Interview
Tell me about a time you had to discipline one employee while rewarding another.
That is always a delicate situation. It is important to discipline, not humiliate. Similarly, you want to reward, not throw a party for the second employee. Everybody gets back to work quickly.
Do you handle every disciplinary situation the same?
I ty to, in order to keep things fair. Sometimes you have to calibrate.
Is it difficult to act like a manager when you are being disrespected.
No, if an employee is having a difficult day, sometimes that is when they need leadership the most.
Have you ever had to fire anybody and if so, how do you do it?
I have, unfortunately. We do it carefully. It is a delicate and very sad thing for us. We are a family. We do not like doing it.
Do you try to keep the same demeanor at work all the time?
I do, yes. Consistency keeps things functioning normally.
Situational Questions:
What would you do if an employee refused to leave when fired?
I would be forced to get security. That is no longer my area if they will not speak reasonably to me.
How would you handle violence in the workplace?
It is not tolerated. People who use it are terminated immediately. Security and the authorities are contacted to maintain safety.
In the event of an emergency, what is your role?
I remain calm in hopes that others will follow my lead. I also direct others, depending on the emergency. Department heads help with this.
If an employee does not come to work for several days, what is your role?
Short of calling their house several times, there is little I can do. I am able to alert authorities of a disappearance, assuming family has not done so already. I would want to do more, but it would likely be considered inappropriate.
If a person came in demanding to be hired, how would you handle that?
There would have to be positions open, and the individual would need the proper requirement and certifications. However, with an attitude like that, it is unlikely I would hire them. They would probably not fit in here.
Separate questions:
What made you choose this line of work? This is a good question to ask because it gives insight into how they managed to not only choose this line of work, but stick with it and become a manager.
Have you made any changes personally within the company? The question is pertinent because it shows us the impact managers can make once they have been with the company for a while.
Have you increased your interpersonal skills since becoming manager? The question is important because it shows the personal perks of being a manager.
Are there any downfalls to being a manager? It is good to ask what the downside to any position is in order to gain a full sense of what it is like.
How many years were you with the company before you became manager? The questions allows us to see the hard work put in to attaining such a position.
