Interview for the position of Head of Sales. How to interview for a managerial position

According to the standard, the purpose of each interview is to determine the strengths and the candidate.

But the interview of the manager is a rather specific process, because during it it is necessary to identify both the level of competence and the level of competence in terms of personnel management.

What does an employer want to see?

At the interview of the future manager, the employer will not only find out information about the past and skills, but will also try to determine whether you have the following qualities:

• Efficiency.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities.
• The way you think.
• The level of influence on other people.
• Ability for strategic planning.
• Ability to analyze and implement positive solutions.
• Self confidence.

Your answers to questions and behavior in general will tell about these. Try to show that you are truly a leader:

• Do not speak too quietly and timidly - speak confidently and clearly.
• Do not show your excitement through gestures or facial expressions - do not bite or lick your lips, do not snap your knuckles, do not twist the first object in your hands, etc.
• Dress presentably - not too flashy, not too old-fashioned.

What questions will you need to answer

• Questions to identify the level of competence, for example, “How well do you know the area in which our company operates?”

• Questions to identify the leader: "How do you see the ideal leader?". Try to match the set of ideal qualities with those that you possess. The main thing is not to overpraise yourself and try to avoid hackneyed qualities (decisiveness, determination, etc.).
• Questions regarding future success in the position: “What does it take to be successful in this position?”

To answer correctly, first read the list of requirements indicated in the card of the proposed vacancy.

• Personnel management: “How to keep an employee in a position?”, “How to motivate employees?”. If you do not have an understanding of this on an intuitive level, then familiarize yourself with the basics of personnel management using literature or the Internet.
• Mistakes and failures: “What was the biggest mistake you made at work?”

Do not say that you did not have mistakes, as this will indicate that you do not know how to recognize them and inadequately assess the situation and yourself in it. It is better to remember in advance some small

An interview is a responsible event, both for the applicant and for the head of the company: the first needs a job, and the second - good worker. How the interview will be conducted and what questions the applicant will hear depends on the vacancy for which position there is in the organization. Let's take a look at how the interview goes. leadership position.

Getting ready for an interview

Of course, every applicant, before going to an interview, tries to prepare as best as possible for it. And rightly so, because it is there that you can produce good impression to the manager and show their merits and qualities that the company needs so much.

When an organization considers candidates for a managerial position, the most outstanding of them are taken into account. Each position requires certain skills and abilities. But this is not enough for a candidate for the position of manager, because, in addition to this, he must also show what personal qualities, experience and achievements.

When conducting an interview for a managerial position, the manager will want to thoroughly study the applicant from all sides. He will be asked all sorts of questions that may affect several areas. Special attention given to:

• intellect;
• leadership qualities;
• innovative thinking;
• influence;
• opinions and opinions;
• commercial savvy;
• strategic vision;
• attraction of resources from outside;
• performance;
• ability to build relationships with third parties;
• the ability to interest and manage relationships;
• experience in the international field.

An applicant who wants to take a leadership position must be well prepared. He needs to know the answer to each of the listed items. In addition, you should not bring theoretical knowledge, here you should talk about practice, personal experience.

As a rule, the interview goes as follows: first, the employer must talk about the position itself, responsibilities, possible prospects and career growth. Clarifies details and details. Further, the applicant can already ask the manager or employer questions of interest to him. Here we clarify: the candidate not only can, but must ask them! If the applicant does not have any questions during a conversation with the manager, then he looks absolutely not interested in the work. Don't need to prepare whole list counter questions, it is quite enough to ask about three or four.

Do not forget that the interview is conducted in order to get to know the candidates as best as possible, "probing" them, to test their abilities and qualities. After you have been offered a vacant position, you can ask all your questions.

Sometimes the interview begins with the request of the employer to the candidate to tell about his position in life, goals, plans for the future, difficulties and prospects. Answers should be comprehensive and clear, so you should prepare answers to them in advance.

Questions to ask in an interview for a managerial position

In addition to the standard interview questions for all (tell us about yourself, the company, your positive and negative sides etc.), here it is acceptable to ask questions typical for future leaders. These include:

• What leadership qualities do you have?
• Tell us about your past professional mistakes and the lessons learned from them?
• Can you influence employees?

