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Why do recruiters ask "why do you want to be a manager?”

The best approach to answer "why do you want to be a manager?”

Example answers to "why do you want to be a manager?”

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How To Answer The “Why Do You Want To Be A Manager?” Interview Question


Do you have what it takes to be a leader? You’ll have to prove you do if you’re interviewing for a management position.


I’ve interviewed (and been hired!) for about half a dozen management positions throughout my career. Without fail, I was asked, “why do you want to be a manager?”.


It’s a safe bet a recruiter will ask something similar in your next interview if you're on the management track. Some other ways they may ask the same question include:



What kind of manager are you?

How would your team describe your management style?

 What are your key strengths as a manager?



This is a tough question, especially if you’re new to management, but it’s crucial you get it right. You have to demonstrate confidence, organization and that you can handle the job's responsibility while showing humility, empathy and encouragement!


And if you don’t manage to get it right, you can kiss that opportunity goodbye. Tricky as it may be, let’s show you exactly how to prep your answer.


In this article, we:



Explain why recruiters ask, “why do you want to be a manager?”

Reveal the top 10 skills recruiters are looking for in a manager today.

Go over the best approach to answering the question, with great examples of how to craft your answer.

Give 3 great examples you can apply to different job situations.







Management position job interviews are among the most critical steps to advance your career. You have to be prepared to ace the interview and land the job.
Why do recruiters ask "why do you want to be a manager?”

Hiring managers ask, “Why do you want to be a manager?” because management positions are the most important roles they have to fill. They need to find a candidate with the right mix of hard and soft skills but who also matches the company culture and goals.


Asking this direct question is one of the fastest ways a recruiter can gauge whether you’re the right person for the role. Your answer needs to convince them your interest in the role goes beyond just a paycheck and demonstrate you have an interest in leadership.


The recruiter will also check that your management style and goals align with their corporate culture and mission. It’s essential for the company’s success that everyone is on the same page about how to move forward.

Qualities they want to see from your answer

Management expectations have shifted in the 21st century. Where a top-down structure with a no-nonsense leader used to be the norm, most companies have shifted to be flatter, more flexible organizations with authentic and inspiring leaders.


Every company has its own management expectations and style - from rigid and conservative traditional workplaces to more progressive and laid-back ones. But all good managers lean on a mix of similar hard and soft skills to get their job done.


When considering a management position candidate, the recruitment team will typically be on the lookout that you have some combination of these essential leadership skills:



Motivating others

Fostering potential

Inspiring trust

Taking on and delegating responsibility

Strategic thinking

Goal and expectation setting

Giving (and receiving) feedback

Team building

Positivity

Authenticity



Keep these essential skills in mind when considering your answer. Look back on your work history to find examples where you’ve demonstrated them and identify goals to set for yourself as a manager.

The best approach to answer "why do you want to be a manager?”

Because every company will have different expectations, and every one of you will have different traits, there’s no ‘best’ answer to this question. But by following the steps we’ve put together below, you can tailor a response that shows how you’re the perfect fit for the job.

Research the company

Researching the company you’re interviewing for a management role with is absolutely crucial to landing the job. No company will hire a manager who knows nothing about them or how they operate.


You want to learn everything you can about the company’s product or service, industry, and their place in it. You also need an idea of how they operate internally: the company culture and mission, how formal or laid back they are, and their management style.


Use what you learn to build each of the next aspects of your answer.

Identify overlaps

The strongest managers represent their company’s culture and goals and pass them on to their teams. Look for ways your interests, work history, and management style overlap with the company’s processes and operations. 


The more you can show the recruiter that you align with the company’s goals, the more they will see you’re a natural fit. It demonstrates the value you’ll bring to the role.


Example:
Be specific

Building on the type of example above, offer specific, relevant examples of how you applied your leadership qualities or led teams in the past. Examples lend you credibility and prove to the recruiter that you’re a strong candidate for the role.


Using the STAR method, you can weave a quick story that shows how you successfully navigated an issue and present the positive outcomes to establish yourself as a bonafide leader.


 Example:
Match their management style

Another reason to research the company is to find out in advance what type of management style the company applies. Once you know, you can show how it works with your style and identify goals for improvement. 


