Interviewing managers take a different skill set than interviewing front line workers. There are different expectations and higher levels of accountability. And managers are also responsible for guiding and shaping the employees who work for them, meaning that a single manager can have a tremendous impact on your company. Here are some interview questions for any management position.
What Was One of Your Toughest, But Most Gratifying, Career Milestones?
This question can provide insight into the manager’s values, goals, and drive. You’ll learn how they handle challenges and what motivates them to keep going. And it can help you assess cultural fit, determining whether the candidate is likely to find inspiration in that particular role.
Talk to Me About a Time When You Had to Achieve a Major Objective with too Few Resources (People, Budget, Etc.)
Today’s managers have to be flexible and able to work with what they have. There is constant pressure on limited resources. So learning about how a candidate has handled these situations in the past can give you valuable insight into whether they are up to the challenge. And which specific situation they choose to describe can also tell you where their priorities lie and how they will likely allocate their resources.
Tell Me How You Handle Promotions (Who/When/Why/How)
Recognizing and developing talent is a very important part of any manager’s job. Asking about how the manager has handled promotions in the past can give you a window into their process for employee development. Ask follow-up interview questions that probe into the specifics of how they decided who to promote and whether they offered continuing support as the employee moved into their new position.
Have You Ever Fired an Employee? What Was the Situation?
Unfortunately, firing is also part of a manager’s job. But they need to tread carefully. You want managers who see firing as a last resort, after multiple attempts to change the employee’s behaviors. Firing can also be legally fraught, so you want someone who keeps good records and documents all offenses and disciplinary actions along the way.
Describe Your Management Style from Both Your Perspective and Your Employees’ Perspective
A great manager is self-aware. They know their strengths and weaknesses and have honed a specific management style. But they are also good at reading people, and understanding how they are perceived. Look for a candidate who can easily describe their own style, including how employees perceive it.
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