In addition, the manager may invite the applicant to present a specific situation and ask him to find a way out of it. Since the purpose of the interview is to find a leader, the following question is quite possible: “What qualities should a great leader have?” Your task is to list them.

Most importantly, remember that in order to competently manage personnel, the manager must have the following qualities:

• self-confidence;
• courage;
• worldview;
• communication skills;
• tendency to introspection;
• the ability to create a cohesive team and manage it;
• the ability to support their subordinates.

It is these qualities of a good leader that should be highlighted when answering the question posed. Of course, when talking with a manager or leader, you should not breed demagoguery. By doing this, you will only tire the interlocutor and appear in the form of a talker. But the “bare” facts of your life and experience will also be inappropriate, because the applicant for a leadership position must be able to speak competently and beautifully, observing the golden mean.

Taking an example from personal experience, tell us about how you were able to get out of this situation, what tasks you solved, what results you achieved. Keep the sequence in your story. But you should not constantly "Yakat". You may seem like an upstart boss, which you absolutely do not need.

How to answer the manager's questions correctly?

So, you came to the interview because you want to take the vacant position of the head. An employer is sitting in front of you, and your further career depends on how you prove yourself. But how to build a dialogue and answer the questions of the employer?

First, listen carefully to the interlocutor, do not be distracted by extraneous thoughts. After hearing the question, quickly analyze: what does the employer want to hear from you? If suddenly you did not understand something in the question or did not hear it, ask again. It will be better than an incomprehensible or incorrect answer.

Secondly, remember that the answers must be well-structured. They must have a beginning, a middle and, accordingly, an end. First, briefly describe the situation, the problem that has arisen. Then, mention the tasks you set for yourself to solve the problem.

In the middle of the answer, it is worth talking about the problems that you had to face in this situation, and how exactly you solved them. At the end, draw conclusions, describe the indicators by which you measure your success.

Try to prove to the employer that you are always result-oriented in your work.

Qualities for hiring

What qualities should an applicant have? Of course, each employer sets for itself certain criteria for selecting candidates. But there are those qualities that a candidate needs in any interview:

• Confidence in your strength;
• neat appearance;
• work experience and professionalism;
• letters of recommendation;
• demeanor;
• sociability.

In addition to these qualities that are standard for all applicants, there are those that every leader should possess, namely:

• ability to manage, organize the work of the team;
• ability to work in a team;
• be the initiator, go for the result;
• be able to handle multiple tasks at the same time;
• with all responsibility and seriousness, have a good sense of humor.

Study well and remember the listed qualities before you go to work with an employer. But what if the applicant believes that he does not have all these qualities at all? Resign from a leadership position? Not at all. Very often we are able to show certain virtues and opportunities directly during work. You just need to remember these characteristics and strive for them. That's when you're sure to succeed!

Rules of etiquette: hiring

An article on how to successfully pass interviews and answer questions from a potential employer.

1. Obtaining relevant knowledge and education
2. Finding Job Opportunities
3. Interview
4. Recruitment for desired position

If there are usually no problems with the first two points, then at the interview you should prove yourself to the maximum. Sometimes, having a good education, a person can sit for months without work, because they simply do not know how to communicate and present themselves correctly.

As a result, at the interview he is directly shown to the door or the duty officer is told: “We will call you back.” This situation can arise with any unprepared person. To avoid it, you need to prepare in advance.

What is asked in an interview? Questions when applying for a job

The employer is primarily interested in your professional quality your education and work experience. Few people are interested in your personal life, household chores and the breed of your dog, even if it is the rarest. Speak clearly and to the point, avoiding unnecessary "water" in the text. In this case, it is very important to behave correctly:

• Be extremely polite and correct
• Don't argue again. Don't sort things out. Your task is to get this job
• Maintain eye contact and posture
• The correct "evasion" of the question is also the answer
• Sometimes you can ask the employer a question. But this right is not given to everyone, but only to people who understand human psychology well and are able to “catch” the right moment.

You can hear questions about previous work, relationships with future colleagues, desired salary. Also, you may be asked about what you know about the employing company.

