Kelli Valade, the CEO of American restaurant chain Denny's, recently revealed how she identifies red flags during job interviews. In a conversation with Fortune, Valade explained that just a few carefully chosen questions can offer deep insight into a candidate’s mindset and preparedness.
One of her key tactics comes at the conclusion of the interview. “What questions do you have for me?” she asks candidates, explaining that this helps her gauge whether the applicant has done their research and is genuinely interested in the role.
Valade shared that she also begins with straightforward questions but follows them up with more reflective ones to better understand a candidate’s strengths and areas for growth. “What would they say makes you most effective at what you do? Typically, candidates are pretty well equipped to answer that question,” she said.
She then moves on to a more challenging question: “Then I ask them, what would make them more effective? Which basically is saying, what are your weaknesses? And there you'd be amazed at how many people can't answer that, or would say, 'I've not thought about it.' And so really what you're saying is, 'I've not thought about my weaknesses,'” she added.
The 55-year-old CEO acknowledged that even she continues to evolve professionally. She credits her success to being open about her shortcomings. It's an attitude she values in her employees as well.
Valade’s professional journey began at the age of 16, working as a hostess at TJ’s Big Boy. She gradually rose through the ranks in human resources, originally aspiring to become a chief people officer. But when offered the role of Chief Operating Officer at Chili’s, she admitted feeling unsure.
“I didn’t think I could do that at the time. I thought, I think you're looking for the wrong person here. I don't know. My first instinct was, I'm not sure I know how to do that,” she recalled.
She also encouraged others, especially women, to challenge those inner doubts. “Push yourself and challenge yourself on why you may not feel like that,” she said.
One of her key tactics comes at the conclusion of the interview. “What questions do you have for me?” she asks candidates, explaining that this helps her gauge whether the applicant has done their research and is genuinely interested in the role.
Valade shared that she also begins with straightforward questions but follows them up with more reflective ones to better understand a candidate’s strengths and areas for growth. “What would they say makes you most effective at what you do? Typically, candidates are pretty well equipped to answer that question,” she said.
She then moves on to a more challenging question: “Then I ask them, what would make them more effective? Which basically is saying, what are your weaknesses? And there you'd be amazed at how many people can't answer that, or would say, 'I've not thought about it.' And so really what you're saying is, 'I've not thought about my weaknesses,'” she added.
The 55-year-old CEO acknowledged that even she continues to evolve professionally. She credits her success to being open about her shortcomings. It's an attitude she values in her employees as well.
Valade’s professional journey began at the age of 16, working as a hostess at TJ’s Big Boy. She gradually rose through the ranks in human resources, originally aspiring to become a chief people officer. But when offered the role of Chief Operating Officer at Chili’s, she admitted feeling unsure.
“I didn’t think I could do that at the time. I thought, I think you're looking for the wrong person here. I don't know. My first instinct was, I'm not sure I know how to do that,” she recalled.
She also encouraged others, especially women, to challenge those inner doubts. “Push yourself and challenge yourself on why you may not feel like that,” she said.
