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Business Manager Interview Questions

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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Business Manager interview questions and answers.

  1. How do you decide which tasks to delegate to team members? See answer
  2. How do you keep the team motivated? See answer
  3. What approach do you use when communicating a negative message to an employee? See answer
  4. Describe the evolution of an employee who you have mentored. See answer
  5. If you had a project that is over budget, how would you manage it? See answer
  6. Describe your greatest accomplishment as a leader. See answer
  7. How do you manage your time and workload? See answer
  8. Describe your leadership and management style. See answer
  9. What have you learned from your mistakes? See answer
  10. What approach do you use when leading a business meeting to make sure everything runs smoothly? See answer
  11. What are the three most important skills for a business manager? See answer
  12. How do you measure your team members’ performance?
  13. What changes would you implement to improve the team’s productivity?
  14. Discuss a time you had to make a difficult decision and how you managed it.
  15. How do you align your team’s values with those of the organisation?
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Hire your next Business Manager today.

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Hire your next Business Manager today.

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Business Manager Interview Questions and Answers

How do you decide which tasks to delegate to team members?

The business manager is in charge of monitoring the work of different members of the team in order to ensure they meet company objectives. Understanding the criteria the candidate uses to delegate tasks allows you to identify how they measure the skills of an employee. What to look for in an answer: 

  • Clear description of a strategy
  • Analytical and critical thinking skills
  • Experience in a leadership role

Example:

“Whenever a project is assigned, the first thing I do is to clarify the tasks by categories. Then, I select the right person to work on each task given their knowledge and skills.”

How do you measure your team members' performance?

It's fundamental to measure the team's performance and evaluate productivity during the development of a project. The candidate must be able to monitor progress at every stage. They should recognise each team member's contribution to the project. What to look for in an answer:

  • Analytical thinking skills
  • Key performance indicator (KPI) evaluation
  • Recognition of the value of each member

Example:

 “To measure people's performance, I establish different performance indicators. For example, to measure productivity I consider the hours each member worked, and the results of the tasks performed within a given period.”

What changes would you implement to improve the team's productivity?

When you have a team that works efficiently, you save time and money on projects. Therefore, knowing the strategies candidates will implement to improve productivity is very useful. What to look for in an answer:

  • Creativity
  • Goal setting
  • Experience and success in a similar role

Example:

“To improve productivity, I'd establish clear targets and set deadlines. I'd also encourage communication and collabouration between all parties in order to avoid misunderstandings. This way, we can count on each other's support in future events.”

How do you keep the team motivated?

An important role for any business manager is to keep their teams motivated, as it helps meet the organisation's goals. Here, you identify the candidate's leadership style and the methods they apply to empower their employees. What to look for in an answer:  

  • Leadership skills
  • Dedication to creating a positive work environment
  • Reward and recognition strategies

Example:

 “As a business manager, my goal is to keep my employees as motivated as possible. Motivation boosts several team elements, such as productivity and effectiveness. Therefore, my priority is to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each team member. This helps me develop a plan that suits everyone, while also offering constructive feedback.”

What approach do you use when communicating a negative message to an employee?

Knowing how to communicate messages is a skill all managers must develop, since they need to keep constant communication with their employees. By asking this question, you assess the candidate's empathy during negative situations. What to look for in an answer:

  • Empathy
  • Analytical thinking skills
  • Communication skills

Example:

“Whenever it is necessary to inform another employee of unfortunate news, the first thing I do is to put myself in their shoes and try to understand their situation. From there, I will use friendly language and propose a possible solution.”

Describe the evolution of an employee who you have mentored.

Oftentimes, the job of a business manager involves offering mentorship. It's ideal to ask the candidate to describe any example in which they have helped another person grow, since teamwork is essential for the company's success. What to look for in an answer:

  • Recognition of other people's abilities
  • Leadership skills
  • Ability to motivate and help their team develop

Example:

 “In previous jobs, I've tried to guide many employees towardss success. I explain in detail their functions and offer suggestions on how to be better. On one occasion, I collabourated with an intern and with my guidance he reached a project manager position of a company.” 

If you had a project that is over budget, how would you manage it?

Occasionally, a project may have to be executed without sufficient budget. The candidate must demonstrate business management skills to identify where the problem comes from and what the best solution is for the company's budget. What to look for in an answer:

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Budgeting experience
  • Persuasive communication

Example:

 “When a project without sufficient budget is presented, I will study each detail of every stage and establish the areas of priority. Then, I eliminate any unnecessary expenses or those that do not have greater influence on the project's development. Lastly, I inform all team members about the new settings to hear their opinions.”

Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult decision and how you managed it.

Understanding how to manage problems is a fundamental part of the business manager's job. Asking the candidate how they deal with adversity reveals the skills needed to make the right decisions during difficult situations. What to look for in an answer:

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Decision-making skills

Example:

 “On one occasion, one of the members of my team was not meeting project deadlines. I spoke to him directly and offered him a break. Instead, we found someone who had the availability and could adhere to the deadlines. The most important thing when there is a difficult situation at work, is to analyse the problem and find the best solution for it.”

Describe your greatest accomplishment as a leader.

The previous experiences of a business manager candidate showcase what they can contribute to the organisation. In these cases, ask the candidate to give an example of an important career success story. What to look for in an answer:

  • Pride in their accomplishments
  • Explains their strengths
  • Significant results

Example:

 “I once worked with an international organisation whose business objectives were different to ours. To convince them to select our projects, my team conducted in-depth market research and identified the benefits they would gain by hiring us. In the end, they hired our company, which brought in five million dollars in revenue that financial year."

How do you manage your time and workload?

Another essential aspect that is evaluated in an aspiring business manager is their time management because they perform many tasks simultaneously. The way each candidate organises themselves shows how efficient their work can be. So it's important to know the way the candidate manages workload, and the amount of tasks they can handle. What to look for in an answer:

  • Time management
  • Usage of organisation tools
  • Ability to multitask

Example:

“I'm aware that the position I'm applying for involves team management and performing tasks simultaneously. I use applications to schedule my duties, this way I manage to stay organised and meet deadlines in the short, medium and long term.”

Describe your leadership and management style.

This is an exploratory question and assesses how the candidate works towardss fulfiling their team goals. It also assesses their ability to lead and encourage staff, and help them with their career development. It identifies whether they'd be a good addition to the company's culture. What to look for in an answer:

  • Strong leadership vision
  • Understanding of their management style and its benefits
  • Flexibility

Example:

“My leadership style is charismatic and participatory. This means that I approach my work from an enthusiastic perspective and I integrate all employees into the project. My priority is that everyone understands the value of their work in the organisation.”

What have you learned from your mistakes?

The nature of this question is personal, and it guides the interviewer on the candidate's capacity of self-evaluation. Ask this question to identify how the candidate overcomes their challenges and whether they learn from their mistakes. What to look for in an answer:

  • Adaptability
  • Ability to take responsibility
  • Ability to learn from mistakes

Example:

“When I got my first position as a business manager, I tried to do every element of the job by myself. I avoided asking others for help, which on several occasions drove me to make the wrong decisions. From this experience I learned the importance of teamwork for the success of a project.”

What approach do you use when leading a business meeting to make sure everything runs smoothly?

Business managers frequently meet with the team, requiring the candidate to have advanced leadership and communication skills. The candidate must have the ability to extract and synthesise key conclusions from the meetings. What to look for in an answer:

  • Leadership style
  • Clear and concise communication
  • organisational skills

Example:

 “I start meetings with a checklist to verify the progress of the projects. This takes only a few minutes and enables me to track what's completed and what still needs to be done. Then, I explain the next steps in detail to confirm everyone understands their role. I encourage questions and give space for my team to express their opinions and suggestions. This helps maintain focus during the meeting, increase productivity, and reduce the meeting time.”

What are the three most important skills for a business manager?

Discovering what the candidate considers most important for the position of business manager offers guidance of their work's philosophy. Whatever the person considers the most important for the position, is what will enhance their professional profile. What to look for in an answer: 

  • Personal goals
  • Identification of the position's main duties
  • Technical and personal skills

Example:

“I believe having skills such as critical thinking, organisation, and planning skills, together with good communication, is fundamental for any business manager. These skills allow the operations of a company to run smoothly while continuing working on strategies that actively improve assessments, productivity, effectiveness, and even collabouration between departments in a business setting.”

How do you align your team's values with those of the organisation?

It's essential to hire a business manager candidate who can align the goals and values of their team with the company's culture. A positive work environment comprises solutions that favour both parties. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding or organisational values
  • Examples of team leadership
  • Adaptability

Example:

“I apply a system in which each team member studies the mission and vision of the organisation. This ensures we're all working towardss a shared goal and can work together cohesively. Also, I'm in constant communication with the team to listen to their suggestions.”

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