Here important point: Before you go anywhere to get a job, try to find out as much as possible about the company. Even if the information is negative, come up with something that could pass for the truth.

How to answer awkward interview questions?

Awkward questions are a favorite part of all potential employers. It is by her that they determine the hidden sides of a potential employee, which he did not mention in his resume.

• One of the most uncomfortable is the question asking to tell about yourself. People begin to get nervous and most often talk about their hobbies, views on the world order and relatives. To avoid embarrassment, say 3-4 sentences in in general terms about their qualities and a few words about hobbies
• Women are often asked about personal life whether it interferes with work. After all, there is a certain danger that a woman can go on maternity leave or sick leave. Answer firmly, it won't hurt
• The next question is about achievement. Don't talk about first place in intra-school long jump competitions. It probably doesn't apply to your current job. Talk about how you have grown professionally. Restrained, natural
• It may sound strange, but some employers are genuinely interested in your zodiac sign. And if they don't like it, they'll show you the door. It's stupid, but it happens. Don't lie when answering this question. If you were refused, thank you and silently leave the office. A serious firm will never be interested in such things.

How to successfully pass an interview for a managerial position?

• Prepare well in advance for a job interview. You must leave behind the impression of a knowledgeable and confident person in himself and his actions. Choose the right suit, be sure to match the tie with the boots
• Although this is no longer the case in Everyday life, but Business Etiquette dictates its own rules. If you are a woman, do not dress vulgarly or very brightly. Choose discreet colors in clothes, makeup, manicure
• You must look confident, calm. Show emotion in situations where it is appropriate. Gesticulate, but not too actively. This speaks of excessive emotionality. Always let's finish the sentence, don't interrupt
• It is important for you, more than anyone else, to show yourself with better side. Try to show as much as possible the qualities that a leader should have. Your potential employer should understand from the interview with you that you are a reliable person. Employers do not tolerate criticism at the interview stage. This also needs to be taken into account

Interview questions for a managerial position

These are the questions employers like to ask future leaders:

1. “Tell me about ways to improve the efficiency of the department you led in your last position.” - Even if you are a so-so leader, do not rush to declare it. Recall situations in which you successfully and usefully took the initiative. Tell about them
2. “What methods of motivating employees do you actively use?” This question should be answered very thoughtfully. Don't rush to talk about a pay rise. There are other equally effective ways.
3. “Tell me about your biggest mistake at work. What lesson did you learn from it for yourself? — Do not deny the existence of this error. Then the employer will immediately decide that you are lying and you will not see the desired position. If there was some huge disaster in your career, don't mention it. Tell me about serious problem and how you deftly overcame it
4. Question about finances and your desired wages. Don't name a specific number. State that you are willing to work for a fee offered by your company
5. The answer to the question about improving professional skills is given above in the article.

Interview questions for sales manager

The main list of possible interview questions is given in the article above. However, there is a chance that the employer will want to actually verify your selling skills. He may ask the following questions:

1. "Try to sell me that pen right now." - A rather banal question, but it is he who fully reveal the candidate's sales skills. Turn your creative thinking in this matter
2. “You got a very dissatisfied and scandalous client, calm him down and sell something.” This task is much more difficult. Even one in four people will not be able to cope with it. As a rule, the role of a capricious client is played by the employer himself, so the candidate for the position of sales manager will have to act very carefully and smoothly. The client needs to be reassured immediately, to speak with him as politely as possible. Listening to your polite calm tone, the buyer will switch to it himself
3. “You are very overworked. There are a lot of orders, employees do not have time. Everyone wants to go home, no one wants to stay late at work. How do you motivate your subordinates to work? - Say what, according to the experience of previous years, acted effectively

Interview questions for a sales manager

The sales manager is ranked lower than the head of the sales department. The requirements for it are lower than for the latter. Most likely, the employer will not ask you to simulate the situation, but will ask the following questions, in addition to the main ones:

1. "Rate your level of sales knowledge on a scale of 1 to 10." “Say it like it is, but sometimes it’s okay to raise the bar a little. But only if your sales skill level is not very high
2. "Name the main qualities that a sales manager should possess." Your logic will be needed here. It is better to prepare for such a question in advance. Remember your best qualities and the qualities you lack to be a successful salesperson. name them
3. “Why should I (the employer) hire you?” — One of the most provocative questions. Talk about sales, about your successes in this area. Prove yourself

   Administrator interview questions

The administrator must be able to talk with people and resolve emerging disputes. His main qualities: sociability and the ability to quickly find the right solution.

