Top Interview Questions for Managers (With Answers) in 2023
When interviewing for a manager position, you must demonstrate the business acumen, leadership skills, personality and subject-matter knowledge to meet the job requirements.
That’s why manager interview questions and answers differ from what you expect from individual contributor roles.
This guide provides:
- Advice to prepare for your interview.
- More than 50 leading questions and answers for a management interview.
- Tips for what to do after the interview.
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Common interview questions for managers by job title
Are you looking for manager interview questions and answers for a specific job title? We created the following pages with you in mind.
After the Interview
Following up with potential employers after a managerial interview is a must if you want to elevate yourself as the job candidate they want to hire. You have a short window of time so follow these tips after a manager interview to seal the deal.
1. First things first: Get your interviewer’s contact information.
Before you leave, ask the hiring manager for the next steps if they don’t offer them. You can say something like, “Thank you for your time; it was great meeting you. What are the next steps?” or “Thank you for your time; it was a pleasure to meet you. How soon are you thinking of making a decision?”
2. As soon as you’re able, write down anything you want to remember.
This could be insights about your potential team, the company’s immediate goals, the work environment and the tasks involved in the job.
3. Send a thank-you note.
Your thank-you note should be concise — just a few short paragraphs — but detailed and follow this formula:
- Start with a polite and professional salutation, like “Dear Jane.”
- In your first paragraph, thank them for taking the time to interview you and mention something positive you took from the conversation. If you connected with your interviewer about work or personal interests, remind them here.
For example: “Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about the manager role at Account Wizards. I enjoyed talking with you about the challenges you face on the client side and our mutual fondness for science fiction novels.”
- Create a new paragraph to reiterate your enthusiasm for the role and your interest in working for the company. Even better, explain that your interest has increased because of something you learned about the company, team, work, or project during the interview, and be specific, like so:.
For example: Your description of Granite Builder’s commitment to volunteer work and philanthropy — specifically your team’s work with Housing for Humanity — strengthens my respect for the company and heightens my interest in working with you. I’m also impressed by your approach to building structures that work with the environment to ensure we conserve natural resources — a value I strongly believe in. “
- In the third paragraph, write two sentences summarizing your qualifications for the management position to reinforce your ability to do the job. Don’t forget to point out what makes you unique. Help them envision you at their company.
Pro tip If you leave the interview kicking yourself for not mentioning something that would set you apart or if you feel like you blundered an answer to an interview question, then address them in one or two sentences thank you letter. Just keep it upbeat!
For example: With the company at such a critical turning point, I’d love to bring
my extensive experience building productive teams and efficient processes to
assist the company increase market growth and international revenue.
- Conclude by reiterating that you appreciate the opportunity, hope to be able to contribute to the success of their company, and look forward to learning about the next steps, like this:
“Thank you again for discussing the management role at Start-up
Enterprises. I appreciate the opportunity to build out a team of talented
individuals so that we may all contribute to the company’s mission of developing innovative software. I look forward to hearing from you.”
- Then sign off with a professional term such as “Sincerely,” “Best regards,” “Respectfully,” or “Sincerely,” followed by a space and then your name.
4. Wait patiently.
All you can do after sending your thank you letter is wait. Refrain from calling and emailing the hiring manager and human resources to check because you don’t want to seem impatient. If they give you a timeframe for following up, contact them by email if you don’t hear by the end of that timeframe.
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Manager Interview Questions and Answers