Top Manager Interview Questions with Example Answers [2022]

Question Overview: This question is a classic interview question, but it's important to understand how your candidate answers it.

Sample Answer: I am very detail-oriented. I like to make sure we have all the information we need before we make a decision. This is a strength when it comes to planning, but it can be a weakness when it comes to moving forward quickly. I've learned to be more flexible in my approach as I've gained experience.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Confirmation that they are self-aware
• - Evidence of honesty
• - Indications that they have thought about their weaknesses and how they plan to improve them

Question Overview: This question reveals how your candidate has grown and developed in their career. It also gives you insight into how they view their own development.

Sample Answer: I've learned that I need to be more open to feedback. I used to be a very confident person, but I've learned that I need to be more open to hearing what others think about my work. It's helped me grow as a writer and editor.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Evidence of growth and development
• - Confirmation that they are self-aware
• - Indications that they are open to feedback and willing to change

Question Overview: This question is a great way to see how much experience your candidate has with the technical side of your business.

Sample Answer: I have a decent understanding of SQL. I've used it to pull data from our databases into Excel for analysis and reporting. I've also used it to create new tables and fields in our database.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Confirmation that the candidate has the technical knowledge to succeed in their role
• - Evidence of how they've used their SQL knowledge in the past
• - Indications that they are willing to learn new skills

Question Overview: This question helps you evaluate whether the candidate is interested in your company or just interested in the job.

Sample Answer: I've been a big fan of HTWW for years. I love the way you've grown the business and I'm excited to be a part of that growth. I also love the way you've built a team that is so passionate about what they do. I want to be a part of that team.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Evidence that the candidate has researched your company
• - Evidence that the candidate has researched the position
• - Confirmation that they are aligned with your company's mission

Question Overview: This question is a great opportunity for the candidate to sell you on their skills and experience. It also allows them to show that they've done their research and are aware of the position's responsibilities.

Sample Answer: I am a good fit for this position because I have experience in all of the areas you are looking for. I have a proven track record of increasing traffic and revenue for my clients, and I have experience managing a team of writers and editors. I am also familiar with your company's goals and mission, and I think I can help you reach them.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Evidence of alignment with the position's responsibilities
• - Confidence in their ability to succeed
• - Evidence they've done their research on the company

Question Overview: This question is designed to find out how the candidate manages their team. You'll want to know if they are hands-on or hands-off, and if they have a specific management style.

Sample Answer: I am a hands-off manager. I like to give my team the tools they need to succeed and then let them do their thing. My staff tell me they appreciate the space I give them to make decisions, but I think they would also tell you I am there for guidance when they need it. I schedule monthly check-ins to find out about any challenges or ideas for change.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Confirmation that the candidate has a management style
• - Evidence of how they manage their team
• - Indications that they are aware of the best way to manage their team

Question Overview: This question is designed to evaluate how your candidate will respond to a crisis. It's important to know how they will handle a situation that could negatively impact the company.

Sample Answer: I would first assess the situation and determine if it was something I could handle or if I needed to bring in someone else. If I could handle it, I would make sure the team was aware of the issue and what we were doing to fix it. If I needed help, I would reach out to my manager or another team member who could help.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Confidence in their ability to handle a crisis
• - Evidence they have experience with production issues
• - Indications that they will be able to think on their feet

Question Overview: This question is designed to get a sense of your candidate's career goals. It is important to know if they are looking for a short-term position or if they are planning to stick around for the long haul.

Sample Answer: I see myself as a leader in this industry. I am excited about the opportunities that HTWW Marketing has to offer, and I am confident that I can make a big impact here. I am looking for a long-term position where I can continue to grow and learn.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Evidence of career goals that align with your company
• - Confidence in their ability to achieve their goals
• - Evidence of ambition and drive

Question Overview: This question helps you understand how much experience your candidate has managing people. It also allows them to qualify their experience, if they have managed enough people to make an impact.

Sample Answer: I've been a manager for eight years. I started with a team of two writers six years ago at HTWW Magazine, and then I transitioned to my current role at HTWW Marketing with a team of five writers and two editors. In that time we added a project manager to the team, so I currently have eight direct reports who give me weekly status reports and receive project approvals from me.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Confirmation of enough management experience to make an impact
• - Evidence of how many people the candidate has managed
• - Indications that they've taken on more responsibility over tim

Question Overview: This question evaluates the candidate's ability to be assertive and stand up for themselves. It also shows you how they would handle a situation where they disagree with a superior.

