Interview questions for managers

Interview questions for managers. Successful managers possess great interpersonal skills and the ability to lead people with confidence. When you interview for a management role, you will almost certainly be asked questions about your abilities to interact with and lead a team.

Examples of manager interview questions and responses

When interviewing for a management role, it is critical to promote oneself as a candidate who collaborates well with others, respects the corporate culture, and correctly allocates work. If you are asked to speak about an experience, keep the STAR approach in mind:

• Situation: Briefly describe a problem you encountered in a good, constructive manner.
• Task: Describe your position in the circumstance.
• Action: Describe what you did to remedy or address the issue.
• Result: Describe what you learnt and how your actions benefited your workplace.

The STAR method enables you to substantiate your responses with personal examples that demonstrate your managing abilities. The examples provided in this article explain how to employ this strategy to craft captivating, authentic responses.

1. Describe a situation when you needed to handle a tough employee.

Managing personnel is a critical aspect of a managerial position. A solid response to this question demonstrates that you understand the importance of prioritizing communication and problem-solving abilities for and with your team. Select an example that displays your interest in actively listening to your team members, resolving conflict, and increasing productivity when responding to this question.

Example answer: "In my previous employment, one of my team members routinely missed deadlines, which jeopardized our ability to meet our monthly targets. I organized a meeting with him to ascertain his assessment of his job performance. I discovered that he was having difficulty learning how to utilize our new program, and so I scheduled a training session for him. As a result, he swiftly boosted his output and gained confidence in approaching others for assistance."

Related: Thank you email after interview

2. What criteria do you use to determine success?

Setting objectives and monitoring progress is a critical managerial responsibility. This question demonstrates to the interviewer how you define, set, and achieve goals. It is advisable to explain your attitude toward collective accomplishment in your response rather than focusing exclusively on personal objectives.

Example answer: "Just as I create manageable objectives for myself, I strive to track my team's progress toward a larger objective by establishing and celebrating little milestones. In my previous work, I oversaw a marketing campaign that required each member of the team to complete many projects each week. I met with my team regularly to ensure I was aware of any hurdles keeping them from accomplishing their objectives, and we completed the campaign above and above the client's expectations."

Related: Job interview questions

3. How would you characterize your leadership style?

This question allows you to define your management style and explain why you feel it is successful. Bear in mind that your response should be based on actual instances of how your unique approach has produced outcomes.

Example answer: "While I engage often with my team to measure progress toward our objective and to ensure we meet deadlines, I empower them to design and accomplish their daily agendas and duties without micromanagement." When I supervised a 15-person search engine optimization team, I discovered that when I made myself available to answer questions and give support while allowing them to work freely, everyone performed at their best."

Related: Interview tips

4. How do you assign tasks?

When managing, the ability to determine which team member is most suited for a certain task is critical. Demonstrate to the interviewer how you identify your team's strengths and distribute responsibilities properly in your response.

Example answer: "I begin by identifying my team members' particular skills. Once I've conceptualized the group as a network of individuals, I'll be able to distribute jobs to create an efficient team. In my previous employment, I met monthly with each member of my department to discuss their accomplishments, any challenges they were encountering, and any prospects they desired to explore. One employee felt as though her abilities were underutilized. I assigned her some more difficult tasks, and as a result, our entire department's productivity rose."

Related: Final interview questions

5. What methods do you use to inspire your team?

Motivation in the workplace can contribute to increased productivity. As a manager, it is critical to assist your team members in remaining motivated, especially during times of low morale. Consider instances of how you motivated your team through difficult times while answering this question.

Example answer: "Because I realize that various people react to different types of motivation, I make an effort to inspire my staff in the manner in which they like." In my previous role as Creative Director, one team member expressed a preference for frequent positive reinforcement, while another desired critical feedback on her work. When our team was under extreme production pressure, I provided the necessary incentive, and both workers continually produced high-quality work."

Related: Phone interview tips

6. How do you resolve team conflict?

Conflict is unavoidable in the workplace. A competent manager, on the other hand, understands how to deal with difficult situations like these in ways that strengthen the team and enhance the workplace. This question provides a chance for you to recount an instance when you resolved team conflict.

Example answer: "When I managed a content production team, two workers miscommunicated about which assignments they needed to accomplish, resulting in a significant portion of our project being left incomplete by the deadline. This resulted in a conflict between the employees, as each team member felt they had carried out their assigned tasks accurately. I analyzed their email and discovered that they had both misinterpreted their respective duties in this endeavor. I distributed the remaining work to each employee according to their availability, and we completed the campaign as promptly as feasible for the customer. The three of us collaborated on a new task delegation procedure to ensure that the issue did not recur in the future."

Related: Preparing for an interview

Management interview questions to ask

Hiring managers who are looking to hire a manager could use these common manager interview questions for inspiration. Use these questions to assist in filling a management position:

• What are your leadership qualities?
• How would you describe your leadership skills?
• What management skills are essential to this job?
• How would you delegate tasks to an underperforming employee?
• Tell me about a time that you demonstrated leadership to your team.
• What managerial skills can you bring to the table?
• What's your general leadership experience?
• How would you collaborate with a sales team?
• Why is company culture important to you?
• How would you collaborate with a project manager?
• How would you achieve a positive outcome for the team?
• What are your personal goals as a manager?
• How would you provide positive feedback to an employee?
• What's one vital function of a manager position?
• How are communication skills important in the management process?
• How do you handle diverse personalities on the job?
• Can you tell me your management thought process?
• How would you ensure that constructive feedback was provided to your team?
• Tell me about your decision-making process.

Related interview questions resources

• Tough Interview Questions
• Final Interview Questions
• Interview Questions to Ask
• Common Interview Questions and Answers
• Third Interview Questions
• Interview Questions for Managers

Favorite Resources

Our favorite resources are included below.

Job interview resources

• Common Interview Questions by Marquette University
• Prepare for Behavioral Interview Questions by Marquette University
• Preparing for Job Interviews by the University of Kansas
• Mock Interview Handbook by CSUCI
• Interview Guidebook by Lebanon Valley College

Resume and cover letter resources

• Writing a Resume and Cover Letter by USC
• Resume Writing Tips by the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Resume and Cover Letter Guide by Harvard University

Job search resources

• Building and Engaging Your Network by UC Berkeley
• Career Ready Assessment by UC Berkeley

Interview Question and Answer Guide (PDF)

Download our full interview preparation guide. Complete with common interview questions and example answers. Free download. No email required.

Download PDF