Common Interview Questions as a manager
1. A: Tell Me About Yourself.
B : I find that the best way for me to de-stress when I’m not working is to relax outdoors, rain or
shine.
2. A : Why Do You Want This Job?
B: Working here really would be my dream job, since your mission aligns perfectly with my
goals as a sustainability specialist.
3. A: Why Should We Hire You?
B: You should hire me because my experience is almost perfectly aligned with the requirements
you asked for in your job listing.
4. A: What Is Your Greatest Strength?
B: I had a difficult customer with whom I was working, but I did take a personal approach
5. A: What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
B: My greatest weakness used to be procrastination. Friends who knew my work style would
tease me, saying, “Panic precipitates performance.” In college, I was the person who pulled
all-nighters to finish their essay right before the deadline.
This isn’t as irresponsible as it sounds—from the moment I’m assigned a project, I’m thinking
about it. Most of my first and second drafts get composed mentally, so it’s only a matter of
writing down the final draft. And, since I have an excellent command of grammar, I don’t
have to spend much time proofreading or revising.
However, after I landed my first job, it became clear that while this process worked for me
(I’ve never missed a deadline), it made my Head Operation extremely nervous. So, I’ve
learned to set “early” deadlines for myself, at least 24 hours before the actual deadline, so
that my projects now always arrive with plenty of time to spare.
6. A: Why Do You Want to Leave (or Have Left) Your Job?
B: I’ve completed supplemental management training courses during my time there, and I know
I can hit the ground running as your next digital marketing manager.
7. A: What Are Your Salary Expectations?
B: While I would definitely welcome a salary over Rp 3.000.000 particularly given the cost of
living here, I’m open to negotiation if a lower salary was accompanied by greater flexibility in
scheduling and additional vacation time.
8. A: How Do You Handle Stress and Pressure?
B: I’m not someone who is energized by or thrives in stressful environments. My first step in
managing stress is to try to circumvent it by keeping my work processes very organized, and
my attitude professional.
When customers or associates come to me with issues, I try to look at things from their
perspective, and initiate a collaborative problem-solving approach to keep the situation from
escalating. I find that maintaining an efficient, congenial office with open lines of
communication automatically reduces a lot of workplace stress.
Of course, sometimes unanticipated stressors will arise. When this happens, I just take a
deep breath, remembering that the person I’m dealing with is frustrated with a situation, not
with me. I then actively listen to their concerns and make a plan to resolve the issue as
quickly as possible.
9. A: Describe a Difficult Work Situation or Project and How You Handled It.
B: I think the most difficult situation I face as a manager is when I have to lay off staff, either
because they aren’t doing their job properly or, even worse, because sales are down.
10. A: What Are Your Goals for The Future?
B: I’m someone who likes stability. My goal is to find a job that I can hold long term with a local
company, becoming a valued employee as I gradually advance to positions of increasing
authority and responsibility. My long-term goal is to eventually become a branch manager
after I’ve proven my competencies in customer service and team leadership.
