Interview topic - please present your 90-day plan

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified)
in
Career Management

Hi fellow MT'ers,

I'm wondering if there is any advice around for handling the following interview request.

I have made it through to the second round of interviews (thanks to MT and the Interview series).  I've now been asked back for another interview during which I am to give a short (15 minute) presentation on what would be my 90-day plan.

The role is head of operations with a heavy slant towards continuous improvement (Lean methods)

I have some ideas of what I should be doing during my first 90 days from the casts on this topic.  However, given that the basic recommendation is not to change anything, and the role is all about generating and steering beneficial change, is MT's 90-day plan what an interviewer is hoping to hear?  What should I focus on and what should I leave out?

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks dudes.

Kank.

Submitted by Joseph Beckenbach on Monday February 23rd, 2015 7:43 am

The interviewer is hoping to hear what you intend.  You've already got the kernel down in one sentence:  "the basic recommendation is not to change anything [yet], [for] the role is all about generating and steering beneficial change". Whether that fits what he thinks he needs is outside your control.
MT's 90-day plan has long shown itself a reliable process for the manager to cultivate the relationships, learn the contexts, and understand what results are needed and why.  Smells like Lean, walks like it, thinks like it, produces like it.  Fifteen-minute time limit?  Explain in broad, then dive in where asked for further info, and be ready to provide examples/stories from your own experience which show why you choose this plan.  
May you do well in the interview!

Submitted by Kevin Picton on Monday February 23rd, 2015 2:03 pm

I'm with jrb3
Don't guess.  If you guess wrong and they wanted what your actual plan is, then you are sunk.  If you guess wrong and they wanted a 3rd option, then you are sunk.  If you guess and guess right, you may get the job, but you will have to implement a different 90 day plan that is likely less effective.  If you give them your actual 90 day plan and they don't like it, then you probably don't want to work there anyway and may be dodging a bullet.  
The only sure win is to give them your actual Plan and hope it either matches their ideas or blows them away with its simplicity and brilliance.
Make sure you stress that it is just a plan and you are going to be adaptable to what you find during the 90 days.
Good luck
kev

Submitted by Buzz on Monday March 2nd, 2015 5:06 pm

Hi all,
Thanks for your help.  I followed the above guidance and I believe I presented very well.  If it turns out that they like what they have seen, then I'll be invited back in for round 3 which I have been told is meeting my prospective peers.
Are there any tips for meeting prospective peers?  I'm reviewing casts like

  • Meeting an Executive
  • Meal Interviews
  • The Introduction
  • Small talk before an interview
  • Why do you want to work here
  • Developing Internal Relationships (several parts)
  • Jump starting Internal Customer Relationships
  • Simple behavioural communication queues &
  • Also anything I can find on resolving or dealing with conflict
  • even Feel, Felt, Found

I'm preparing examples from my past that demonstrate team work, especially cross functional and cross departmental collaboration as I suspect that would be a key area of interest to peers.
I am expecting to close with each of them using guidance from the interview series and from 'Why do you want to work here?" casts.
What else is important to consider and prepare for when meeting prospective peers?
Thanks for any help
Kank