The 6 Types of NED Interview Questions you should expect

Every NED interview is different. Some are very formal with the entire board, whilst others are more relaxed in a coffee shop with just the Chair or a recruiting consultant. Regardless of what manner your board interview will take, preparation is of utmost importance. For most, the board interview is probably the most stressful part of the NED appointment process. By preparing for the six types of NED interview questions, you can reduce your anxiety significantly.

Preparing for your NED Interview

First, you must know why you are valuable to the board, your Unique Selling Proposition (USP), and why you should be appointed. This is essentially your Board or NED profile.

Having confidence and clarity here means you can guide the interviewers towards the message you want to deliver. This does not mean dodging their questions you don’t think are relevant or coming across as arrogant. It means ensuring that the interviewers hear and understand your value before leaving the interview.

Secondly, you must be prepared with three or four examples of success. Ideally, they will align with the five core elements that most boards look for in a successful candidate and what this particular board is looking for.

Now, you are ready to consider and prepare your answers for the types of questions you will likely be asked.

6 Types of NED Interview Questions

There are generally half a dozen types of questions you will be asked in an NED interview. In no particular order, they will be:

1. General questions about you, your background, motivations for the role, and the universal question of why you want this role.
2. Questions about your governance style – What sort of non-executive are you? What is your style of interaction with the board and Chair?
3. Questions about your skills and commercial acumen and why they are relevant at board-level.
4. Questions about the research you have done in preparation for the interview by demonstrating your understanding of what they do, why they do it and the challenges they face.
5. Administration questions covering the remuneration structure, the terms of NED appointment and the next steps.
6. Finally, they will likely allow you to ask questions of your own.

Following is my advice and guidance on responding to each type of NED interview question.

General Opening Questions

My standard opening question to all NED candidates is, “Can you briefly tell us a little about yourself and what synergies exist between your current or past experience and what this board requires?”

It seems relatively easy to respond to; however, I am regularly surprised by how many people tell me their entire background as if I have not read their NED CV. This question invites you to tell me precisely why you should be appointed to this NED role. It is a chance to apply your research and articulate why your skills, experience, and passion make you the perfect candidate.

You must get this opening question right by demonstrating that this NED opportunity is something you are passionate about and that your skills and experience mean that you can contribute effectively. If you did your research, this should be easy to do.

Governance Style Questions

There are lots of questions you could be asked here. However, the underlying question often is, “How are you going to interact with the Chair, other NEDs, plus internal and external stakeholders?. ”With this question, they really want to know whether you are potentially going to risk the reputation of the organisation or the Chair. Will you add value to the decision-making processes of the board? Or go off-kilter with the way you perform with the executive team or other NEDs?

In all governance-related questions, my advice is to tread carefully and always err on the side of caution for the Chair—emphasise a desire to be led by them. Having said that, if you have a strong opinion on a matter, you should speak your mind, but with the associated risks being known.

Executive Skills and Commercial Acumen

Your answers to the opening questions and pitch should have somewhat answered these questions. Another way to address these types of questions is to be clear about your value at board level.

Here, the question is not about whether your skills are appropriate—you would not be in the interview if they weren’t. Instead, the question and your subsequent response will likely focus on how your skills and experience are relevant to the board and this NED role. This is where you demonstrate your intent to pivot your skills at this level and within a team decision-making environment.

Questions About the Organisation

Because you have conducted your research, these questions should be easy to answer, even though they may be framed in various ways. When responding to them, you must reference your in-person research.

This approach is incredibly effective because most other candidates cannot do it, providing you the advantage of standing out from others being interviewed.

Administrative Questions

Most administrative questions focus on managing the risk of your potential NED appointment or avoiding a failed appointment. My favourite question here is, “If offered the role, would you accept it?”.

You may also be asked questions about remuneration expectations and possible conflicts of interest. The first is less likely to occur in a NED context. However, the latter could have significant implications for the board, so you should be prepared should the question arise.

Conflict of interest needs to be addressed. If you have any concerns not discussed during the NED interview, you must address them with the Chair should an appointment be offered.

The Opportunity to Ask Questions

Towards the end of the interview, you will likely be encouraged to ask any questions. In most cases, NED candidates feel obliged to ask something. However, my experience is that when questions are asked due to a perceived obligation, they add very little to the value. You risk asking questions the interviewees believe you should know and jeopardise your performance.

My advice here is not to ask questions—yet. If you have done your research, then it is unlikely that you have any quality questions to ask that you don’t already know the answers to. If you are unsure of something, you can ask for clarification if offered the NED role.

In Summary

When preparing for a NED interview, you must be aware of the types of questions you might encounter. By following these guidelines and preparing thoroughly, you can approach NED interviews with confidence and present yourself as a qualified and dedicated candidate. Remember to leverage your research, provide relevant examples, and demonstrate your commitment to contributing to the organisation’s success.

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