The Job Interview: Top 10 Competencies for Managers

As a manager, certain competencies are often particularly important. If you have a job interview coming up, it's crucial to prepare for these. We've highlighted a top 10 list of competencies that you can expect during your next job interview. 

Competence 1: Adaptability

Adaptability is always a crucial point for employers. The world and the way we work are constantly changing. Employers seek employees who can evolve with these changes and adapt to new circumstances. 

Possible questions: 

1. Your organization is implementing a policy change. How would you handle it? Provide an example.
2. If you have changed jobs frequently, which job required the least effort to integrate? Why?
3. If you are called for an urgent task, how would you respond?
4. Have you ever had to perform tasks outside your job description? How did you feel about it

Competence 2: Goal Orientation

Whether facing a new approach, setbacks, or new opportunities, how do you handle the goals you set? Using concrete examples and results can effectively illustrate your responses to these questions. 

Possible questions: 

1. Provide an example of a setback. What did you do to still achieve your goal?
2. What goals did you achieve in the past year? Are there any you didn't achieve? Why?
3. How do you prioritize tasks in your work?

Competence 3: Empathy

Managers with strong empathy can create a positive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. This can lead to higher productivity, less stress, and greater employee satisfaction. Additionally, empathy helps in building relationships and resolving conflicts. 

Possible questions: 

1. Have you ever done something for someone going through a tough time? What did you do?
2. Have you experienced a client reacting emotionally? How did you handle it, and what was the result?
3. Provide an example of delivering bad news. How did you approach it?
4. Have you ever adjusted a decision based on someone else's feelings? How did you proceed, and what factors did you consider?

Competence 4: Innovation Ability

The current situation sometimes demands innovation. Being able to innovate and seize opportunities is crucial. 

Possible questions: 

1. Have you ever proposed a solution that was unconventional? Was it implemented, and how was it received?
2. Depending on the company size, the time to implement something new can vary. How do you respond when an opportunity arises in the market?
3. What improvements would you suggest for our products and services? How does it align with the future?

Competence 5: Leadership

In today's predominantly hybrid work environments, a different approach is needed compared to fully office-based work. Provide examples from both situations to illustrate your adaptability as a leader. 

Possible questions: 

1. How have you led your team to success?
2. Describe a situation where you had to keep your employees motivated to handle a large workload. Did you succeed, and what would you do differently in the future?
3. Share a situation where you found it challenging to function as a leader. How do you determine when to use informal or formal behavior?
4. How do you ensure your employees can develop both professionally and personally?

Competence 6: Stakeholder Management

Stakeholder management is a crucial competency for managers. Describe these situations well and showcase positive results. 

Possible questions: 

1. In your previous job, you implemented certain changes. What did you do to create support for them
2. Have you ever encountered resistance to a plan? What did you do to overcome it?
3. How do you ensure people feel heard? How does that impact the execution of your project/decision?

Competence 7: Resilience

Resilient employees are more creative and better at thinking outside the box. They can provide innovative solutions and contribute to a better business outcome. 

Possible questions: 

1. Provide an example of a situation where you experienced a lot of stress. How did you manage to handle it?
2. How do you set boundaries to prevent stress?
3. What situations at work do you find most challenging, and how do you cope with them?

Competence 8: Sense of Responsibility

Feeling responsible for your work and team is an attribute hiring managers look for. It can contribute to a more positive workplace culture. 

Possible questions: 

1. Provide an example of improvements you implemented in your work. How did you go about it?
2. You must have experienced having too much work. How do you handle that situation?
3. Do you engage in tasks outside your job description? What motivates you to do so? Provide an example.

Competence 9: Meeting Management

Meetings sometimes take up more time than desired. Be aware of your meeting style and provide concrete examples and results. 

Possible questions: 

1. What is your favorite meeting style? Provide an example.
2. Share an example of a decision that was made with which you didn't fully agree. How did you respond?
3. Provide an example of a situation where meeting rules were not followed. Did you intervene? Why or why not?

Competence 10: Self-Reflection

Self-reflection is essential for continued professional development and is a competency that may be addressed in questions. 

Possible questions: 

1. Provide an example of a work situation that emotionally affected you. What caused it, and how did you respond?
2. Looking back at this year, what would you do differently next year? Why?
3. What do you consider a challenging trait of yours? How do you deal with it?
4. What motivates you, and how do you ensure personal development?

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