1. Why do you want this job as Trainee Manager?
Employers don't want to hire people who are looking for any job they can get. They want employees who are enthusiastic and passionate about this particular job and want to stay with the company for a long time.
In your answer, emphasize specific aspects of the job description, such as how you enjoy leading a particular type of project, or have experience with a certain product or industry mentioned in it.
2. Tell us what would you do if one of your team members were underperforming?
This question assesses your ability to manage people. How do you react when people fail to meet their targets? It may help to break it into smaller questions. You could start by asking yourself why your team member might be missing their targets. Is it because their training was inadequate, is it because they're struggling with the workload, or is it simply because they're demotivated? How would you find out? What would you do once you'd got to the root of the problem and why?
3. Tell us of customer service, employee satisfaction and branch sales, which is the most important?
I believe that none of these is more important than the other. As a branch manager trainee, I aim to become familiar with the dynamics of the branch, but I aim to manage in a way that promotes all of these elements in a self-sustaining manner. Without satisfied employees, customers will not receive great service, and without great service, sales will not be satisfactory. I don't think these objectives are mutually exclusive, so I value them all equally and aim to maintain a well-balanced environment in the branch. I consider this the most sustainable approach to management.
4. Tell us what are the three things that you would like to change about yourself?
This is a disguised question that asks you about your weaknesses. State your weaknesses in such a way that they will not hamper your chances of being selected. Also, do not forget to mention how you would improve on them.
5. Explain me have you held any leadership position?
This question must be in the interview. It seeks to find out how you deal with people or whatever leadership skills you may possess. It also wants to know if you are sharp and can make decisions,” he says adding that, “Leadership positions may include those held in high schools such as a prefect or in campus as a leader of an association in college.
6. Can you explain me how would your co-workers describe you?
Manager interview questions like this are generally asked to discover additional hidden qualities about yourself that you might not otherwise have mentioned.
“My co-workers will tell you that I am a team player and a colleague they can count on to pull his weight whether it's a normal day or we're in a crunch.”
7. Explain me what information do you need before making a decision?
Before I make any kind of important decision, I first consider all the surrounding facts, possible outcomes and the desired goal. I won't hesitate to seek an outside opinion and I generally do, but I am the one who makes the ultimate decision.
Once I have all of the information and have weighed the risks of each possible outcome, I will make my decision.
8. Tell us what strategies do you use to motivate a team?
My main strategies are based around recognising colleagues' achievements, giving consistent feedback, and providing context for their work – but the ones I utilise most depends on the employee. For example, those who are most goal orientated tend to respond best to understanding the impact of their work, and colleagues that are under-performing are best motivated when given set areas to work on and improve.
9. Can you tell us are you happy with your career-to-date?
This question is really about your self-esteem, confidence and career aspirations. The answer must be 'yes', followed by a brief explanation as to what it is about your career so far that's made you happy. If you have hit a career plateau, or you feel you are moving too slowly, then you must qualify your answer.
10. Explain me why have you applied for this particular job?
The employer is looking for evidence that the job suits you, fits in with your general aptitudes, coincides with your long-term goals and involves doing things you enjoy. Make sure you have a good understanding of the role and the organisation, and describe the attributes of the organisation that interest you most.
11. Tell us what have you learned from mistakes you've made in the past?
If you can't think of a mistake you've made, you won't look credible. Describe a real mistake, and explain what you learned from it, and how you took steps to prevent it from happening again.
Remember, you're proving that you can manage people, projects, and teams, as well as delegate and manage time. Think of a time when you made a mistake, learned from it, and became a better manager as a result.
12. Tell us how would you manage conflict?
It would be entirely appropriate with this question to ask for further details. For example, are you in a management position and seeking to defuse the conflict or are you a member of a team in which there is conflict? Is the nature of the conflict a professional disagreement or something more personal? Once you have sufficient details, you can adjust your response. Remember that it can help to limit conflict if everyone feels that their opinion has been listened to. After you have allowed their voices to be heard, you can think through your next steps, depending on the circumstances: for example, do you need to acknowledge that both sides have valid points and adjust your position accordingly or do you need to use your authority as line manager to underline that certain behaviour is unacceptable?
13. Please explain about one thing that motivates you?
Interviewers will want to know the one factor that keeps you motivated to perform better. After all, it is your performance that matters. New challenges, desire to excel at every given responsibility, professional growth etc. are some of the possible answers to this question.
14. Explain me how can you motivate people to work?
The hiring manager is checking on your motivational skills, discipline and your character. In most cases this question is accompanied by a case study question,
As a chairman of the student's body I gave the students a responsibility for work. For example, I made it clear that students were allowed to handle any disturbances in a civilized manner before the authorities came. I also made information available on the schools websites rather than placing memos all over the school notice boards. With this students gained an enhanced sense of responsibility and achievement along with learning that everything starts with them.
