If you’ve been brought in to innovate, or get the sense that this role is about making changes, you may be asked to highlight some areas which are in need of an overhaul.
But be cautious here – it’s a bit of a loaded question.
No one likes a know-it-all, or someone who will come in and disregard the opinions of their new co-workers. So make sure when you suggest areas for improvement, you don’t come across as high-handed. Instead, stress consultation and the need for information gathering before committing to any of your initial ideas.
Words like evolve, examine, contribute and develop can be more effective than change, overhaul, transform or fix . Initiative is a key skill for managers, so show that you can bring new ideas to the table and that you’ve already thought about what your first priorities might be. The 30-60-90 day plan is a good structure for answering this question.
But do so in a way that doesn’t look like you’re trying to reinvent the wheel on day one.
Right answer: ‘After getting to know my new team, my first priority will first be on meeting key stakeholders and understanding their priorities. On a tactical level, in my first month I’d plan to do a really deep dive into your marketing strategy. I think I can help evolve what you’re doing from a paid social perspective in particular, using some of the insights and partnerships that I formed during my previous role. I’ve noticed that you aren’t utilising certain channels, and I can’t see any examples of using influencer content to help promote the brand, so there’s definitely a real opportunity here to help the business grow.’