Top General Manager Interview Questions with Example Answers [2022]

Prepare for your General Manager interview by going through these most asked General Manager interview questions. Additionally, get access to sample answers and interviewer's expectations.

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  • Question: Why did you leave your previous company?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to see how the candidate explains their past work history. It is important to see how they explain their past work history.

    Sample Answer: I left my previous job because I wanted to work for a company that offered more opportunities for growth.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Explanation of why they left
    • - Explanation of why they left
    • - Explanation of why they left

  • Question: Why are you applying for this position?
  • Question Overview: This question is a great way to gauge whether or not the candidate is really interested in the job. If they can't articulate why they want the job, it might be a sign that they are just applying for any job.

    Sample Answer: I am applying for this position because I think it will be a good fit for my skills and experience. I am very interested in working for your company.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - The candidate's interest in the position
    • - The candidate's interest in your company
    • - The candidate's interest in the industry

  • Question: What do you think about your fit for this job?
  • Question Overview: This is a question that is often asked at the end of an interview. It is a good idea to ask your potential hire what they think about their fit for the job. This will give you some insight into how they view themselves and their skills.

    Sample Answer: I feel like I am a good fit for this job because I have a lot of experience with the skills and responsibilities listed in the job description.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Confidence in their skills
    • - Acknowledgement of any gaps in their skills

  • Question: Walk me through your CV.
  • Question Overview: This is a straightforward question that allows you to learn about the candidate's work history and how they have progressed in their career.

    Sample Answer: My CV is attached to this application.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Work history
    • - Education
    • - Skills
    • - Achievements

  • Question: Why do you want to work for us?
  • Question Overview: A good general manager should be able to see the potential in a company and want to be a part of it. If the hire is not interested in your company, they might not be as motivated to work hard for you. Answers to this question will help you learn if the candidate is interested in your company and its goals.

    Sample Answer: I really like the way your company has grown over the past few years. I think I can help you grow even more.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Examples of why the candidate wants to work for your company
    • - Reasons why the candidate wants to work for your company

  • Question: How do you deal with stress?
  • Question Overview: General managers are often faced with stressful situations. They must be able to keep their cool and make decisions that are in the best interest of the company. Answers to this question will help you learn how the hire handles stressful situations.

    Sample Answer: I try to take a step back from the situation and look at it from a different angle. I also try to think about what I can do to fix the problem.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Examples of dealing with stress
    • - Ability to remain calm and focused
    • - Ability to make quick decisions

  • Question: Why do you choose Panda Express?
  • Question Overview: This question is used to see how the candidate feels about the company. It is also used to see how they feel about the food.

    Sample Answer: I chose Panda Express because I love the food. I like that it is fast and fresh. I dislike that it is not open on the weekends.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Why they chose Panda Express
    • - What they like about Panda Express
    • - What they dislike about Panda Express

  • Question: What would you do if a customer complains that their coffee is not made to standards?
  • Question Overview: General managers are responsible for the quality of the products and services their company provides. They should be able to address customer complaints and make sure that the customer is happy. Answers to this question will show how the hire will handle customer service issues.

    Sample Answer: If a customer complains about a product or service, I listen to them and try to figure out what went wrong. Then I try to fix it.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to listen to customers
    • - Ability to solve customer problems
    • - Willingness to make changes to improve customer experience

  • Question: What kind of indicators did your previous company use to monitor your work progress?
  • Question Overview: General managers are responsible for the work of their teams. They must be able to monitor their team's progress and make adjustments as necessary. This question helps you learn how the hire keeps track of their team's work and makes adjustments to improve efficiency.

    Sample Answer: I keep track of my team's progress by meeting with them regularly to discuss their work. I also use metrics that we set up together to measure our progress.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Examples of monitoring progress
    • - Strategies used to adjust work
    • - Anecdotes regarding communication and interpersonal skills

  • Question: What is your proudest accomplishment?
  • Question Overview: General managers are often responsible for the success of their team. They should be able to take pride in their work and the work of their team. This question helps you learn how the hire feels about their own accomplishments and how they feel about the accomplishments of others.

    Sample Answer: I'm most proud of my team's work on a project that helped us save money and increase revenue.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Examples of proud accomplishments
    • - Ability to take responsibility for successes
    • - Ability to take responsibility for failures

  • Question: Would you accept a position as an assistant manager until there is an opening for a GM that you may be able to work your way into?
  • Question Overview: Some general managers start out as assistant managers. If your candidate is willing to accept a position like this, it shows that they are willing to work hard and take on any role that will help them get ahead. Answers to this question will help you determine if the hire is willing to put in the effort to move up in the company.

