An ideal candidate would be a shift manager who has experience managing employees in a work environment that is similar to your company’s. For example, if the shift they are required to manage has a lot of employees, an ideal applicant would be one who has supervised bigger teams in their past management position(s). Consider someone with a record of success in managing employees in their previous manager jobs. What to look for in an answer:

• Success in their previous shift management position
• Experience managing a team similar to your company’s team
• Strong leadership skills

A good shift manager will have good communication skills when communicating with customers and other employees. They should know how to compromise and how to find a middle ground to help the customer, keep them happy and make them return to your company. In addition to helping the customer, they should know how to address issues with employees and how to train the employees when needed. What to look for in an answer:

• Compromises with an angry customer
• Connection with customers even during disagreements
• Good training skills

When hiring a shift manager, you need an independent person with good work ethics. An ideal candidate will name some of these in their answer. If they name a quality, they most likely possess it. Choose someone who is aware of the important and ideal qualities of a shift manager. What to look for in an answer:

• Confidence in their answer
• Leadership, time-management and communication skills
• Possession of the qualities named in their answer

An ideal candidate should know how to deal with situations like this. This question will show you their ability to solve problems and work in a team. Look for a shift manager who can handle a disagreement with respect and support, which is someone who avoids causing bigger problems. What to look for in an answer:

• Good communication skills
• Respect and politeness toward their colleagues even when they disagree
• Ability to handle a negative situation positively

Managing a long shift can be challenging if there are goals your company must reach every day, week or month. An ideal candidate will have a plan to keep their employees motivated to reach their goals. They should name the approach they use to keep employees motivated. Some examples could be a leadership board, a highest sales board, prizes for good reviews and other fun competitions to keep everyone motivated. What to look for in an answer:

• Actual experience of past tools they used to motivate their employees
• Confident tone of voice
• Detailed explanation of their approach

For shift managers, having an appropriate leadership style can directly impact worker morale and productivity. An employer can use this question to learn if a candidate has the necessary leadership skills for handling different types of workers and meeting business goals. A skilled shift manager candidate will demonstrate knowledge of leadership styles and expertise in using a suitable leadership strategy.

The candidate's answer should emphasize:

• Knowledge of different leadership styles
• Experience in adapting a leadership style to a shift
• Evidence of being a good leader

An example answer to this question could look like this: