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Operations Manager Interview Questions

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Operations Manager interview questions and answers.

  1. What is your strength as an Operations Manager? See answer
  2. How do you create an environment of collabouration within a company? See answer
  3. How do you develop professional relationships with outside vendors? See answer
  4. What are some financial best practises that you follow as an Operations Manager? See answer
  5. Describe your education and training regarding management and operations. See answer
  6. What ERP software do you have experience using? See answer
  7. Describe a time when you made a costly mistake. See answer
  8. What experience do you have with logistics management? See answer
  9. How do you manage the performance of your team? See answer
  10. What is the process you follow for developing and implementing financial budgets? See answer
  11. How would you describe your leadership style? See answer
  12. Describe a time when you had to manage a team that was not performing. See answer
  13. How do you communicate the objectives of the company to your team? See answer
  14. How familiar are you with cost analysis? See answer
  15. Why would you be a successful Operations Manager for our company? See answer
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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Operations Manager Interview Questions and Answers

What is your strength as an Operations Manager?

An Operations Manager is responsible for an organisation's growth and efficiency, and handles multiple duties and tasks. The goal of the question is to evaluate what the candidate feels is their primary strength. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to develop and implement strategies
  • Communication skills to express ideas and share the objectives and goals of the company
  • Interpersonal skills to develop and manage a solid team

Example:

"My strength as an Operations Manager is building strong, effective teams. From hiring the right people for critical positions to providing a clear vision and goal setting, leading teams is how I create ongoing success."

How do you create an environment of collabouration within a company?

An Operations Manager must bring various departments together to work towards the greater good of the business. The goal of the question is to determine how the candidate creates a collabourative environment. What to look for in an answer:

  • Communication skills to provide clear direction and business objectives
  • Interpersonal skills to understand how to interact with diverse groups
  • Leadership skills to bring various teams together to meet goals

Example:

"Creating collabouration between departments takes effective communication of common goals and providing a personal meaning for each individual and how they contribute to the overall success. For example, having interdepartmental meetings to discuss projects and company goals helps everyone to identify the role they play."

How do you develop professional relationships with outside vendors?

An Operations Manager may oversee purchasing and vendor relations. The goal of the question is to evaluate how the candidate creates professional relationships that benefit the organisation. What to look for in an answer:

  • Communication skills to express the company's goals and objectives
  • Critical thinking to determine vendors that can support the business
  • Interpersonal skills to build respectful professional relationships

Example:

"Having a solid list of vendors that can support the company's needs and requirements is vital. Over the years, I have developed and maintained many professional relationships that have contributed to my success. I communicate my requirements and expectations and maintain open discussion so that both sides know what to expect by working together."

What are some financial best practises that you follow as an Operations Manager?

An Operations Manager typically has budgetary obligations for the facility or company. The goal of the question is to determine how the candidate stays fiscally responsible. What to look for in an answer:

  • Solid understanding of financial budgeting, projections, and management
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Interpersonal skills to work with various departments to minimize expenses

Example:

"One of the financial best practises I follow as an Operations Manager is to review all vendor contracts yearly. This allows us the opportunity to negotiate better pricing or terms. I also review customer experience data regularly to improve our services and customer retention continuously."

Describe your education and training regarding management and operations.

Depending on your company, you may require formal education for the position, such as a diploma or bachelor's degree in business administration. The goal of the question is to determine what education and training the candidate has completed. What to look for in an answer:

  • Company-specific educational requirements, such as post-secondary education or equivalent experience
  • Willingness to continue professional development
  • Ability to adapt and implement experience into the current situation

Example:

"Many years ago, I completed a bachelor's degree in business administration. I have also continued to develop my skills by taking ongoing courses in manufacturing best practises, effective management skills, and human resources."

What ERP software do you have experience using?

Many companies use enterprise resource planning (ERP) software to manage all aspects of the business. The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's level of experience with ERP software. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to use computer software to manage daily operations
  • Company-specific ERP experience, based on your company's requirements
  • Ability to adapt their experience to the current situation

Example:

"In my most recent position, the company used Oracle for its ERP system. Our in-house specialist trained me when I started, and I was very proficient in most functions within the programme. Before that, I used SAP and Microsoft Dynamics."

Describe a time when you made a costly mistake.

The question's goal is to evaluate how the candidate handles failure within their role as an Operations Manager. What to look for in an answer:

  • Willingness to accept responsibility for mistakes
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving
  • Interpersonal skills to collabourate with others to fix an issue

Example:

One time I approved an inventory expense and didn't read the terms accurately, costing the company additional interest charges. To rectify my error, I met with our accountant to see if we could reverse the expense. Luckily, she could put in a last-minute reversal and help me fix the error. She said my quick thinking helped solve this issue since if I waited any longer, it would be irreversible. This experience taught me to be more conscientious about my work."

