Management associate interview questions

Management Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

You’ve got your eyes set on a job in management. You’re ready for the challenge, the responsibility, and a higher paycheck.

Management positions are typically reserved for senior professionals who have some on-the-job experience and training in leading others. That’s because this is a key role, and your job is to ensure that your team meets goals.

If you really think you’re ready, then we’re here to help you prepare for your management job interview.

Need help writing a management resume that gets more interviews? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 10+ resume templates and create your resume here.

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOW

Sample resume made with our builder—See more templates and create your resume here.

One of users, Diana, had this to say:

I was guided on how to make a detailed and professional resume on Zippia. I was able to download it with unlimited access to all features.

Preparing for a Management Job Interview

It is rare for a management position to go to someone who is just out of school. Most hiring managers want to see candidates who have some job experience and know how to manage a team.

This also means that they have a pretty high level of confidence in their ability to do the job. To convey this, you’ll need to do the following:

• Be self-assured. If you’re not quite there yet, talk yourself up beforehand so you are ready to answer questions confidently and with conviction.

• Understand the position. Research the position as thoroughly as possible and research the company. There are a lot of online reviews that can give you insight into the company’s culture, mindset, and philosophy regarding management. Knowing this can help you field questions.

• Dress for the job you want. You’ve heard the statement, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” This couldn’t be more true than when you’re interviewing for a management job. Even if the job would have you working on a factory floor in jeans, you want to show up at that interview dressed in your best.

• Bring supporting documentation. If you have any documentation that will support your case, bring it with you (or email it beforehand). Some managers are responsible for safety, financial goals, reorganization, etc. Sharing how you succeeded in doing this in the past can help you get your dream job.

• Be ready for the management questions. We’ll give you some of the most common management questions below so you can prepare and have answers in mind.

• Ask questions. Every job interviewer will ask you if you have any questions, typically at the end of the interview. It’s always a good idea to have a question or two prepared. This shows that you’re really interested in the position and serious about picturing yourself in that role.

  This is even more crucial if you’re applying for a position in management. They expect you to step in and be in charge, so you’re going to need a lot of information to do that.

10 Common Management Interview Questions

Now, it’s time to consider the questions you might be asked. These are the most common interview questions that are posed to management candidates. It doesn’t mean you’ll be asked them, but it’s good to prepare for these questions anyway.

We’ll supply a few suggestions for the answers, but the actual interview answers will have to be based on your unique experiences.

• Tell us about your management experience.

  Notice how this is an open-ended question. You’re going to get a lot of these. That means that there’s no specific right answer. You’ll just have to give them as much information as you can to try to figure out what they want to hear.

  Even if you’re never been in management before, come up with some examples of your leadership abilities. This is really what they’re asking – are you a leader?

• Describe your management style.

  This is a tricky question for most and it will probably require a bit of research into the different types of management styles. Some styles you may know or use can include: Autocratic, Consultative, Persuasive, Democratic, Coaching, or Affiliative.

  You might actually use several techniques to effectively speak to your team. This is great – you can explain how you switch your approach in different situations or with different people.

• How do you deal with different personality types?

  The last answer tip hinted that this would be coming. This is a really useful question for hiring managers or recruiters to ask because it lets them know a lot about you. It tells them how in-tune you are to other people’s emotions or personality types.

  It gives them insight into how you deal with people. And it lets them glimpse your ability to treat everyone fairly while not necessarily treating them the same.

• How do you motivate people?

  All managers have ways of motivating people. Some are built into the structure of the company.

  For example, there might be a bonus for hitting a goal. But it’s the others that the interviewer will want to know about.

  Tell them about how you specifically get people to work for you. This may also be a spot where they want to see how your management style would fit into their corporate culture.

• Tell me about a tough decision or a troubling time and how you managed through it.

  There are all kinds of opportunities here to tell a story in which you shine. Prepare for this question and come up with a situation where you were really proud of yourself or your team in the end. Make sure to share your enthusiasm for the outcome.

• Can you detail a time where you led by example?

  This is a tricky question for most people. Managers are usually focused on other people and forget about themselves. Even when they are leading by example, they tend to overlook it and watch how others follow.

  Employers want someone who is a good example so being able to step outside yourself and see how you lead can be a big help.

• Tell me about a professional highlight.

  Another question you should already know the answer to, but this time you should have some facts to share. You can share them verbally or have documentation.

  To really nail this answer, you should be able to speak about an improvement you implemented or a suggestion you made that significantly helped the company. Whether it was in company engagement, productivity, or another area.

• Walk us through a typical day at your last/previous job.

  Sometimes it’s hard for people to explain what they do or how they do it. By hearing how much time you spend in your office, in meetings, on a shop floor, the interviewer can get a better picture of your management style.

• Why do you want this job?

  This is not a management-specific job, but the answer needs to be more thought-out and meaningful if you’re applying for a career in management.

  For an entry-level job, the recruiter simply wants to hear that you want to work. In fact, they know that you want the job because you want to earn a paycheck.

  But for management, they want to hear why you’d rather be with their company than another.

• Tell me about yourself.

  Another question that is not specific to a management job but it’s your job to make it specific about your skills and ability to manage. Share your strengths and weaknesses. Let them know about additional training you’ve had that relates to the role.

  Talk about what gets you excited about work and why you are in management in the first place. Think of the question as, “What makes you the best candidate for this job?”

Write A Management Resume That Gets More Interview Requests

UPDATE YOUR RESUME NOW

Zippia’s resume builder will help customize your resume to get more interview requests.

Different Types of Management

In most large businesses, there are three different tiers of management. There are low-level managers, middle management and upper, or senior management.

Senior management includes the Chief Executive Officer, President(s), and Vice President(s). These people have had many years of experience and have a huge level of responsibility.

The interesting thing is that they typically aren’t out there applying for jobs. They’re recruited from jobs they already have. When you reach this level of experience and excellence, jobs come looking for you.

Middle management works for the senior managers in positions like branch manager, department manager, or regional manager. They have a specific area they’re in charge of and they may even have managers working under them. There is a lot of pressure from above and below in this position but doing it well can lead to senior management roles in the future.

Low-level management is the starting place for most who aspire to be leaders. Getting your foot in the door is going to take some work and probably a lot of interviews. Be prepared to answer leadership interview questions by having examples and passion for the job.

Tips for Moving into Management

The best way to get a job in management is to have already had one. That said, you need to get that experience. The following tips can help you get your first management job, which can then lead to others.

• Internal moves. Many companies like to promote people from inside their organization. Look for openings in your company and then prepare for that internal job interview.

• Volunteer. Volunteer organizations are often looking for help managing specific projects. What a great way to build your resume and get experience.

• Stick with it. If you’re a student and taking a summer job, try to keep coming back to the same job each summer. Let them know you’d like to be a manager one day. This can give you great work experience and shows that you can stick with a job.

• Be a leader. Be the person who shines when you have team tasks at work. This lets you get the spotlight and stand out as someone who can lead.

• Take courses. Furthering your education and taking some courses that are specific to management and business is a great way to show you’re serious about your career.

• Act like a manager. No, don’t go bossing everyone around. But you should always dress like a manager, behave professionally at work, and be confident and courteous. It will take you far.