MANAGEMENT INTERVIEW
Company : Kongsawan Chemical Company Ltd.
Nature of business : Chemical manufacturing and marketing
Responsible for Recruitment of all employees in the company;
Creation of recruitment pools for all positions in the company;
Assist VP-HR in organizational development
What is the background (education/work) of the Manager that prepared him/her for the current position?
Think about the skills and knowledge that you need to be effective in your job. What are they, and how did you acquire them?
I finished a Business Administration course in my undergraduate years, and I also have attended many seminars on HR management, recruitment and training as well. I also have around 8 years of experience in general HR work. As the head recruiter of the firm, I feel the one must have a good sense of the needs of the various departments, and translate these into the necessary dimensions for the existing positions and new positions that may be created as a result of the needs.
What is his or her approach to management? For example, which particular management tasks and roles does this person perform most often? What kinds of management skills does the manager have?
I have a very scientific approach to management. For instance, I match the skills and capabilities of the recruit to the needs of the position. However, I also sometimes use my intuition in the sense that I try to see if the person will grow in the position such that he or she can accomplish more tasks as the position itself grows as well. I am also a person who believes in leadership by example, and try to be the best model for all the employees of the company.
Does he or she think the tasks, roles, and skills are appropriate for the particular job he or she performs? How could he or she improve his or her task performance?
Yes, the tasks that I perform for the organization are indeed suited to the job. I am tasked to be in charge of recruitment for the company and that all those who are recruited must be almost perfectly suited to their jobs. I am sure that with additional training on updates on recruitment trends, I will be more skilled in my job.
What does the individual like most about his job?
I enjoy being able to liaise with people from all positions and from all walks of life. I also like the fact that I can talk to many people and recruit from schools and other student organizations. I feel very young in this job!
What does the individual like least about his job?
I do not like the situation wherein I am able to recruit an employee who does not turn out to be as expected, or when the employee is bright and performs wonderfully only to resign after a few months because he has been pirated by another company.
Specific examples of each function of management (planning, organizing, leading, and controlling) that the individual does in his/her current position.
Planning : Planning for the new organizational structure, and for manpower pooling
Organizing : Organizing the recruitment team of the company and designating the new tasks
Leading : Helping train the new members of the department
Controlling : Performing manpower audits to see if the departments are properly filled up, and testing the skills of the persons in the positions if they can be promoted to new positions.
How does his or her approach to management affect the attitudes and behavior of his or her subordinates? For example, how well do the employees perform and how motivated are the employees?
I think that by leading other people by example, they also able to pick up the discipline and the rigors of being an example for others to follow.
Keeping in mind the organization and its resources, does he or she utilize organizational resources effectively? Which resources contribute the most to the organization’s performance?
Yes, I work on an annual budget, and I make wise use of this budget. In recruiting, I make use of tools that are less expensive in order to be able to recruit. For me, the most helpful resources of the company are the people themselves. In my department alone, I have a team who works hard in order to achieve all the objectives of the department.
If he or she could change one management practice in the organization, what would it be?
I do not think I would change any practice at the moment.
What have been your biggest mistakes thus far? Could you have avoided them? If so, how?
I think that one of the biggest mistakes so far was recruiting a very bright and promising graduate for a management trainee position. For me he was too ambitious and so he left the company after a few months. After investing training and time on this candidate, all was gone, and so I think that for the next recruits, the willingness to stay and work with the company for a long time must be considered.
How attuned is the organization to the need to increase efficiency, quality, innovation, or responsiveness to customers? How well does he or she think the organization performs its prime goals of providing the goods or services that customers want or need the most?
The organization is committed to quality and improving processes and its services. The company is in constant touch with its customers and stakeholders in determining what they want and need without sacrificing quality.
What are the critical differences between average managers and top-performing managers?
Top-performing managers have a vision of what they want their departments to be, and constantly plan for these situations. They set good examples for their subordinates always.
What are some words of wisdom that they would like to share with you about being a manager?
Being a manager involves commitment and a willingness to stay with the company through thick and thin. Always set the example for your subordinates and they will follow.
