As part of my role in L&D, I frequently collaborate with HR and Sales heads to interview candidates for positions like line sales managers. Recently, I had an interview experience that I felt compelled to share.
We were interviewing for a 1st Line Manager (FLM) position. The candidate had 15 years of industry experience, with 9 of those years spent in a 1st Line Manager role. During my 15-minute conversation, I aimed to assess his competency in team development and customer centricity. However, his responses mainly revolved around highlighting the qualities of his team members, rather than his own contributions to their growth.
This interaction led me to reflect on a broader issue: Are we, as senior leaders in the industry, perhaps not setting clear enough expectations for the younger generation regarding their roles and responsibilities? I’ve encountered many candidates who, despite spending a significant amount of time in the industry, seem to lack focus on team development. There also appears to be confusion between the roles of an FLM and a representative.
I felt it was worth raising this point, and I would appreciate your thoughts on it.