- Could you briefly introduce yourself and explain what inspired you to become an Operations Manager?
- What is your Managerial approach towards your team and operations?
- How do you measure the success of your team?
- If you get hired, what would your first task be as a newly appointed operations manager?
- How do you handle failure?
- How do you evaluate or monitor team performance?
- How do you approach the matter if you find a member not performing up to the mark?
- How do you delegate work to your team?
So you have finally received the interview call for an operations manager job amongst a few worthy competitors. But are you feeling nervous about what operations manager interview questions you will come across?
Don’t worry, we have you covered. In this blog, we will provide important operations manager interview questions and answers to help you prepare and ace the job interview.
Let’s begin!
Could you briefly introduce yourself and explain what inspired you to become an Operations Manager?
This is a combination of the two most common HR interview questions, "Tell me something about yourself" and "Why did you choose this career?"
This Operations Manager interview question allows the recruiter to break the ice by allowing you to introduce yourself and explain what got you passionate about this field.
So when answering this operations manager interview question, follow these two tips.
Provide your personal information and highlight that you possess the required skill and experience.
Keep your answer short and cover what got you interested in this field, especially as an operations manager.
What is your Managerial approach towards your team and operations?
This is another important operations manager interview question. Recruiters often ask it to get an understanding of your management approach. So, provide an example that highlights your approach.
Here's how you can field this ops round interview question.
"My first step is to understand my team members as everyone's work approach is different. Then I try to moderate a plan of management that allows them to work independently and yet deliver on time.
This method not only allows the team to work freely without someone breathing down their necks, but also allows me to supervise members who require it or are new.
But I am extremely firm on ensuring that the deliverables are submitted on time and of top quality. I usually sit down and re-check the work to ensure no errors are seen."
How do you measure the success of your team?
As an operations manager, you will be responsible for evaluating your team's performances and be answerable to the upper management for the same. Therefore, this makes for an important operations manager interview question.
So, when answering this question, keep in mind to highlight 2/3 techniques that ops managers use to assess performance and briefly explain it.
Here's how you can answer this operations manager interview question.
"I begin by setting a proper baseline by creating a level I want the team to operate at and this will help assess whether or not the targets have been met at each level.
Next, I would assign a measurable goal that can be quantified that will help me to analyze their success.
I also assign a particular metric for each project as it allows the team to realize what is expected at the end of a project. Next, I compare the metrics set and determine the success level attained."
If you get hired, what would your first task be as a newly appointed operations manager?
This is another important question asked in the ops round interview questions. By asking this question, the recruiter would like to know the first task you undertake at a new job. So, state one action you would execute in the first days of your new job.
You can answer this operations manager interview question in the following manner.
"I basically have a dual approach when I first assume my position as an operations manager. I take the first few days to familiarize myself with the company's mission and vision statements and the team. This helps me to design my work plans and the company's strategic objectives and designate work to the team accordingly."
How do you handle failure?
This is a very common HR interview question. Success and failure go hand-in-hand and this happens to be an important interview question for managerial positions. As a leader, you cannot let your morale go down because of a single stumble.
So, when answering this operations manager interview question, highlight a project that went south and briefly explain how you overcame the setback.
How do you evaluate or monitor team performance?
As a manager, you will need to monitor your team's performance and submit reports for evaluation. So to address this question, you need to provide useful methods to evaluate your team's performance. In addition, describe the method applied.
Here's a sample answer to this ops round interview question.
" I usually hold fortnightly meetings with my team as it helps me to personally communicate with them and vice versa. I prefer this mode as it builds trust within the team. Apart from this I also rely on data that can be collected from the CRM."
How do you approach the matter if you find a member not performing up to the mark?
Being a manager comes with great responsibilities, sometimes even unpleasant ones. As an operations manager, you have to be personally responsible for each team member’s performance and the whole team’s too, thereby making this a critical operations manager interview question.
You can answer the question in the following manner.
“I understand that every member's contribution matters when it comes to the team's total output. However, an employee's performance might be hindered by various factors, either low motivation or lack of ability.
This is something that proper communication and training can resolve. Once I have identified the problem, I try to come up with ways to improve the situation. However, I will continue to monitor their performance."
How do you delegate work to your team?
An operations manager's tasks include delegating assignments to the team equally and unbiasedly. This is how you can answer this operations manager interview question.
"To delegate work, I first identify the duties and tasks that need to be assigned. Next, I try to align the tasks to the person with the correct skillset as it not only ensures top quality but also ensures job satisfaction."
Apart from these important operations manager interview questions, also practice the frequently asked HR interview questions to be thoroughly prepared.
Also, remember that the best shot at getting the interview call is by grabbing the recruiter’s attention through your Operations manager CV.
All the Best!