The employer has the right to ask you about communication skills. He is not interested in any sales, because the main thing for you is consultation on service issues and monitoring the activities of employees.

Job interview questions

Oddly enough, but it is possible and even necessary to ask questions to a potential employer. The main thing is to understand at what point you need to do it. Above in the article there are several options for similar questions.

Do not ask the employer about his personal life, do not invade his personal space. Nobody will like it. From your side, questions about career growth, work schedule, vacation, weekends are possible. A question about bonuses and a direct question about salary will not be correct.

Job interview test

Employment testing is often done by employers. Especially in cases where the company is interested in hiring the most suitable employee for the position, and not a person from the street.

Tests are of two types:

• To test professional knowledge
• To test general knowledge

Tests to test your professional knowledge contain questions directly about your profession and related areas. To prepare for such a test, think about what you do poorly or not at all at work. Read books or articles online about it. A good help would be a seminar or detailed video well.

The general knowledge test is very similar to a regular school test. You are required to know school subjects and a broad outlook. Of course, the employer will not ask you to solve the most challenging tasks from the Unified State Examination, but the level of your knowledge should be appropriate for the position you want to get.

To be successful in your interviews, please complete the following requirements:

• Be a little reserved, but not constrained
• Never cross your legs or cross your arms over your chest
• Talk to your employer as equals
• Tell us about your best qualities as a specialist
• If the employer's question seems too personal to you, if possible, change the subject or ask a counter question
• Watch your speech. Pronunciation must be correct
• Your clothes set the general tone of the conversation and create a certain impression of you. Take Your Choice of Clothing Seriously

Reviews:

Marina, 31, Ufa

I was interviewing in a reputable company for the position of an accountant. It was difficult, I was constantly falling asleep tricky questions. Only the innate sense of the interlocutor and the costume helped, oddly enough. I was wearing a tight pencil skirt that day. white color, the jacket was more or less strictly cut, also white. Blouse blue color. Makeup is natural. All the time of the interview, my future employer carefully assessed me, my image. Judging by the fact that I was hired immediately after the interview, she liked everything.

Irina, 24 years old, Moscow

It was difficult for me to find a job in Moscow, but I got used to fighting to the end. My self-confidence helped me get a position as an office manager with a large firm. I briskly answered questions, did not pour water. Since childhood, I have been shy, and at that moment, fear paralyzed me so much that I stopped being afraid at all. But then, after the interview, she was drenched in cold sweat. She showed herself confident and had to correspond to this opinion about herself in a new place. Now there is no trace of shyness left.

How to succeed in interviews: video

There are a lot of vacancies for the head today. But there are even more people who want to get this position. How do you prepare to be at the forefront of this job race? Especially if you feel that being a manager is exactly your path in life?

labor market in modern world similar to gladiator fights. And to go through this fight, you need significant advantages, will and constant desire reach the maximum. In this article, we will cover the main points in preparing for an interview. What do you need to pay attention to, how to be confident and how to show your competence?

Employers' requirements

But let's start with how employers look at candidates? Seeing the situation from their point of view, we can soberly evaluate ourselves. Correct your direction personal growth. What do they require? It is important for employers that the employee is fully and unconditionally dedicated to the needs of their company. In most ads we find the following requirements:

• Ability to build relationships and negotiate.
• Efficiency of decision making.
• Dedication to work, responsibility.
• Self-organization and the ability to organize others.
• Scrupulousness.
• Self-development skills.
• Ability to set goals and develop plans.
• Orientation towards success.
• The ability to manage your time.

All right. The company that has a comfortable moral and psychological climate works better. where employees are jointly responsible for the result of their work and are not afraid to take the initiative. To do this, the person who is at the head of all processes must be the undisputed leader. He must develop strategic thinking, have a high level of self-control, and also need to understand their motives and subordinates. After all, if a person does not have a motive for activity, it is impossible to “force” him to work. Working with people also involves a lot of responsibility.

