WEBVTT

00:00:00.001 --> 00:00:03.663
Stress the importance of a
good manager, but talk about an

00:00:03.664 --> 00:00:05.818
individual's initiative as well.

00:00:06.318 --> 00:00:09.367
If your boss is not training
you to do some of the things

00:00:09.368 --> 00:00:13.858
she does, it may indicate that
you are not "management material."

00:00:14.358 --> 00:00:17.812
Stay current on the latest
management trends. Reading

00:00:17.813 --> 00:00:19.793
business periodicals will help.

00:00:20.293 --> 00:00:24.043
Don't say that you never have
any. Pick a situation, even a

00:00:24.044 --> 00:00:27.680
hypothetical one, and describe
how you'd work through it.

00:00:28.180 --> 00:00:30.770
The research you have done on
the company should have

00:00:30.771 --> 00:00:33.931
provided you with an idea of
how closely management gets

00:00:33.932 --> 00:00:37.640
involved with projects. If
micromanagement is the key,

00:00:37.641 --> 00:00:42.317
discuss how you like to closely
supervise your employees. If

00:00:42.318 --> 00:00:45.771
employee empowerment is the
buzzword of this company, talk

00:00:45.772 --> 00:00:48.877
about how you can delegate well
when you trust the people

00:00:48.878 --> 00:00:49.859
you work with.

00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:52.899
If you know that the
interviewer knows and likes

00:00:52.900 --> 00:00:56.443
your favorite supervisor, it
won't hurt to name names.

00:00:56.444 --> 00:01:01.199
Otherwise, use adjectives without
naming a specific person.

00:01:01.699 --> 00:01:05.246
Try to find out before the
interview how closely management

00:01:05.247 --> 00:01:08.902
supervises employees, and base
your answer on that.

00:01:09.402 --> 00:01:12.336
You would need to adapt your
answer to the type of people

00:01:12.337 --> 00:01:13.469
you would be hiring.

00:01:13.969 --> 00:01:17.445
Elaborate. Describe the
situation that led to the

00:01:17.446 --> 00:01:20.226
firing and what your thought
processes were.

00:01:20.227 --> 00:01:23.874
This question will typically
only be asked of people with

00:01:23.875 --> 00:01:26.049
previous supervisory experience.

00:01:26.549 --> 00:01:30.891
Stress communication skills.
Avoid sounding like a dictator.

00:01:31.391 --> 00:01:34.751
The way that you describe this
"ideal" person may indicate

00:01:34.752 --> 00:01:37.936
what type of supervisor you
will be, or what type you

00:01:37.937 --> 00:01:39.503
prefer working for.

00:01:40.068 --> 00:01:43.574
Someone with a proactive
approach anticipates and looks

00:01:43.575 --> 00:01:47.233
for possible problems and heads
them off before they cause

00:01:47.234 --> 00:01:51.566
difficulties. On the other hand,
someone with a reactive approach

00:01:51.567 --> 00:01:56.136
spends most of his or her day
"stomping fires." If you were a

00:01:56.137 --> 00:01:58.899
company president, which approach
would you want your

00:01:58.900 --> 00:02:00.130
managers to have?

00:02:00.631 --> 00:02:04.220
Of course you are, especially
if you're interviewing for a

00:02:04.221 --> 00:02:06.001
management-level position.

00:02:06.548 --> 00:02:10.097
If you've never been a
supervisor, offer an example of

00:02:10.098 --> 00:02:13.480
how you helped settle a dispute
between co-workers.

00:02:13.980 --> 00:02:17.174
The interviewer wants to know
what kind of relationship you

00:02:17.175 --> 00:02:20.783
build with your subordinates
-- do you jump to conclusions,

00:02:20.784 --> 00:02:22.852
or do you ask questions
to find answers?