In her decades-long career, Cristina Mancini has been a leader in multiple organizations.
She spent more than 13 years at 20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox) and rose to the rank of executive vice president. She then spent more than five years at Salesforce where she eventually served as chief engagement officer. Since fall 2023, she’s been the CEO of nonprofit Black Girls Code.
As such, Mancini has had many opportunities to interview people for open roles.
Her No. 1 interview question for job candidates: “If they were building their dream job, how would they rewrite the job description?” she told CNBC Make It at the Fast Company Innovation Festival.
Here’s why.
‘People are used to just answering rote questions’
To begin with, this question gives Mancini a window into a candidate’s critical thinking skills.
“People are used to just answering rote questions,” she said. Because this question is atypical, it forces candidates to come up with a new answer instead of just leaning into a general job interview script they might have memorized.
It also lets her see “how they would approach the job,” she said. What would be important to them? What would they want to lead with?
When they respond, “I want the honest answer,” she says. “I’m not a savant. I don’t know all the answers to everything.” But having a candidate with a strong creative mind tell her what’s missing gives her a sense of what they might see that she doesn’t.
‘Outside perspective is really important’
A candidate’s answer to this question can also give Mancini a fresh perspective on her company.
“Once you’re in an organization for a long time,” she said, “you can start missing the trees for the forest. And so outside perspective is really important.”
Ultimately, “I like to hire people who bring themselves and their ideas and their experience to work,” she says, “not just execute what I’m saying. Otherwise, I would just hire a bunch of coordinators.”
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