Page 180 - How To Answer Interview Questions (II)

Job Interview Question 99

Will you be out to take my job?

In larger companies, managers always need to be looking for the one who can take their place so that
they can move up. If this is where you are, they might just be checking out your level of ambition. In
this situation, I might answer it with humor: “I’m sure by the time that happens, you’ll be running the
whole company.”

In smaller companies, there might be nowhere for this person to go—so if you want
an in-house promotion, it will mean kicking them out the door. In this situation, you need to reassure
them that you are there to learn and contribute. So say something like:

“Of course not. I’m sure that I’m going to learn a lot from you and that we are going to develop a
great working relationship. As long as I keep getting to learn new things and contribute in a
meaningful way and being rewarded for that, I’m going to feel great about coming to work here with
you every day.”