The manager is responsible for all the work that subordinates do. And, if necessary, he must intervene and help solve the difficulties that have arisen. So, he needs to know thoroughly the whole process that he manages. You need to plan time according to the importance of tasks.

Based on the above qualities, we can draw a picture of the ideal manager. Now ask yourself, what is your motivation? Are you ready step by step to approach this ideal, to achieve best results, climb the career ladder, and at the same time sacrifice the interests of your personality?

Create a "face". Secrets of the image of the head

We found out that someone who has leadership abilities and outstanding analytical thinking is more likely to get a job as a leader. Your task at the interview is to demonstrate all these qualities to the interviewer with all your appearance and behavior.

Show that you have your own view of the surrounding things, events. Show that you have formed as a person and you have your own image. But don't overdo it. Your behavior should be natural. Otherwise you will look funny. To create your image, you need to practice a little.

1. Exude confidence. Work in front of a mirror with facial expressions and gestures. If facial expressions or posture betray stiffness, stiffness, then fortune may turn away from you. You can not fold your hands "lock". Also, do not cross your legs. Best Pose- Sit straight with your hands on the table or on your knees. Watch your posture. While talking, make eye contact. Otherwise, the interlocutor may get the impression that you have a problem with contacts.
2. Polish your speech. Leadership must be clear, concise and to the point. But at the same time, speech must be free. Don't let anxiety ruin your impression. Remember that communication skills are essential for a leader.
3. Appearance. You will benefit if you dress presentably and tastefully. Think about what kind of shoes you will wear. Pick your accessories. Your view is showing internal state. Show that your creed is neatness and accuracy. Your hair, arms, cuffs, everything must look perfect. But by no means fancy.
4. openness and optimism. It is important to show the interviewer that you are optimistic about the future: you have personal goals that you are striving for. If the interviewer sees that you are full of enthusiasm and ready to move mountains for the sake of the goal, you can safely count on success. But still, personal goals cannot contradict corporate ones. On the contrary, they need to be as close as possible.
5. Bold, active stance and quick mind. You can show these qualities in conversation. To do this, find out everything about the company in advance and tell us what you think about its position in the market. Ask what priorities the director of the company puts before you. Find out if the owner plans to expand his business. All these questions will show your competence, maturity, and intelligence at the same time.

Types of interviews and principles of behavior

Since competition in the labor market is high, education and experience do not play a decisive role in choosing. So get ready for trials and anxieties. An interview may be arranged to test your knowledge, mental toughness, or other criteria. Everyone knows about the usual biographical interview. But let's talk about some types of interviews that go beyond a simple face-to-face conversation. And how to deal with them.

panel. During such an interview, two or three people can talk to you. Each of them evaluates a certain criterion. And then he delivers his verdict to the director who makes the decision.

The principle of behavior. Each interviewer has their own set of questions. Don't interrupt him. You will be able to ask prepared questions at the end of the interview. Don't make excuses. Be honest in your answers and be kind.

stress interview. It is carried out by one person or several at the same time. Their task is to take the applicant out of the comfort zone. That is, a person is deliberately pissed off: they can scream or, on the contrary, turn away and not listen at all. Try to be calm and natural. The candidate is deliberately angered to see how he copes with stressful loads.

The principle of behavior. Be courteous and answer questions with dignity. If you remain calm and act confident in dealing with a clearly inadequate interlocutor, you will successfully pass the selection.

Competency interview. You are asked a series of questions that will be analyzed further. The questions will be about the content of your work. Or simulate a situation from which you must exit in a certain way. So the employer extracts the necessary information about the applicant and evaluates the level of his training. The problems of psychological compatibility of employees often fall on the shoulders of the manager. Perhaps the employer wants to know about your experience in solving such problems.

The principle of behavior. Try to imagine this situation and find at least some solution.

Knowing about all the pitfalls that can block your path to finding the desired position, you can better prepare. By working on yourself, you will certainly achieve your cherished goal. After all, luck favors the strongest.

The more responsible the position, the more carefully the candidates are selected. Very high demands are placed on leaders of all ranks. These people will have to manage the team in a constantly changing and evolving market.