. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to provide clear expectations through metrics, such as key performance indicators (KPIs)
  • Ability to determine individual motivation factors and leverage them
  • Evidence of well-developed leadership skills

Example:

"One of the first things I do when increasing productivity, is learn what motivates my staff. Everyone has a different motivation, such as being publicly acknowledged for their outstanding work or monetary compensation like bonuses. Learning this information lets me create the best environment for motivating my staff."

How do you communicate the company's goals to various departments and key positions?

A successful chief of staff is critical in transferring vital information, such as goals and initiatives, from the executive to the rest of the company. The purpose of the question is to determine how the candidate relays critical information to other departments. What to look for in an answer:

  • Communication skills to translate goals and objectives to the company departments effectively
  • Interpersonal skills to develop and maintain a solid management team
  • Critical thinking and organisational skills to lead different departments

Example:

"In my previous position, I held a quarterly meeting for all department heads. This allowed goals and objectives to be discussed openly and to evaluate progress within each department. I also held monthly meetings with each individual department to discuss issues specific to their team."

Describe your communication style.

A successful chief of staff needs to communicate effectively with various positions and departments across the company. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's communication style. What to look for in an answer:

  • Confidence in their communication style
  • Effective processes for ensuring clear communication
  • Ability to tailor communication style to reach a greater audience

Example:

"In my current position as chief of staff, I've had to develop an assertive communication style. I need to be clear, concise, and to the point. My style allows for my message to be effective without room for interpretation."

Why do you want to work as the chief of staff for this company?

The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's motivation for applying with your company. It also provides insight into the research they completed about your company before the interview. What to look for in an answer:

  • Solid understanding of a chief of staff's responsibilities and duties
  • Prior research and preparedness for the interview
  • Self-awareness of personal motivating factors

Example:

"I'm interested in this position because I'm ready for a new challenge. I know you're a startup company, and this presents specific challenges and opportunities unique to a business's growth. I'm confident my experience and knowledge can benefit your business while providing me with a greater challenge."

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