15. Tell us do you know who our competitors are?
Do your homework and research the company and find out who are their competitors. Management interview questions like this will quickly reveal how well you conducted your research prior to the interview.
16. Can you tell us how do you react to problems?
I don't react to problems, but acknowledge their existence and respond to them in a calm manner. Reacting to a problem causes a panic and the problem does not get resolved until everyone calms down, accepts the situation and then focuses on a resolution.
17. Please explain a time when you led by example?
In my last job, we had a drive to sell charity raffle tickets. The team were really on board with the cause, and we had a friendly rivalry going with other stores in the area – so the pressure was on. The problem was, customers just didn't seem interested. So I took things into my own hands and tried different types of wording as well as a few persuasion tactics. After a few hours, I'd managed to sell X amount raffle tickets – and after I explained the new approach, the team went on to sell a combined X amount that weekend – making us number one in the area.
18. Basic Trainee Manager Job Interview Questions:
☛ If an important decision had to be made, but you couldn't reach the manager, what would you do?
☛ Imagine there are too many customers on a particular day and employees are barely managing to attend to all of them. Given that customer service standards are beginning to slip, how would you handle this?
☛ What would you do if an employee was underperforming?
☛ If you had to attend to customers, the manager and a shipment at the same time, what would you do?
☛ Why does a department need an assistant manager?
☛ What kind of reports should an assistant manager prepare?
☛ How do you decide how to delegate responsibilities?
☛ Do you mind working with targets?
☛ What's your experience with hiring personnel?
☛ What financial statements do you have experience with?
☛ Recall a time you showed excellent customer service
☛ Tell me about a time you had to fire someone. What was the reason and how did you do it?
☛ Have you ever made a mistake as an assistant manager? What happened?
☛ Give me an example of a time you reviewed a process to make it more efficient
☛ Tell me about a time you took the lead over a difficult project and helped the team achieve success
☛ Describe a time you had to make a decision without adequate information. How did you do it?
☛ Tell me about a time you had a conflict with your supervisor. How did you resolve it?
19. Top Trainee Manager Job Interview Questions:
☛ What do you know about our company?
☛ Tell me a bit more about yourself.
☛ Give me an overview of your career to date.
☛ What are your short- to mid-term career goals?
☛ How do you generate, develop, and close sales opportunities?
☛ What do you consider your most significant sales achievement to date?
☛ Tell me about a time that you failed to achieve goals you set. What went wrong and how could the outcome have been different?
☛ Why are you interested in this company? Why are you interested in this role?
☛ Consider a time when you haven't gotten along with someone on your team. What would that person say about you?
☛ How do you keep up with the latest industry trends in sales?
☛ Tell me about the toughest sale you've ever made.
☛ Have you ever had to break up with a client or prospect? How did you approach that?
The purpose of this question is to find out what your definition of difficult is and whether you can show a logical approach to problem solving. In order to show yourself in a positive light, select a difficult work situation which was not caused by you and which can be quickly explained in a few sentences. Explain how you defined the problem, what the options were, why you selected the one you did and what the outcome was. Always end on a positive note.
21. Can you tell us do you consider yourself a risk taker or do you like to play it safe?
I believe that taking risks is part of life but by mitigating the risk, I believe the best possible solution presents itself. I'm not afraid of taking risks; I just make sure that I have considered all the facts and possible outcomes my decision will have.
I approach multitasking and the handling of multiple responsibilities by maintaining focus. If I must handle several tasks at once, I make sure that I never lose sight of any and leave them unfinished. This is the key to handling them all effectively, maintaining quality in my work and ensuring the branch continues running smoothly.
I understand that sacrifices such as extra hours are necessary to the success of the branch, and I do what is best for the branch in order to set a good example. I am willing to make sacrifices and put in additional time when it is necessary, but I also aim to manage the time that I do have wisely and minimize the necessity of extra hours. Overtime is necessary if I cannot complete my tasks within the time allotted, and in that case, I will work extra. I won't do so, however, unless I am truly unable to handle all of the work I have in less time.
This question is about your ability to negotiate, a key managerial skill. Can you balance competing demands and engineer a compromise? How would you manage your client's expectations and what would you say to the contractor? Perhaps you could ask them to deliver the goods in smaller installments. In what circumstances would you look for a new supplier, and what complications could arise if you took this route?
25. Explain me can you elaborate on some of your aspects that relate to this current position?
You have to put forward your reasons, why do you think you are apt for this position. First of all, you should properly study the job profile and the skills you need to employ. Compare the aspects that are required for the job with the ones you posses. Give an example to reinforce your response.
