How To Hire Automotive Executives

The automotive industry is moving faster than ever now, with the rise of the electric car (EV), a car is the most technologically complex piece of technology most people own now.  A vehicle is a complex mix of precision machinery, and high-tech computers to monitor, and technology to control the car.  This now includes autonomous driving capabilities in some models.

This indicates that finding the most qualified candidates is more important than ever before if you are looking to hire automotive industry leaders. Who is current on the implementation of cutting-edge technology, product development, complex research and development, and the management of massive budgets.

What do you need your next automotive executive to do?

The answer to this question is critical because it will help you prioritize the skills and experience your next hire needs.  Do you need someone who can turn around a struggling division?  Are you looking for an expert in electric vehicles to lead your charge into the future?

Perhaps you are looking to fill a brand-new position in your company that has been developed to capitalize on recent developments in the industry.  Regardless of the motivation behind your search for a new employee, you first need to determine what you require from the person you hire.

To accomplish this, you will need to put together a search team.  A group of people who are accountable for determining your company’s requirements for the new hire and selecting the candidate.  This needs to be a group of people to whom the newly appointed executive will report and who they will regularly communicate with.  This will assist you in determining the gaps in your knowledge and the proper requirements for this individual.

Sample questions your selection team should ask:

• What does our leadership team need from this new hire?
• What are the top three qualities this person must bring?
• What will be their primary duties and responsibilities?
• What experience is essential for this role?
• How will their performance be measured?
• What does a good performance look like three months from now?
• What does good performance look like a year from now?
• Have we established KPIs for this position?

The formation of this group will help you achieve alignment on your requirements and in your search. Assisting you in finding better candidates in a shorter amount of time. In addition to this, it will eliminate any biases that may exist and ensure that all of your company’s requirements and knowledge gaps are met by the new hire.