Diving into a discussion on management style will demonstrate that you understand the role more than most people do. And talking about your management development and growth goals will show that you’re a motivated professional who plans to keep adding value to the company once they hire you.


Example:
Reinforce your soft skills

Across all industries, companies are taking a more compassionate and empathetic approach to management. The most successful managers have strong interpersonal skills and can build trust and gain team respect. 


Once you’ve established that you can push your team to get the work done, show the recruiter you know how to support your team when they’re not in top form. Whether it’s family, health, or other personal issues, offer another example of how you can get your team through these tough spots for the company’s long-term success.


Example:

With the 5 tips above in your pocket, you’re ready to tailor a great answer that will impress in your next job interview. That way, once you sit down with the interviewer, you’ll be prepared to answer whichever version of the “why do you want to be a manager?” question they ask. 


If you want to learn more or have any other questions about job interviews, we’ve put together the best of our expert advice on the most common questions we get on the topic to help you ace your interview.

Example answers to "why do you want to be a manager?”
Example #1: For progressive companies.

Use this answer where you want to demonstrate to the recruiter that it’s your goal to you’re your team to complete projects successfully and maximize their potential
Example #2: More traditional companies

Use this answer where you want to impress a more traditional company that is looking for a manager that will reach goals and boost earnings   
Example #3: Where there have been recent changes 

Sometimes, companies hit a rough patch and need to find new management to help rebuild morale, increase efficiency, or reach other goals. If that’s the case, try this answer. 
Takeaways


Managers need a mix of hard and soft skills to meet the expectations of the modern workplace.

Show that you are an authentic, understanding, and empathetic leader who will inspire and build your team’s morale to boost productivity and meet goals.

Learning as much as possible about the company in advance is critical to plan a tailored answer.

Identify how your interests and management style overlap with the company’s culture and goals to demonstrate your value in the role

 Give specific examples of past success to lend credibility to your answers



Whether you're looking for a first job, and new job, or moving up where you are, it’s a nerve-wracking and sometimes confusing experience. We know you may not have all the answers, but we’ve been doing this for a long time, and are ready to help you out.  


Why do recruiters ask, "are you a team player?”

Best approach to answer "are you a team player?”

Example answers to "are you a team player?”

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How To Answer The “Are You A Team Player?” Interview Question


Teamwork is an important part of almost every job there is. Unless you work for yourself and by yourself, you’re part of a team!





Recruiters want to be sure from the outset that you’ll fit on the team they’ve built, so they’ll often ask, “are you a team player?” in your interview. Some other ways they might phrase this question include:



Do you work better by yourself or as part of a team?

How would your coworkers/manager describe working with you?

Do you enjoy working as part of a team?

What kind of work environment do you prefer?






Thinking about how to answer this common job interview question is a great way to prepare for your upcoming interview. Regardless of how they ask the question, you need to show the recruiter you are a team player. 





In this article, we:



Explain why recruiters ask, “are you a team player”?

Show you the best approach to answering this question.

Include 5 examples of how to answer, "are you a team player?”






Whether you’re beginning your career or years along and looking for a change, preparing for a job interview can be a critical step in reaching your next career goal. Consider hiring a career counselor to prepare for your next interview or any other career steps you’re thinking about.


Why do recruiters ask, "are you a team player?”

Recruiters have a few tried and true questions you can expect to be asked at one point or another in a job interview. While some of them are tricky as hell, this one is not.





The reason recruiters ask this question is straightforward. They're gauging whether you have the interpersonal skills to communicate, collaborate, and generally work well with other employees. 





Although the level of interaction and collaboration differs for each job and company, the recruiter wants to know how you’ll fit in their company's culture and role. You can prep a strong answer for any situation with a little advance research.

Best approach to answer "are you a team player?”

Before you go into your next interview, you should make a plan for how you intend to answer some of the common questions interviewers tend to ask. Use the following tips to help plan your answer to “are you a team player?” so that you’re comfortable in the interview.

Research the company and the role

Because each employer and every role is a bit different, your first step is to research the company and position. You want to learn about the company culture and some of the day-to-day expectations for your job.





You can learn about the company culture by checking out the ‘about us’ page on their website or from any stories and bios they’ve included on their site. Read between the lines to get an idea of whether it’s more conventional and conservative, or modern and laid back.





