Resources
Post a Job
 Special Offer 

Jumpstart your hiring with a $75 credit to sponsor your first job.*

Sponsored Jobs are 2.6x times faster to first hire than non-sponsored jobs.**
  • Attract the talent you’re looking for
  • Get more visibility in search results
  • Appear to more candidates longer
*The $75 Sponsored Job credit offer is only available for new accounts in the US that post a job and expires one year after account creation. Upon expiration of the credit, users are charged based on Sponsored Job budget. Terms, conditions, and quality standards apply **Indeed data, based on median United States, Q2 2023

Chief of Staff Interview Questions

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team

Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Chief of Staff interview questions and answers.

  1. Can you describe a situation that tested your ethics? See answer
  2. What process do you follow when evaluating productivity? See answer
  3. How has your academic background prepared you for a Chief of Staff position? See answer
  4. How do you stay up to date with business best practices? See answer
  5. What types of projects do you have experience leading? See answer
  6. What qualities do you look for in key leadership positions when hiring? See answer
  7. Can you describe your leadership style? See answer
  8. What’s your most important role as Chief of Staff?
  9. What’s the most essential skill as Chief of Staff?
  10. Can you describe a time when you had to organize a diverse group of staff to accomplish a goal?
  11. How do you motivate your staff to perform at a high level?
  12. How do you communicate the company’s goals to various departments and key positions?
  13. Can you describe your communication style?
  14. Why do you want to work as the Chief of Staff for this company?
  15. What’s your experience with strategic planning?
  16. In your opinion, what’s the most difficult part of being a Chief of Staff?
  17. What do you think are the optimal methods for hiring the best talent?
  18. How do you resolve company problems or conflicts that impact many employees?
  19. How do you handle conflict within the Executive team?
  20. Do you have any experience coaching or mentoring employees?
Show more questions Show fewer questions

Hire your next Chief of Staff today.

Post a job

Hire your next Chief of Staff today.

Post a job
Optimize Your Interviews
Use our toolkit to optimize your interview process, improve your hiring decisions and enhance the candidate experience.
Get the Toolkit

10 Chief of Staff Interview Questions and Answers

What's your most important role as Chief of Staff?

A successful Chief of Staff understands their position within the organizational structure. This question evaluates the candidate's familiarity with the full scope of a Chief of Staff's duties and responsibilities. What to look for in an answer:

  • Awareness of what a Chief of Staff does and their daily tasks
  • Ability to perform high-quality work within a busy executive environment
  • Ability to prioritize tasks and stay flexible to the needs of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Example:

"The most important role of a Chief of Staff is to act as a trusted confidant of the CEO. I must balance providing leadership for the company and helping the CEO with their tasks."

What's the most essential skill as Chief of Staff?

A successful Chief of Staff possesses many skills and needs a lot of experience. This question's goal is to determine the candidate's opinion of a Chief of Staff's most essential skills. What to look for in an answer:

  • Communication skills to explain their opinion
  • Understanding of a Chief of Staff's duties and responsibilities
  • Knowledge of critical skills and abilities to be proficient in the role
Example:

"If I had to choose just one skill for a successful Chief of Staff, I would say communication is paramount. If they can communicate effectively, they can motivate staff, express the CEO's goals and make solid decisions based on analysis."

Can you describe a situation that tested your ethics?

A Chief of Staff is in an executive-level position and can be professionally and ethically challenging. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's response to a compromising situation. What to look for in an answer:

  • Solid moral and ethical standards
  • Critical thinking and analytical skills
  • A relevant example from a previous role
Example:

"One example I can remember is being urged to complete a project faster by cutting corners. This is a common occurrence when profits are at stake. However, I'm uncomfortable compromising my ethics and quality to accomplish something more quickly. Instead, I reallocated some resources to ensure we completed the project on time and to the highest standard."

What process do you follow when evaluating productivity?

A Chief of Staff typically oversees the company's various departments and reports on productivity and efficiency. The question evaluates the candidate's experience in analyzing key performance indicators. Here's what to look for in an answer:

  • Solid foundational knowledge of business best practices
  • Ability to analyze data and provide recommendations
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Example:

"In my previous position, I reviewed key performance metrics (KPIs) from all departments weekly. I follow a process of reviewing the data and analyzing it against the history to spot trends. Doing this weekly allows me to keep track of patterns and implement changes quickly."

