Denny’s CEO Reveals Interview Red Flags Identifying Serious Candidates

Kelli Valade, CEO of Denny's, shared key insights into her hiring process, emphasizing the importance of candidates demonstrating preparation, self-awareness, and humility during interviews. She particularly values candidates who ask thoughtful questions at the end of the interview, as it signals genuine interest and homework done on the role. Valade also probes into candidates’ strengths and weaknesses by asking what makes them effective and what could improve their effectiveness, noting many struggle to acknowledge their weaknesses. She attributes her own leadership success to embracing personal growth and encourages the same openness in potential hires. Valade’s career began at 16 as a hostess and evolved through human resources to leadership roles, including overcoming self-doubt when promoted to COO at Chili’s. Her approach highlights the importance of honest self-reflection and thoughtful inquiry for standing out in today’s competitive job market.