You can easily find out about the role by reviewing the job description posted and doing a quick internet search about the position. Look for info on typical expectations: whether there’s a lot of standing, operating a machine, deskwork, group work, or other duties to expect.





You can also use this as an opportunity to connect with your network. Reach out to people in person or through social media to see if anyone knows what it’s like to work at that company or in that type of job.





The info you collect will give you a solid idea of what teamwork means at that company and for that role. With that knowledge in hand, you can craft a tailored answer that showcases your best qualities for the job.

Look back on your past

Based on the culture and duties you identified in your research, think back on your personal, school, and especially work history to find experiences that overlap. More recent experience will make for better examples, so work backwards from your most recent job or extracurricular activity.





Pick times when you worked as part of a team that has some similarity to what your research shows you should expect. The important thing is to be able to describe how your experience shows you’re a good fit in general for the role they’ll expect you to be doing. 





There’s no need to find specific matches; general similarities are perfect. If it’s a busy place with a big team and you’ve played soccer, there’s your match! If there will be a lot of time on your own at one of several workstations in a shop and you were a prep cook at another job, order up!





To impress the recruiter, you should also consider describing your experience through a STAR story. This is a simple method of explaining a Situation, Task, Action, and Result that gives you control to highlight the qualities you want to show off.

Own the story

Use your answer to go beyond just saying, “yes, I’m a good team player…” and trailing off into the distance. Describe additional strengths that demonstrate just how desirable a candidate you are.





This is another great reason to apply the STAR method. Use the story you tell to illustrate how you have any of these other soft skills associated with being a strong team player:






Communication… the foundation of effective teamwork

Time management

Problem-solving

Listening

Critical thinking

Collaboration

Leadership


Tie it up with a bow

Remember, the recruiter is trying to see whether you’re a good fit on their team. Just because you’ve taken the time to make the connection between the story you decided on and the role you’re applying to doesn’t mean they’ll see it instantly.





Directly relate your story to an important aspect of the job you're applying to. Whether it’s to one of the duties in the job description, the role in general, or the company culture, tie the story back clearly so the recruiter understands your connection.

Be honest

A great thing about researching the role and thinking about your work history is learning whether you’ll like the job. Consider your personality type and preferred work setting, and if you discover something you know you won't be able to handle, it may be time to look for better options.





Being honest with yourself means you’ll also be honest to the recruiter. When they ask whether you’re a team player or what kind of work environment works best for you, you’ll be ready with a well-considered, honest answer about what your strengths are on a team.

Stay loose

Because a recruiter can ask this question differently, it’s best to jot down some bullet points about the story rather than script a complete answer. You’re far better off remembering 4-5 key points that will satisfy any question they ask instead of tripping yourself up trying to adapt a script you wrote out.





Besides, this will keep the interaction natural and authentic, and you’ll avoid sounding like an AI chatbot wrote your answer. Recruiters often consider more than just your words. Keep the conversation engaging and friendly to score huge bonus points.





This question is just one of many questions we get over and over about job interviews. If you want to learn more, we’ve put together the best of our expert advice on the most common we get to help you ace your interview.

Example answers to "are you a team player?”

 Get an idea of what a recruiter wants to hear when they ask, “are you a team player?” then lay the foundation for your perfect answer.

Example 1

This is a great response for a social butterfly who’s always keen to help their team.
Example 2

This type of answer would work in most situations. It would be great for people who don’t want to promise the moon but can also interact with their team. 
Example 3

Here’s a great option if you’re going for a supervisory role or moving to a more senior position in an office or creative workplace.
Example 4

Consider this example if you’re moving up from a mid-level seniority position and your work is hands-on.
Example 5

This example is great for your first job. It relies on extracurricular activities and relates them to work.
Takeaways


When a recruiter asks, “are you a team player?”, the answer is always yes - with an explanation of how.

Be honest about the type of team player you are, and use those strengths.

Research the company and job you’re interviewing for to understand their expectations.

Draw on past work or personal experiences to build a story that explains how you’re an asset to their team.

Use a STAR story to add more context and demonstrate other valuable characteristics.



Teamwork is so important in the workplace nowadays. It’s vital you demonstrate that you can play well with others.

Ace the Interview