7 Common Interview Questions for Managers

Here are a few tips that can put you in the best position for a successful interview for a management position:

1. 1. Research common management interview questions. When it comes to interviews, preparation is key. Research or brainstorm a list of common manager interview questions and draft sample answers. Consider questions you would ask if the roles were reversed. Take a look at the job description to determine the types of questions they might ask to see if you fit the skill set. What makes a manager different from an entry-level employee? What types of responses highlight why you’re perfect for the job?
2. 2. Dress for success. As a job candidate, it’s important to make a great first impression to land the job, which includes wearing the proper attire. Dress for the position you’re applying for so that recruiters can easily picture you in the role. Adhering to the proper dress code is especially important for managerial positions, which are more competitive than standard employee roles and require an extra measure of preparedness, confidence, and professionalism. When choosing what to wear for the interview, aim for the level of formality most associated with similar roles in the profession, which is typically professional business attire.
3. 3. Emphasize your interpersonal skills. Manager positions usually require stronger interpersonal skills than lower-level employees because the role needs to be confident and comfortable building relationships with their team, encouraging high performance, resolving disputes, and offering feedback. Approach the interview as a conversation between you and the hiring manager rather than a stiff set of questions and answers to put yourself at ease and highlight your interpersonal skills.
4. 4. Make a list of specific examples of successes. Before a job interview, take a few minutes to brainstorm specific examples of your success since recruiters almost always ask you to share stories of past experiences that demonstrate particular skills (often called “behavioral interview questions”). However, when interviewing for a management role, the examples you share are even more crucial since recruiters need to know that you are results-driven and have a healthy leadership style before they can put you in charge of a new team.
5. 5. Research. Before any job interview—whether for a managerial or entry-level position—check out the company’s website to find out more about its goals, mission statement, and culture. The interviewer will likely touch on these elements during the interview, and doing research beforehand will demonstrate your preparation skills and interest in the position. Being prepared is especially important when interviewing for a management position because the role requires foresight and organizational skills.
6. 6. Follow up. After the interview, send a brief follow-up email to your interviewer to show that you are engaged and thoughtful. The follow-up email should be brief, just a sentence or two thanking your interviewer for their time and consideration in your job search.

Here are some common interview questions when you’re interviewing for a managerial position:

1. 1. “Tell me about yourself.” A classic question for any position, this getting-to-know-you question aims to assess your qualifications and whether you fit the company culture. Be prepared to give a brief overview—no longer than about 90 seconds—of your professional history and a few fun facts about your hobbies or life outside of work. Aim to provide the interviewer with a sense of your approach to work (and life), career goals and career path, management style, skill set, and passions. When interviewing for a manager position, try to include particular manager competencies in your overview, like communication skills, leadership skills, and decision-making experiences.
2. 2. “Tell me about a time when you resolved a dispute on your team.” Many managers spend a lot of time in conflict resolution, whether between employees or customers, so recruiters want to know that you feel confident handling conflict. Be prepared with a few examples of times when you had to negotiate a difficult situation between employees or customers, including what language you used and how you kept the peace or corrected the issue.
3. 3. “What do you look for in a manager?” Interviewers often ask this question to management candidates to gain a better idea of your overall approach to good management. To answer properly, paint the hiring manager a focused picture of what a good management style looks like to you—including demeanor, approach to motivating, type of leadership skills, and correction tactics.
4. 4. “What was your manager like at your last job?” Interviewers will often ask about your experience with previous managers to get a sense of how you collaborated with authority. Providing a negative response or mentioning your previous manager’s negative qualities is a major red flag for recruiters because it can signify potential interpersonal conflict. Instead, focus on your previous manager’s good qualities when answering this question. If there were major issues, frame them as learning experiences that will inform your future position.
5. 5. “What’s your approach to correcting employee errors?” Managers are responsible for evaluating the performance of their direct reports and making corrections or suggestions to improve each employee’s work capabilities. Recruiters want to know your specific style for giving feedback or constructive criticism so they can decide if you will be a good fit for their company. If this position would be your first time in a manager job, share any experience you’ve had offering feedback to others or share a story in which you received good constructive criticism and how you intend to use that approach in the future.
6. 6. “How do you build team rapport or boost team morale?” Good managers should serve as cheerleaders for their teams, encouraging team members to try their best even when work is challenging. When a hiring manager asks this question, offer specific examples of team-building activities or communications that keep your team’s spirits high, like consistent praise, personal one-on-ones, or periodic office bake-offs.
7. 7. “What’s your approach to delegating tasks?” Managers are usually responsible for delegating tasks to their team, keeping everyone’s workload balanced, and maximizing performance. Describe your approach to dividing the work, including particular programs or methods you used to maintain fairness or evaluate your employees’ strengths and weaknesses.

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