Management interview questions

At a management job interview, it's hard to predict what you'll be asked, but here are six of the most common management interview questions and how you might answer them

While some recruitment processes include assessment centres and psychometric tests, answering management-specific questions is usually required.

To ensure you don't miss out on a role because you were caught off guard, take some time to draft answers to the following interview questions for managers, supervisors, and team leaders.

What's your management style?

Recruiters are trying to gain insight into how you interact with employees. So, in your answer, don't just describe your style; tell them how it works by referring to real-life examples. Use some of your proudest moments as a team leader or manager to show how your management style leads to success.

Demonstrate awareness and an appreciation of how management styles can differ depending on the work environment and verbalise your ability to be flexible with your management style where needed.

How do you see a manager's role on a team?

This question is an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of professional boundaries. Start by briefly defining what 'management' means to you. Then, using your past experience, demonstrate to employers how you maintain a professional distance while still remaining on good terms with those you manage.

Managers who work too independently risk isolating themselves from their team, but those who are too friendly may undermine their own authority. Illustrate how you strike a balance between these two approaches.

How do you motivate a team?

One approach won't fit all when trying to motivate different team members. When asking this question, recruiters seek an understanding of how different personalities and working styles make up a team.

Give specific examples of how you get to know a team and assess each person's strengths. Explain how you use positive reinforcement and recognition to motivate and encourage employees to achieve company goals.

Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult employee.

Dealing with problematic or underperforming employees is inevitable in any manager's job. This question is designed to uncover how you approach and handle conflict and how effectively you solve problems.

Demonstrate a range of skills, including:

• communication
• listening
• problem solving.

Use the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method to frame your example to ensure you deliver a comprehensive answer. Don't just describe the problem. Instead, explain your action to resolve it and its impact on the employee and the wider team.

If you don't have much professional experience in this area, you could use an example of dealing with a difficult colleague in a part-time job or an underperforming team member on a sports team or university group exercise.

How would your colleagues describe you?

Don't be overly modest, but be cautious of sounding arrogant. Speak about your strengths. If you're a good listener, use an example to back this up. Tell the interviewer about a time you helped a colleague if you're supportive. If you have positive quotes to use or compliments given to you by others, don't be afraid to use them.

If this is your first job straight out of university, use examples from your:

• work experience
• volunteering activities
• weekend or summer jobs.

Describe how you delegate tasks to team members.

Managers and team leaders often need to juggle a hectic workload. Employers ask this question to discover how you handle your responsibilities and how you utilise your team.

Explain how delegation makes you more productive as a manager and how you use the time it frees up. Describe how you delegate according to each team member's strengths and use your organisational skills to ensure tasks are distributed evenly, ensuring fairness and efficiency. Back up this response with an example of when you successfully delegated tasks to team members.

Other frequently asked management interview questions

• How do you make important decisions?
• How do you recognise/reward success?
• Give an example of a time you initiated change.
• Describe one of your failures as a manager.
• How would you manage your team's professional development?
• Give an example of how you work to achieve targets within a tight time frame.
• What has been your most significant success as a manager?
• Give an example of a time you supported a struggling member of your team.
• Tell us about a time when you led by example.
• If you were offered the job, what is the first thing you would change/what strategy would you put in place?

Interview preparation for managers

Preparation is essential for any interview, especially for a management position.

Demonstrate to recruiters that you're the right person for the job before the interview starts by showcasing your skills in:

• organisation
• research
• timekeeping.

Explore the skills for a successful management career.

Also, turn up on time, have everything you need to hand and exhibit knowledge of the company from prior research.

Employers can easily spot a candidate who hasn't done sufficient interview preparation, and if you haven't, it's unlikely you'll be considered for the position. Learn how to avoid the top 5 job interview mistakes.

Setting aside time to read up on the company and focus on giving a good first impression will pay off in the long run. Get more interview tips and discover what questions to ask at an interview.

Find out more

• Search for graduate management jobs.
• Consider management courses.
• Explore the full range of business jobs.