Looking for some interview advice please

Ben3991

Ben3991

Ben3991

Associate
Joined
18 Sep 2011
Posts
167
Hi Everyone,

Looking for some advice please. I’m currently in what is pretty much an admin based role with little to no overall responsibility and no direct reports. I’ve applied for a supervisor level role in the same company although in a very different area and environment and been fortunate enough to get an interview. Within the company structure its quite a step up the ladder. I'm confident in my ability to learn the role however the interview is concerning me!

I’m not sure what type of questions I will be asked for this level role and having no experience at that level, its going to be pretty difficult to answer any questions relating to dealing with confrontation, having overall responsibility ‘on the ground’ etc.

Anyone that has had interviews for this level role in the past, would you be able to shed any light on what kind of questions that you were asked that were different to those at an entry level admin job?

Thanks!
 
How would you handle conflict within the team (expect a scenario)

How would you tackle a member of staff who was seemingly unmotivated?

two I can think off from the last interview panel I sat on. even just considering them is a start tbh. There aren't necessarily right abs wrong answers consider how it's been done with the company previously if you have seen it.
 
Raumarik said:
How would you handle conflict within the team (expect a scenario)

How would you tackle a member of staff who was seemingly unmotivated?

two I can think off from the last interview panel I sat on. even just considering them is a start tbh. There aren't necessarily right abs wrong answers consider how it's been done with the company previously if you have seen it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for replying. I hadn't considered they may give a scenario so that's certainly one to think about! Thanks
 
They'll probably know you have no working experience running a team, so I'd be prepared to give examples of good leadership etc. in your non-work life. Any team-based things that demonstrate your ability to get-on with others, any times you've played leader, used your initiative etc.
 
Scam said:
They'll probably know you have no working experience running a team, so I'd be prepared to give examples of good leadership etc. in your non-work life. Any team-based things that demonstrate your ability to get-on with others, any times you've played leader, used your initiative etc.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Problem is I just don’t! The best thing I can think of is buying/moving house. When it came to renovating, there was aspects of organinsgin whose doing what, loosely project managing contractors making sure they have done their bit before the next etc. My worry is that sounds a bit like I clutching at straws!


I don’t know whether it be better to give half baked bad example or just to say no, but explain how and what my approach to leadership is.
 
Ben3991 said:
My worry is that sounds a bit like I clutching at straws!
Click to expand...

Then don't sound like it. Play to your strengths and don't be afraid to make an experience seem slightly more involving than it actually was, don't out and out lie, but don't shy away from making any leadership/managing/planning seem like it was the kind of thing you (would like to) excel at in your personal life.

There is also nothing wrong with, as you say, explaining what your management style would be should you be successful. Take a good step back and look at how the management structure currently works in the organisation, do they for instance like micro-management (I hope not) or perhaps there is a desire to move to a more light-touch management style.
 
Ben3991 said:
Thanks. Problem is I just don’t! The best thing I can think of is buying/moving house. When it came to renovating, there was aspects of organinsgin whose doing what, loosely project managing contractors making sure they have done their bit before the next etc. My worry is that sounds a bit like I clutching at straws!

I don’t know whether it be better to give half baked bad example or just to say no, but explain how and what my approach to leadership is.
Click to expand...
Your example is absolutely fine and would do you well. You could even remind them that moving house is consistently claimed to be the most stressful experience in anyone's life, so any experience project-managing parts of that would certainly stand you in good stead.
 
Ben3991 said:
Hi Everyone,

Looking for some advice please. I’m currently in what is pretty much an admin based role with little to no overall responsibility and no direct reports. I’ve applied for a supervisor level role in the same company although in a very different area and environment and been fortunate enough to get an interview. Within the company structure its quite a step up the ladder. I'm confident in my ability to learn the role however the interview is concerning me!

I’m not sure what type of questions I will be asked for this level role and having no experience at that level, its going to be pretty difficult to answer any questions relating to dealing with confrontation, having overall responsibility ‘on the ground’ etc.

Anyone that has had interviews for this level role in the past, would you be able to shed any light on what kind of questions that you were asked that were different to those at an entry level admin job?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

how do you deal with similar situations in real life?

you never had to argue with someone you had to pay for a job they did which was crap or overpriced?
 
Just make sure you are prepared to handle questions / scenarios around leading a team:

-Dealing with under-performance (how can you measure this, how do you approach it with the individual concerned)
-How do you delegate
-What do you consider the most important part of the role (if the interview panel don't ask you this, ask them!)
-Do you have experience mentoring more junior team members (think of an example beforehand, it could be something informal, or outside of work like sports or whatever)
-How will you motivate the team (think about both individuals, and the team as a whole - don't underestimate the value people place on creating a clear vision of where the team/company is going, and what is expected of people)
 
Be prepared for competency based questions around the details of the job spec. So you could be asked to give an example of leading a team and if you haven't, explain that but then continue a relevant example if you can, ie, mentoring, or even in personal life. So read through the job spec and consider what you might say if you're asked to give examples around the main job requirements.
 
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