Five common C-suite interview mistakes

Matthew Siegel, a principal in Korn Ferry's executive search practice, says even experienced leaders often stumble in interviews. He interviews candidates for top roles at a wide range of companies and repeatedly sees the same missteps that weaken otherwise strong applications.

Executives frequently just recite their résumés instead of explaining the human motivations behind career moves; Siegel says storytelling with an emotional component makes a chronology come alive. Others rush into technical detail to prove expertise, which can make them read as subject-matter experts rather than strategic leaders able to advise a CEO or board.

Some candidates try to gloss over gaps in their background instead of acknowledging them; Siegel recalls a CEO candidate who flagged his own shortcoming, which showed preparation and self-awareness. Senior leaders also often compress formative early roles into a line on a résumé, hiding experiences—such as leading teams in high-pressure operations—that help explain how they developed as leaders.

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