Supervisor Interview Questions

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Have you hired an employee? Describe the factors you think are important when hiring someone. See answer
What is one important decision you’ve had to make as a supervisor? Why was it critical? See answer
How would your previous direct reports describe your supervision style? See answer
Has your supervision style changed over time? How? See answer
What are some successful ways you’ve been able to motivate employees? See answer
How do you resolve disputes between employees? See answer
How would you describe your leadership style? See answer
When was the last time you had to deal with an employee who was not performing well and how did you handle it?
What do you believe are the most important qualities in a strong supervisor?
Have you ever mentored any employees who worked directly under you? Where are they now?
Describe your process for delegating tasks to your employees.
What would you do if one of your employees made a significant mistake on a project?
Do you use any organizational or team-management tools to remain updated on your employees’ progress on different projects?
Have you ever had to let an employee go? How did you handle this process?
How do you measure your success as a supervisor?
What would you do if two employees refused to work together on a key project?

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8 Supervisor Interview Questions and Answers

Q:

Have you hired an employee? Describe the factors you think are important when hiring someone.

A:

Some supervisors are responsible for hiring, while other companies leave those decisions to department heads and HR. This question will reveal if the candidate has had the responsibility of hiring, and how they would handle it even if they’ve yet to do it.

What to look for in an answer:

Evidence they know what to look for in a good hire
Awareness about the steps required to build a solid team
Indications they are motivated to take part in the hiring process

Example:

“Yes, at my last job I was responsible for helping to interview and hire two account managers. I like to vet people first over the phone, where I can explain the basics about our company culture and the job role in detail and find out if they’re still interested. At a second, in-person interview, I look for things like enthusiasm about the industry and their long-term goals, in addition to learning more about their skill level.”

Q:

What is one important decision you’ve had to make as a supervisor? Why was it critical?

A:

Supervisors need to feel comfortable making decisions, even if they serve under a department manager. This question allows the candidate to illustrate their ability to step up and make important calls as needed.

What to look for in an answer:

Confirmation they feel comfortable making decisions independently
Evidence they have taken on more decision-making responsibility over time
Confidence in their thought process behind making important choices

Example:

“In my current role at ACME Marketing, I recently had to make the decision to pull a big piece of content from our client’s editorial calendar. It had already been produced, so we’d expended lots of resources, but ultimately it didn’t fit with the client’s brand. I made the decision to replace it with a new piece written on an expedited timeline so we could still meet the deadline.”

Q:

How would your previous direct reports describe your supervision style?

A:

How a supervisor is able to mesh with their team can make or break their success at your company. This probing question will reveal if they’re a good culture fit for a supervisory role.

What to look for in an answer:

Self-awareness about how they are perceived by other employees
Indications they have asked their direct reports for feedback
An alignment with your company culture

Example:

“I think my staff would say that I am supportive but not overbearing. I find that biweekly check-ins are enough to keep my finger on the pulse of any challenges they’re having. Of course, I am always available to help them troubleshoot in between. This gives me the chance to remain focused on the bigger picture and empowers my staff to grow in their own decision making.”

Q:

Has your supervision style changed over time? How?

A:

Learning to adapt management styles and techniques can create an exceptional supervisor. This question helps you figure out if the candidate is able to receive feedback and adjust their style if needed.

What to look for in an answer:

Indications their supervision skills have grown over time
Proof they have received feedback well and adjusted their style as necessary
Confirmation they are self-aware about their need to evolve

Example:

“I used to ask for daily check-ins from my employees. I didn’t think I was micromanaging, but rather being supportive. I learned that my staff feel more trusted if I don’t require such frequent check-ups about their work.”

Q:

What are some successful ways you’ve been able to motivate employees?

A:

One of the best things a supervisor can add to your team is keeping other employees excited about their work and prepared to give every day 100 percent. Learning how the candidate approaches this task will tell you a lot about how prepared they are to take on the role.

What to look for in an answer:

Evidence they have been in charge of successful teams
Willingness to adjust their motivation techniques as needed
Understanding of their role as a supervisor in regards to morale

Example:

“Different employees require different types of motivation. Some of my direct reports respond very well to public praise and acknowledgement for their ideas. Other employees of mine have been most motivated by contests or competitions with a small prize. I try to accommodate the employees’ personalities as much as I can.”

Q:

How do you resolve disputes between employees?

A:

Supervisors are often expected to resolve issues between their direct reports to avoid escalation. This question gets to the heart of the candidate’s ability to negotiate conflict on their team.

What to look for in an answer:

Evidence they have handled employee disputes in the past
Confirmation they have had success resolving issues on their previous teams
A style of resolution that aligns with your company culture

Example:

“In my experience, there are always two sides to every story. I always get every party’s input about the conflict before I do anything. I’ve found it helpful to get everyone in a room together and serve as a mediator to decide how we can resolve the issue. I always get the agreed upon resolution, and each person’s responsibilities to it, in writing and provide a copy to everyone.”

Q:

When was the last time you had to deal with an employee who was not performing and how did you handle it?

A:

Unfortunately, even good employees can falter sometimes and you need a supervisor to be able to identify poor performance and address it. This question gives the candidate a chance to prove they know how to manage the task.

What to look for in an answer:

Indication they understand the importance of setting employee goals and standards
Evidence they know how to cultivate talent in their staff
Proof they feel comfortable addressing problems on their team

Example:

“I recently had an account manager with a few client complaints. He was not responding to emails in a timely fashion and failed to follow up with important documents as promised. I outlined for him the specific complaints and we came up with a game plan together. We scheduled an hour each morning for him to exclusively follow up on emails, and discussed setting up calendar reminders associated with sending important reports to clients.”

Q:

How would you describe your leadership style?

A:

A strong supervisor should have impressive leadership skills to motivate their employees to deliver valuable work. If the candidate has had many years of experience working as a supervisor, they should have a clear leadership style and strategy that they regularly use to successfully inspire and lead their team. Look for a candidate who confidently answers this question and expresses pride as they explain their system for motivating and improving their team members' performance.

The candidate's answer should emphasize:

A clear and comprehensive leadership style
Their delegation abilities and tactics
How successful they are as a leader and motivator

An answer to this question could look like this:

Example:

"My leadership style focuses on delegating tasks that improve my employees' performance. I typically do this by assigning projects that I know will challenge my team and improve them in their role. It's important to know the strengths of employees in order to delegate tasks that I know they'd succeed at, while still challenging them. Not only do I enjoy motivating my employees individually, but I'm always looking for ways to strengthen them as a team. I do this by assigning many group projects and encouraging them to remain supportive, positive and collaborative with one another."

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Last updated: Apr 21, 2021