How to Perform at Your Best During an Interview for a Manager Position: Tips and Strategies on Getting Hired

Whether you’ve already been a manager in another organisation, or you’re looking to move up the ranks, interviewing for a management position can be demanding.

Being able to answer questions well is one of the most important aspects of the interview, but it’s about more than just that.

You need to show the interviewer why they should choose you. They want to see that you’re personable, competent and the right fit for the role. In this blog article, we’ll outline tips and strategies to help you ace that next interview.

Don’t let your nerves get the best of you.

If you feel unsure about yourself during the interview, it’ll show. It’s normal to be nervous in an interview setting, but don’t let the nerves take over.

As hard as it may be, try and be your authentic self. Be confident, have a positive attitude, and be assertive. Remind yourself that the worst thing that can happen is you don’t get the job.

A tip to help ease the nerves is building a rapport with your interviewer. Whilst remaining professional, attempt to find something that you have in common or can connect over. Although the interviewer will ask most of the questions, use your response to make conversation with them.

Actions speak louder than words.

As an aspiring / current leader, you will already be aware of the role that body language plays in settings such as interviews.

Studies have shown that body language comprises up to 55% of communication, so pay close attention to the way you present yourself during the interview, this will leave an impact on your interviewer.

Key areas to focus on:

• Listen carefully
• Eye contact
• Posture
• Show enthusiasm and remain positive
• Strong handshake at the beginning and end of the interview

When answering questions, using the STAR method can help you structure your thoughts and give you a concrete example to back up any claims you make about your skills or qualifications. Employers love concrete examples, so this is a great way to impress them and improve your chances of being successful.

STAR stands for:

• Situation – describe a specific event or situation. This should not a generalized description, go into detail so the interviewer can understand
• Task – describe the goal that you set out to achieve
• Action – the actions you took to manage the situation. Keep the focus on you, not your team.
• Result – what happened as a result of your actions and what did you learn from the experience?

Interviews for management roles tend to have a heavy focus on your previous experience, style of management, what you’ve accomplished so far, and what your expectations are for the future.

If the interview is for a Junior Management position, share examples of where you showed strong leadership skills in extracurricular or academic activities.

Some common questions you can apply the STAR method in your next Management and Leadership interview:

• Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your management skills.
• What has been your greatest accomplishment as a manager?
• Give me an example of a task where you took the lead and showed initiative.
• Describe a situation where you delegated a project effectively.
• What is your way of dealing with conflict within your team? Give me an example.

Tell me about yourself…

No matter the industry or job role you are applying for, one way to leave a lasting, positive impression on your interviewer is with a strong closing statement. Do this well, and this is something that they will remember when thinking back.

End with confidence, and sound genuine. This is your opportunity to sell yourself. A chance to reiterate your interest in the position and why you would be the perfect fit.

Some things you may want to consider including in your closing statement:

• Why you are the right candidate
• Highlighting your skills and experience, describe how you will add value to the company
• Thank the interviewer for their time and express excitement about the next steps in the process.

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