Can future subordinates interview their future leader?
When we apply for a leadership role, companies use future subordinates to check hard skills of a candidate.
Why don't companies promote a subordinate to a leadership position instead of hiring a person on the side?
Because companies understand that they lack specific experience.
But what does future subordinate check on such an interview when he/she doesn't have required experience?
Each company tries to do crazy things here.
Some companies check minimal skills that a subordinate has.
This looks reasonable but barely works. Because the difference in experience doesn't let an interviewer even understand the answer of a candidate.
An interviewer thinks he got a strange answer and decides the candidate doesn't know the topic. But in reality the candidate gave great answer that closes several questions and shows how much he can help the company.
Some companies check skills in a way a subordinate sees/imagines them (i.e. what if I worked on this position, what would I think important is?)
In the end the company hires not the one closing its needs but the one equally not competent as an interviewer, who wasn't promoted for the same reason.
The only time it worked according to my experience is when hiring manager used subordinate feedback minimally and made his/her own decision.
But hiring manager has to be an expert in this field and it's very rare.
So every time I see future subordinates among interviewers I imagine pain and inadequance of pending interviews 🤷♂️
What is your experience of participating in such interviews?