    Sample Answer: I would be willing to accept a position as an assistant manager until there was an opening for a general manager.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Willingness to accept a lower position
    • - Ability to work well with others
    • - Willingness to work hard

  • Question: What are your strengths/weaknesses?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to get a sense of the candidate's self-awareness. The best answers will be honest and specific.

    Sample Answer: My strengths are my ability to work with people and my attention to detail. I have been working on improving my ability to make decisions quickly.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Specific strengths and weaknesses
    • - Explanation of how the candidate has worked to improve their weaknesses

  • Question: What are you looking for in a company?
  • Question Overview: A good general manager will be able to see what a company has to offer and how they can contribute to the company's goals. They should also be able to see what they are looking for in a company and how they can contribute to the company's goals. Answers to this question will help you learn about the hire's career goals and how they might fit into your company's plans.

    Sample Answer: I'm looking for a company that has room for growth and that values my experience. I'm also looking for a company that values my experience and allows me to grow with it.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Examples of what the general manager is looking for in a company
    • - Examples of what the general manager can bring to a company

  • Question: How will you improve sales for your dealer?
  • Question Overview: A good general manager will have a plan for improving sales. They will have a strategy for increasing the number of sales and the amount of revenue generated by the dealership. Answers to this question can help you determine how well the hire can come up with a plan to increase sales.

    Sample Answer: I will start by analyzing our current sales and marketing strategies. I will then create a plan to increase sales by 10% in the first year.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Examples of how the hire plans to increase sales
    • - Specific steps the hire will take to increase sales
    • - Anecdotes regarding communication and interpersonal skills

  • Question: How do you think you can make your store better?
  • Question Overview: General managers are often in the middle of things and have a good sense of what is going on. They can see what is working and what isn't. This question helps you learn how the candidate thinks about the company and how they might be able to improve it.

    Sample Answer: I think we could improve our store by making sure we have enough staff to handle the amount of customers we get.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Examples of how the candidate has improved a company
    • - Ideas for improving the company's bottom line
    • - Suggestions for improving the company's workflow

  • Question: Tell me about a time you had to deal with an angry customer.
  • Question Overview: As a general manager, you will likely have to deal with customers on a regular basis. This question gauges how the candidate handles a difficult situation with a customer.

    Sample Answer: I always try to remain calm when dealing with angry customers. I listen to what they have to say and try to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to remain calm and collected
    • - Ability to listen to customer concerns and respond
    • - Ability to resolve issues

  • Question: How can I ensure that employees will complete their responsibilities?
  • Question Overview: General managers are responsible for making sure that employees meet their responsibilities. They must be able to motivate employees to complete tasks and keep them focused on the goals of the company. Answers to this question will help you learn how the hire will motivate employees to complete their work.

    Sample Answer: I make sure that my team knows what is expected of them. I make sure they know what is in it for them if they do well. I also make sure they know what will happen if they don't do their jobs.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Examples of motivating employees
    • - Strategies for keeping employees focused
    • - Anecdotes regarding employee management

  • Question: What do you think is fun at work?
  • Question Overview: A good general manager will be able to keep the morale of their team high. They will be able to keep the team focused on the tasks at hand, but also have a good time doing it. Answers to this question will help you learn how the hire manages fun and work.

    Sample Answer: I think it is important for everyone to have fun at work. I like to play games with my team that are related to our work.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Examples of fun at work
    • - Ability to keep team morale high
    • - Ability to keep team focused on work

  • Question: How will you drive employee satisfaction, while driving fiscal results?
  • Question Overview: As a general manager, you will be responsible for the happiness of your team. However, you will also be responsible for the fiscal results of the company. This question helps you understand how the candidate will balance these two responsibilities.

    Sample Answer: I am a firm believer in rewarding hard work. I make sure my employees know that they are appreciated and that their efforts are not going unnoticed.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Examples of employee satisfaction
    • - Examples of fiscal results
    • - Ability to manage multiple goals

  • Question: What would you do if two guests are fighting?
  • Question Overview: As a general manager, you might be faced with a situation where two guests are fighting. This could be a situation where you need to step in and break up the fight, or it could be a situation where you need to call the police. Answers to this question will help you understand how your potential hire would handle this situation.

    Sample Answer: I would ask them to stop fighting and then call the police if they didn't.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to remain calm in stressful situations
    • - Ability to remain professional
    • - Ability to think quickly on their feet