How has your academic background prepared you for a Chief of Staff position?

Depending on your company, you may require specific education and training for the position. This question aims to determine the candidate's academic background and how it has prepared them for this role. What to look for in an answer:

  • Completion of company-specific educational requirements, such as a bachelor's degree
  • Ability to adapt experience to the benefit of the current situation
  • Communication skills to explain their educational history
Example:

"After completing my bachelor's degree in business administration, I took what I learned and applied it immediately in my career. For example, learning negotiation skills, best practices when hiring and effective leadership skills provided me with a strong foundation to develop my experience."

How do you stay up to date with business best practices?

A successful Chief of Staff needs to stay current with business and industry trends and updates in best practices. This question helps determine the candidate's process for staying current with their knowledge and professional development. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interest and enthusiasm for professional development
  • Interpersonal skills to network and develop professional relationships
  • Ability to adapt experiences to their current situation
Example:

"I learned early in my career to stay involved in learning and networking. I'm part of several online professional groups that hold monthly networking events with guest speakers. I also commit to at least one conference per year."

What types of projects do you have experience leading?

Because a Chief of Staff implements the CEO's vision and goals, they typically spearhead special projects within the company. The purpose of the question is to determine the candidate's experience in leading and implementing specific projects, such as IT or training. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to adapt experience to new projects
  • Organizational and communication skills to develop, implement and manage large-scale projects
  • Interpersonal and leadership skills to provide direction
Example:

"Most of my experience leading projects within a Chief of Staff position was with IT and organizational restructuring. For example, I worked on a project to integrate IT into the service processes seamlessly. I also worked on a corporate restructuring project that was a three-year process."

What qualities do you look for in key leadership positions when hiring?

A Chief of Staff takes part in the hiring process for critical positions within the organization. This question aims to evaluate the candidate's process for screening and interviewing potential employees. What to look for in an answer:

  • Critical thinking and analytical skills to hire qualified employees
  • Communication skills to ask practical questions to evaluate candidates
  • Interpersonal skills to build rapport and assess a candidate's characteristics
Example:

"When hiring new employees for key leadership positions, a candidate's experience is highly important. However, I also look for qualities that represent the company's values. For example, if a core value of the company is communication, I'll look for that ability in a candidate."

Can you describe a time you had to organize a diverse group of staff to accomplish a goal?

A successful Chief of Staff can unite people to rally for a common goal. The purpose of the question is to evaluate the candidate's ability to effectively lead a team of people from diverse backgrounds. What to look for in an answer:

  • Communication skills to deliver the vision of the company
  • Interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence to understand what motivates individuals
  • Project management skills to organize and manage a project effectively
Example:

"In my previous position, diversity and inclusion were core values held by the executive and company. So, when undertaking a new initiative or project, the individuals selected were chosen for their qualifications and the unique perspectives they brought to the goal."

Can you describe your leadership style?

Each individual has their own style of leadership that develops with experience. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's leadership qualities. What to look for in an answer:

  • Communication skills
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Ability to develop and motivate individuals
Example:

"I would describe my leadership style as collaborative and mentoring. I believe in hiring the best people for the right positions and trusting them to do their jobs without micromanaging. My job as a leader is to provide a clear direction and offer guidance and mentorship."

Optimize Your Interviews
Use our toolkit to optimize your interview process, improve your hiring decisions and enhance the candidate experience.
Get the Toolkit

A group of five people in a modern office setting, two of them appear to be giving a presentation while the other two are seated at a wooden conference table with laptops and a coffee cup in front of them. They all seem engaged in a discussion. The room has a bright atmosphere with natural light streaming in from the side window.

Hire your next Chief of Staff today.

Post a job

Explore Interview Questions by Title & Skill

No search results found

    Related Articles

    10 Questions for an Internal Interview
    Read article
    Interview Scoring Sheet Guide (With Template)
    Read article
    The Recruitment Process: How to Attract, Hire and Onboard Top Talent
    Read article