What experience do you have with logistics management?

While an Operations Manager handles the overall operations of a business, they may need to understand the process of logistics. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's level of experience with logistics management. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience in all business operations, including logistics
  • Ability to adapt experiences to the current situation
  • Willingness to continue professional development as required

Example:

"In my previous role, because of the company's size, I handled all operations, including overseeing logistics. While I am not an overseas goods movement expert, I am comfortable with North American transportation and export documentation."

How do you manage the performance of your team?

Typically, while there are department managers and supervisors, an Operations Manager manages overall team performance. The goal of the question is to evaluate how the candidate manages their team's performance and effectiveness. What to look for in an answer:

  • Communication skills to provide feedback and clear direction on goals and objectives
  • Interpersonal skills to build solid teams and create a collabourative work environment
  • Ability to use key performance indicators (KPI) and other performance measurements

Example:

"I rely on strong leadership from my department supervisors to motivate their teams. By having open communication about the company's targets and objectives, I ensure they provide the information to everyone. Each department has key targets, and during a weekly team management meeting, we review progress and setbacks."

What is the process you follow for developing and implementing financial budgets?

An Operations Manager is typically responsible for managing financial budgets, including labour expenses, training and development, and production costs. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's level of experience with budgetary responsibility. What to look for in an answer:

  • Solid foundation with business operations, such as financial reporting and budgetary concerns
  • Communication skills to gather necessary information
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving to create and implement realistic budgets

Example:

"In my last position, I reviewed all financial reports every month so that I knew how the company was doing compared to our overall budget. When creating a new fiscal budget, I gather all information, such as sales projections, historical production costs, and average materials costs."

How would you describe your leadership style?

An Operations Manager must be a manager and a leader of the company. The goal of the question is to determine how the candidate describes themselves as a leader. What to look for in an answer:

  • Leadership skills such as sharing the company's vision and mission
  • Communication skills to provide clear direction and guidance
  • Interpersonal skills to create effective teams

Example:

"I would describe my leadership style as a mix between pace-setting and transformational. I believe in expressing the objectives of the company so that all employees understand our bigger vision. I also create high standards of performance for all teams. I balance that with offering guidance, support, and coaching team members on how to reach their goals effectively."

Describe a time when you had to manage a team that was not performing.

The question's goal is to evaluate how the candidate manages an under-performing team to get better results. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to provide clear expectations to team members
  • Ability to motivate individuals and create personal accountability for work performance
  • Critical and creative thinking to analyse underperforming teams to determine the root cause

Example:

"One time an accounting team that was underperforming by not maintaining accuracy or speed in their duties. As a result, I had many conversations to understand where the disconnect was happening. It became clear that they didn't understand their roles' expectations. I then provided additional training sessions, followed by check-ins, which helped me ensure the team finally knew their expectations and responsibilities."

How do you communicate the objectives of the company to your team?

An Operations Manager must provide clear direction to their team of the company's goals and vision. The purpose of the question is to evaluate how effectively the candidate shares vital information with their team. What to look for in an answer:

  • Solid communication skills to express high-level ideas
  • Ability to inspire team members
  • Interpersonal skills to hire and develop the best candidates for the team's success

Example:

"Every year, I held an annual general meeting for the entire company to attend. I shared the vision for the company over the coming year and specific goals and objectives. I broke the information down into department deliverables so that each team understood how they contribute to the company's overall success."

How familiar are you with cost analysis?

An Operations Manager must be comfortable with cost analysis and other financial reporting. The question's goal is to evaluate the candidate's level of experience in analyzing financial data. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience and understanding of basic financial reports, such as cost analysis and profit-and-loss statements
  • Ability to adapt experiences to the current situation
  • Willingness to continue professional development to further essential skills

Example:

"I have many years of experience in conducting benefit-cost analysis reports when working as a Project Manager for various manufacturing projects. And as an Operations Manager, I understand the importance of cost analysis for maintaining cost control and budgetary expenses."

Why would you be a successful Operations Manager for our company?

The goal of the question is to provide the candidate with an opportunity to share their best qualities and skills. It also provides you with information about the research the candidate completed on the company before the interview. What to look for in an answer:

  • Positive and enthusiastic attitude about the role
  • Communication skills to express their thoughts
  • Interpersonal skills to build rapport with the interviewer

Example:

"I am excited by the opportunity to join your company as the Operations Manager because I know I have the industry knowledge and history of success to take your business to the next level. I have a proven record of increasing profit while decreasing operating costs while maintaining employee and customer retention."

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