Sample Answer: I would approach the situation with an open mind. I would want to understand the reasoning behind their decision before I made any judgments. If I still disagreed with them, I would explain why and ask for a different solution.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Confidence in their ability to stand up for themselves
• - Evidence of their ability to be assertive
• - Indications that they are comfortable with confrontation

Question Overview: This question is designed to evaluate the candidate's ability to think strategically and make decisions that are in the best interest of the company.

Sample Answer: I will look at our current pricing structure and see if there are any opportunities to adjust our pricing. I will also look at our competitors' pricing and see if there are any opportunities to undercut them. I will also look at our sales pipeline and see if we have any opportunities to raise prices.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Evidence of strategic thinking
• - Confidence in their ability to make pricing decisions
• - Evidence they will be able to work with your sales team

Question Overview: This question is an opportunity for the candidate to tell you about their career goals and how they see your company fitting into that plan.

Sample Answer: I want to continue to grow as a manager and learn more about marketing. I see this position as a step in that direction. In the next few years I want to be able to manage a larger team and take on more responsibility. I think this role would be a great opportunity for me to learn more about marketing and how it works at HTWW.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Evidence of career goals that align with your company's mission
• - Evidence that the candidate is willing to take on new challenges
• - Confirmation that the candidate is motivated to grow

Question Overview: This question is designed to see how your candidate will handle a difficult situation. It is important to see how they handle themselves in a stressful situation, and how they will react to a customer who is upset.

Sample Answer: I would try to calm the customer down and ask them if they would like to speak privately. I would then ask them to explain what happened and what they would like me to do about it. If the customer was still upset, I would offer them a refund or another meal on the house.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Confidence in their ability to handle a difficult situation
• - Thoughtfulness regarding the best way to resolve the issue
• - Evidence that they have experience dealing with difficult customers

Question Overview: This question is designed to see how your candidate thinks about the future. It also gives you an idea of how they will handle change.

Sample Answer: I've been following EY for a few years and I know that you are facing some big challenges as a company. You are trying to grow your digital presence and you are looking to make acquisitions that will help you grow your market share. I think these are exciting challenges and I am confident that I can help you meet them.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Evidence they have thought about the future of the company
• - Confidence in their ability to handle change
• - Evidence they are aligned with your company's vision

Question Overview: This question is a great way to find out what the candidate thinks they need to improve on, and how they plan to do it.

Sample Answer: I think I need to improve my time management skills. I have a tendency to take on too much and then I don't have time to complete everything. I'm working on setting better priorities and delegating more.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Evidence of self-awareness
• - Confidence in their ability to develop the skills they need
• - Evidence that they are taking steps to improve their skills

Question Overview: This question is a great way to learn about the candidate's goals and how they align with your company's.

Sample Answer: I am a strong writer and I have a lot of experience in social media marketing. I know that HTWW Marketing has been growing its social media presence, so I would be excited to contribute my knowledge to that effort. I also know that you are looking to expand into new markets, so I would be happy to help with that as well.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Evidence of alignment with your company's goals
• - Confirmation that the candidate is interested in your company's success
• - Examples of how the candidate will contribute to your company

Question Overview: This question is designed to reveal how closely your candidate's values align with your company's core values.

Sample Answer: I most relate to the value of integrity. I believe that if you are not honest with yourself and others, you can't be successful. I also believe that if you don't have integrity, you can't expect it from anyone else.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Evidence of alignment with your company's core values
• - Confirmation that they are aligned with your company's expectations of management

Question Overview: This question is designed to see how the candidate will respond to a situation where they are not perfect. It also reveals how they think about their own skills and abilities.

Sample Answer: I was in Germany for two years and I learned a lot about the culture and the language, but I never really had time to practice speaking German. I was so busy with work that I didn't have time to take classes or meet people outside of work. I'm really looking forward to learning German here at HTWW.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Evidence of self-awareness
• - Confidence in their ability to learn new skills
• - Evidence of learning from past mistakes

Question Overview: This question is designed to see if the candidate is willing to do the work necessary to succeed in the role.

Sample Answer: I would start by reading through your website and social media channels. I would also look at your current marketing campaigns and see how they are structured. I would also want to meet with your marketing team and get a sense of what they are working on and how I can best support them.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Evidence of willingness to do the work
• - Confidence that they can learn what they need to know
• - Indications that they will be a good cultural fit

Question Overview: This question is a great way to get your candidate talking about their strengths. It also gives you insight into what they value in a manager.

Sample Answer: I am a good manager because I am organized, I am a good communicator, and I am a good listener. I like to make sure my team has everything they need to succeed, and I like to make sure they know how much I appreciate their work.

What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Confirmation of the candidate's strengths
• - Evidence that they value the same qualities you do in a manager
• - Indications that they are self-aware