How to Answer Interview Questions for a Supervisory Position

Rehearsed interview answers won't help you land your dream supervisory position. Companies hiring a supervisor want to know what you can do for the company, how you'll manage the staff and how your prior experiences have helped you become a better supervisor. You need solid answers that showcase your talents and not typical rehearsed answers that they've heard before.

Instructions

1. Know your management style and be ready to explain it. If you're asked to explain how you handled a recent problem with an employee who was always late with assignments, tell the employer how you managed the employee, the late work and future assignments with that employee.

2. Let the employer know what previous employees have said about you and your management abilities. If an employer asks how previous employees would describe your management style, give them positive feedback you received from employees regarding your communication and managerial abilities.

3. Have at least three situational experiences you can share with the employer on your past performance. Make the situations varied so that the employer can see all of your skills. For example, use a story that tells how you delegate responsibility to employees, a story that tells how you handled a conflict amongst employees working on the same project and a story that tells how you communicate work progress, both poor and good, to employees.

4. Explain how you motivate employees to finish tasks on time, and how you encourage them to work beyond what is expected of them on projects. Employers will ask how you keep employee morale high and how often employees are willing to work extra hard for you.

5. Go over any projects or plans you developed as a supervisor and how you managed them, if the employer asks about your work methods and management. Explain how you developed the plans, how you delegated tasks and how you ensured the work was completed quickly and efficiently.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't look nervous or glance around at the ceiling or floor when answering interview questions. This makes the employer think you're trying to think up something impressive, rather than answering from true experience.