In this new series of posts Roberto Buono shares his most common interview questions, why he asks them and what type of answer he is looking for.
What am I trying to find out?
By asking "What kind of management integration would your ideal manager provide?", I want to know if I would be able to be your manager!
Depending on what type of team I am trying to set up or the culture I want to foster in the team, I need to make sure we are compatible. The answer I will look for would differ depending on the role I am hiring for. For instance, if the role is senior, I want to find someone who feels empowered to make decisions and is comfortable with driving success in the team. However, if the role is more junior, I need to make sure they are open to be coached or mentored and will be able to receive objective feedback on their progression within the role. I want my junior hires to be my next seniors, who help me train the next group of juniors we hire. I want my seniors to be the next directors and remember me fondly!
What not to say
These are some real life examples of responses to my question "What kind of management integration would your ideal manager provide?" from candidates I've interviewed. This wasn't the main reason why I didn't hire but added to the list of reasons.
Answer: I don't know. I've never thought about it.
It's quite a simple question, so not having ever thought about what type of manager brings the best out of you, shows a lack of retrospection. I'm a little more forgiving for junior roles but if you're a senior, I expect this to be something you've considered.
Answer: I don't like to be micro managed.
Nobody really likes to be micromanaged, however that wasn't my question. I'd asked about your ideal manager. If you list of all the negative traits and find it hard to mention one positive trait, it's difficult for me to see managing you as a positive.
Good answers for the "your ideal manager question"!
Answer: Receiving continued feedback on my work and progression.
Fantastic. Giving feedback can be quite difficult and time consuming, so it's great for someone to demand it from me. I aim to be the best manager you've ever had, so having an individual who is open and willing for feedback makes it easy.
Answer: Knowing I can depend on my manager to support me when things go wrong.
There will always be conflicts when people work together. My role is to be close to the team and resolve any issues before they are given time to fester for too long. Even the smallest misunderstanding can become a reason why people leave a company, if it's not resolved in a reasonable timeframe.
What are your best/worst answers to this question?
These are just an example of what type of answers I would and wouldn't like to hear but I'd be interested in hearing about your experience. What are some of the answers you've heard or given to this question?
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