Asst. Operations Manager

The assistant manager’s job may be fairly routine one day and exciting the next. Assistant managers often take over the establishment (like a restaurant) in the absence of the boss. It demands multi-tasking and adaptability, problem solving, and interpersonal skills. It’s a management job with a lot of people interaction.

This is a very difficult question. You should always avoid saying that you had issues because if you say this, you will not be considered for the job. Just answer in a straight manner that you never had any issues.

The interviewer wants to find out through this question how you delegate tasks to your juniors. You need to remember about the deadlines and use ways for improving the performance of the employees.

Operations managers are required to communicate effectively inside and outside the organization. They often represent companies in conferences and meetings because they are highly qualified to present the details of expansion and growth, plans and prospects, and discuss any current projects.

Be confident answering in the affirmative. The assistant manager’s role is exciting and challenging as you work closely with an executive of the company. It is a job that is all about management and applying management skills. The assistant manager often communicates with staff, managers, and customers, and directly oversees customer service. Assistant managers play an important part in ensuring profit and a good name for the organization.

Tests problem-solving skills.

All assistant managers report to senior management. Assistant managers keep their managers updated with oral and written reports.

While this question is an invitation to do some chest pounding, remember to illustrate strengths that will benefit the employer and are relative to the position. For example:

☛ being a problem solver

☛ being a motivator

☛ being a natural leader

☛ the ability to perform under pressure

☛ a positive attitude

☛ loyalty

The tasks are numerous, so give a few specific examples, for example: Preparing budgets for programs, arranging facilities and ensuring coordinated movement from site to site, making inventory control and logistics, being an employees’ supervisor, conducting job interviews etc.

This is a bit of a trick question, but it's an important one. The best sales managers know that motivation is personal. While money might drive one rep to go the extra mile, another might be inspired by a development opportunity or creative contest.

The candidate who can navigate the trick and get to the right answer -- in this case, "it depends on the rep" -- possesses the motivational ability to lead a sales team to success.

If you already have work experience, you can easily answer because you will very well know the responsibilities. If you are facing such an interview for the first time, it is better to read about the job description before appearing for the interview. The main responsibility of assistant manager is to assist the senior manager in daily works of the company. Assistant manager also has to acts as a medium to communicate between the staff and the senior manager. Employee training and client servicing are other responsibilities.

Whatever may be the reason, you should include only positive reasons in your answer. You should always acknowledge whatever you learnt from your previous employer. Your skills improved and plus you gained experience from your previous job. Never ever criticize about your previous job.

It would be nice if a sales manager could do ride alongs and listen in on each and every call a new rep makes, but this model is impractical at scale.

Make sure the candidate acknowledges the importance of a repeatable training process that doesn't center around an informal passing down of knowledge.

I am very comfortable speaking in front of a group of people. I took several public speaking classes in college, and at my last job I attended a conference on the company’s behalf in order to give a presentation about how the best operations managers lead as opposed to manage. I received numerous compliments from my peers about the professionalism I displayed at the conference. I would be more than willing to do the same here if offered a position.

Talk about your personal attributes, such as loyalty, integrity, ethics, ability to work under pressure, leadership and charisma, orderliness, etc. You can start your answer by giving examples; if you worked as an assistant retail manger you probably had to manage a group of people (mention exact number), hire and fire people, interact effectively with clients, and deal with client complaints.

Reveals more about history.

Reps generally only care about one number: their quota. Keeping on top of pipeline and win rate is also important ... as these metrics pertain to their quota. It's all quota, all the time.

But when a rep is promoted to management, they must produce forecasts and reports that analyze a variety of metrics across the entire team.

While a sales manager doesn't need to be a data analysis pro, they do need to have some familiarity with and inclination for crunching numbers and spotting trends. Beware of candidates that express active revulsion for data analysis.

The answer here should be given in a very intelligent manner. As the answer will bring out negative qualities, you have to say it in a way that does not make you unfit for the job. Bring out something positive like you gave your best and you took the criticism in a positive way and how it helped you in future. You have to give an impressive answer to such a difficult question.