Account Executive Interview Questions to Expect

After 15+ yrs interviewing and hiring at Fortune 500 companies, here's what I know: The difference between good and great candidates isn't talent. It's preparation. Here are the 12 must-prepare questions I've asked or seen being asked in interviews (and how to nail them): 💥 "Tell me about yourself" → Not your life story. Your career movie trailer: Hook, highlights, where you're headed (2 mins max). 💥 "What makes you different?" → Pick 3 strengths that solve their problems (I'll teach you how to find these). 💥 "Your biggest weakness?" → Be real. I've heard every "perfectionist" story. Show self-awareness and growth instead. 💥 "Why us?" → If you can't articulate this clearly, you're not ready. Research isn't optional. 💥 "Tell me about a challenge" → Use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Keep it recent and relevant. 💥"How do you handle mistakes?" → Everyone fails. Winners show ownership and learning. 💥 "Managing multiple priorities?" → Concrete example + your system. Show me your mind works strategically. 💥 "Dealing with conflict?" → Focus on resolution, not drama. Emotional intelligence wins here. 💥 "Ethical decisions?" → Values matter more than outcomes. Pick a story that shows your compass. 💥 "Why leave your current role?" → Growth story, not escape story. Never bash your employer. 💥 "Missing a deadline?" → Ownership + Learning + Prevention. Three-part answer. 💥 "Your greatest strength?" → Match their needs. The job description is your cheat sheet. 🔥 Pro Secret: Record yourself answering these. You'll hear what needs work. The goal isn't memorization. It's authentic confidence. Save this cheat sheet. Your next interview could be tomorrow. 🔁 REPOST to help someone else get hired. 👤 FOLLOW for more practical job search content that works.

Six figure jobs don’t go to the smartest. They go to the most prepared. I’ve seen many smart people get passed over, Simply because they haven’t done their research. 12 interview questions decoded. But not with generic answers. With frameworks that actually work. Here's what separates the top 1%: 1/ "Tell me about yourself" ↳ Most ramble. Don't. Framework: Present-Past-Future Present: "I'm currently leading..." Past: "This started when..." Future: "Which is why I'm excited about..." 2/ "Why work here?" ↳ Skip the surface research Framework: Need-Match-Vision Need: Show you understand their challenges Match: Your relevant experience Vision: Shared future vision 3/ "Why leave your current role?" ↳ Don't complain. Show growth. Framework: Grow-Gap-Goals Grow: "I've learned [skills]..." Gap: "But I want more growth in [new skills].." Goals: "I think I can get that here because..." 4/ "What sets you apart?" ↳ Don't list. Tell stories. Framework: Proof-Process-Potential Proof: Results delivered Process: Your unique superpowers Potential: Impact you can have in new biz 5/ "What are your weaknesses?" ↳ Be strategic, not cliché Framework: Face-Fix-Forward Face: "Here's a real challenge I had..." Fix: "So I built this system..." Forward: "Now I help others avoid this by..." 6/ "Where do you see yourself in 2 years?" ↳ Show ambition + reality Framework: Impact-Learn-Grow Impact: "Making X better for the team" Learn: "Mastering Y skills" Grow: "Ready for Z responsibilities" 7/ "Tell me about a failure" ↳ Show ownership + learning Framework: Own-Learn-Prevent Own: "Here's what went wrong" Learn: "This taught me to..." Prevent: "Now I always..." 8/ "How do you handle pressure?" ↳ Skip the "I stay calm" cliché Framework: Plan-Act-Adapt Plan: "I create weekly priorities" Act: "Focus on one key task" Adapt: "Adjust based on urgency" 9/ "Why should we hire you?" ↳ Connect dots, don't sell Framework: Problem-Proof-Potential Problem: Their key challenge Proof: Your track record on that Potential: Your potential impact 10/ "Questions for us?" ↳ Show strategic thinking Framework: Role-Team-Growth Role: "How do you measure success?" Team: "What makes top performers here?" Growth: "Where's the company heading?" 11/ "Salary expectations?" ↳ Show research-backed confidence Framework: Research-Value-Range Research: Your market data (Glassdoor) Value: Your proof of impact Range: Consider "reasonable" offers in-line with market norms 12/ "Decision-making process?" ↳ Show balanced judgment Framework: Facts-Team-Act Facts: "First I gather data on..." Team: "Then align with stakeholders..." Act: "Finally, I commit and communicate" Save this. Use the frameworks. Success leaves clues. P.S. What is your top tip for preparing for interviews? — Frameworks Inspired by Dr. Miro Bada — ♻️ Repost to help others nail their next interview ➕ Follow me (Will McTighe) for more like this

We have been testing and refining interview questions with our clients for several years. Here are 15 that penetrate to the core of several critical performance areas and are extremely difficult to dodge, game, or fake: 1. We all have things about us that make it hard for other people to work with us. What makes it hard to work with you? (Collaboration). 2. How do you approach a complicated problem that you have never seen before? (Critical thinking and problem framing). 3. Tell me about a time when you had to go with your gut instinct and intuition to make a hard choice under pressure? (Judgment, responding to uncertainty and ambiguity, synthesis, confidence). 4. Tell me about an important skill you have developed on your own? (Self-directed learning agility). 5. Please share a specific experience that shows you have your ego under control? (Hubris/humility). 6. What was the last idea or suggestion you presented to your organization that was rejected or accepted? What happened? (Influence, courage, and innovation). 7. When was the last time you got some tough feedback? What did you do? (Coachability and tolerance for candor). 8. Give me an example of a time when priorities suddenly shifted. What did you do to respond in that situation? (Adaptability and resilience). 9. What’s the most pressing question you are asking yourself right now in your role and don’t have an answer for? (Curiosity, mental tenacity, and problem solving). 10. When was the last time you failed to act quickly enough? What happened? (Strategic thinking, initiative, urgency, and confidence). 11. Tell me about a time in your professional life when you failed to meet objectives you had committed to. What did you do? (Ownership, accountability). 12. What would your peers, direct reports, and manager say about you? How would they describe your patterns? (Self-awareness) 13. Can you identify an area of performance where you personally have set the standard? (Drive, value, performance). 14. Give me an example of a time when you didn’t do the best work of which you are capable. (Self-reflection and accountability). 15. Tell me about the little things you do to ensure that you are acting ethically and with integrity. How do you sweat the small stuff? (Ethics and integrity). The interview is typically the culminating stage of the hiring process. Everything else–resumes, references, assessments, portfolios, networks and connections–becomes secondary support. The precious few questions you choose to ask in the interview will shape the entire experience. Sharp or blunt, they are the instruments that draw out the information you will likely use to make your hiring decision. #hiring #interviewing #culture