6 Key Factors in Determining the Best Account Director

If someone has been in account management for many years, it's safe to say that they "know how to do account management". So, why even bother with the interview process? Wouldn't it just be easier to say, "Hi, nice to meet you. You've done this for 10 years already, come do it for us." If only it were that simple.

How do you interview for personality? How can you tell the fakers from the makers? This is someone who you'll depend on day in and day out internally, but also the face of your business.

You're looking for a few key factors in your decision to move to the next step in the process:

1. Are they a positive person?

Before you get into the nitty gritty of an interview, ask them how their day has been. This should put them at ease and you'll get some insight into how they would interact with a client that they've just met.

2. Can they follow simple instructions?

A phone interview is about getting them talking, not the other way around. Interviews aren't something these candidates do on a regular basis, so you need to tell them what you're hoping to get out of your line of questioning.

3. Can they tell a story?

If a candidate cannot, in the simplest of terms, explain to you what they do, then explaining what the creative team is doing to your client is really going to be a challenge.

4. Are they self-aware?

What are your strengths and weaknesses are popular interview questions for a reason, they give someone the opportunity to give you the perspective on how they view who they are and how they work.

5. Do they understand who they're answering to?

Ask about the structure of communication they've had in past roles. This will give you a look into how much responsibility that they had and what decisions they made.

6. What do they value?

Finding out what's important to them in their next role helps give you truer insight into why they might be leaving their current one.