Securing a NED Interview
When seeking to secure an interview for a Non-Executive Director position, there are several steps you need to take in order to increase your chances of securing that elusive interview. This month’s blog offers some initial insight into some areas for consideration when aiming to get an interview.
So, how do you get a NED interview? Here are my recommended steps:
1. Decide what type of appointment and sector you want the appointment in
This decision should take into account some of the following:
a. Do you want a paid appointment or are you willing to undertake a voluntary role? A voluntary role may tie in with a particular charitable cause that you feel strongly about. If you are seeking a paid appointment, you will need to decide what level of remuneration you want to receive. Payment for NED roles can begin at a few thousand pounds per annum and can be in excess of £60,000 per annum for public appointments and well over £100,000 in the private sector. Payment will depend on experience and suitability for the advertised role so take that into account when making this decision, remaining realistic about what you can achieve. Don’t rule out advisory committees or government appointments when considering where to apply.
b. Determine where you can contribute your expertise. Do you have knowledge in housing, health, education or sport? Or maybe business, criminal justice, the public sector or civil service is your background? If you have multiple areas of expertise, you need to decide which area your application will focus on and specifically what area you would want to contribute your specialist skills to. If you have generalist skills such as law or finance that can be applied in any sector, you will have more choice when selecting a sector but it is your overall contribution that will be valued for by any board that you sit on. Also be mindful that while you may work in a specific sector, you may have transferable skills that organisations could require on their board.
c. Does an NED appointment offer you the opportunity to try something different? Is there an area of interest you have outside of work that you can contribute to? Please bear in mind that you will need to have the skills required by the board, but do feel able to move outside of your sector.
2. Know where to search for appointments
I covered aspects of where to search for appointments in ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of Board Appointments’ blog I wrote earlier this year. I offer an updated reminder here of some of the things to consider when searching.
a. Job listings in the national press and sector specific publications such as the Guardian, The Sunday Times or Inside Housing, Governance + Compliance Magazine.
b. Websites including:
4. www.publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.uk which lists vacancies in public office which you can filter by department. Appointments listed on this site include the following bodies and departments: Companies House, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence, HM Treasury, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Department for Business, Innovation & Skills and Department for Culture, Media & Sport.
c. Member Based Organisations – Examples include the Whitehall and Industry Group, nonexecutivedirectors.com, your local Chambers of Commerce and Women on Boards.
d. Networking – the importance of which I cannot stress. This can be formal or informal. Networking not only raises your profile but also helps you to meet new people from different backgrounds and sectors.
3. Update your CV and Experience Examples
A CV tailored specifically for the position you are seeking should accompany each potential application. If a CV is not required, then examples used on the application form should also be specific to the role.
When completing application forms, ensure that you don’t only list what you have done but include details of your experience in doing it – so how you did it and what the outcomes were where the forms permit. This demonstrates to organisations that you have experience rather than just the knowledge of a particular issue. Collate case studies and examples of how you have made an impact as a non-exec, where you have challenged the executive or brought about change.
You must ensure the CV is up to date! Experience from the last ten years is the best to include but where relevant, other notable experience and achievements should be listed.
4. Make applications!
Now it’s time for action. You must ensure that you allocate sufficient time to complete the applications as this will be discernible by those who read it and can make the difference between you gaining an interview or not. Whenever I speak to delegates of my EBM programmes that have been successful in securing interviews they describe to me a disciplined, regular and methodical approach to making applications. You must set time aside to send in as many applications as necessary for the type of appointment you are looking for. Some appointments in the voluntary sector don’t seem to get any applications whilst others will get 50 to 100 applications.
Ensure you read the advert, role description and any other supporting information about the position thoroughly. When completing/updating your CV, ensure you cover points detailed in these documents to demonstrate you meet the criteria. Here, being specific is the key!
So, there you have it, the ‘How To’ of getting a NED interview! You can also always use #AskKarl on Twitter (@KGgovernance) to ask any further questions you may have.
Until next time…
