Executive Interview with Lonnie McGowen

Our Executive Leader’s Perspective interview this week is with Lonnie McGowen, Human Resources Manager for Sherwin Williams, a Fortune 500 company which is the largest producer of paints and coatings in the US. 

What is the number one mistake student leaders must avoid when they go in for an interview and start a new job?

 The number one mistake that student leaders must avoid when they go in for an interview and start a new job is not doing their research about the company before the actual interview.  Most often, student leaders come into an interview not knowing the background of the company.  This lack of knowledge about the company causes campus recruiters to be less inclined to hire the student because it shows a lack of concern about the company and their desire for the position.

Some great questions that students can ask themselves about a company before they participate in the interview are:

1)      When was the company they are interviewing for created?

2)      Who started the company they are interviewing for?

3)      Why did the individual start the company they are interviewing for?

4)      What types of roles and duties am I actually interviewing for within the company?

What is the key to obtaining a promotion within a new company? 

There are several keys to getting a promotion in your job.  The first key factor towards obtaining a promotion on the job is being able to get along with everyone.  As an employee of any company, it is important to do your job well and it is vital that you have a good working relationship with your peers, direct reports, and supervisor.  Many times, people have a difficult time climbing up the company ladder because they have damaged relationships.

The second key factor towards obtaining a promotion on the job is past work experience and behavior.  Ultimately, relationships are very important, but your work performance, behavior, and ability to complete your duties and goals in a timely manner can play a huge role in your future with the company.  So, make sure that you do your job well, bring a positive attitude to the workplace, and display great levels of responsibility if you desire to obtain a promotion within a new company.  

As an HR Manager that actually hires student leaders, what are the top leadership skills and experiences you search for in potential candidates? 

There are several key leadership skills that I look for in student leaders, but the first skill  that I search for in potential employees is adaptability.  Essentially, if you can't adapt to the circumstances around you, it will be difficult for you to survive in the doggy dog world of business.  Typically, as a leader or employee within any company, you rarely have a choice in the team members who you work with or the supervisor you will report to. So, if you can't adapt, it will be hard for you to survive any job venture. 

The second key leadership skill that I search for in potential employees is conflict management skills.  This skill set is important because conflicts will always arise in some aspect of your life and leaders who are unable to manage conflict well can lead to hostile work environments, hire turnover rates, and low productivity among employees.  On the other hand, leaders that are able to effectively manage conflict can turn negative situations into positive outcomes and results for the company.  So, as a student leader, make sure you perfect this skill set while you are in college so that you can separate yourself as a leader within a future company or organization.