Supervisor Interview Questions to Ask
Strategic questions to evaluate potential supervisors, understand management style, and assess leadership fit.
1What is your management style and how do you prefer to work with your team?
Click to see why this works
What is your management style and how do you prefer to work with your team?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their approach to leadership and helps you understand if their style aligns with your work preferences.
2How do you handle conflict resolution and what is your approach to team disagreements?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle conflict resolution and what is your approach to team disagreements?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows their conflict management skills and reveals whether they can handle difficult situations effectively.
3What are your expectations for communication and how often do you prefer to meet?
Click to see why this works
What are your expectations for communication and how often do you prefer to meet?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their communication preferences and helps you understand the level of interaction and feedback you can expect.
4How do you support professional development and what opportunities do you provide for growth?
Click to see why this works
How do you support professional development and what opportunities do you provide for growth?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows their commitment to employee development and reveals what learning and advancement opportunities are available.
5What is your approach to giving feedback and how do you handle performance reviews?
Click to see why this works
What is your approach to giving feedback and how do you handle performance reviews?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their feedback style and shows whether they provide constructive, regular feedback or wait for formal reviews.
6How do you handle workload distribution and what is your approach to project management?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle workload distribution and what is your approach to project management?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows their organizational skills and reveals whether they can effectively manage resources and deadlines.
7What are your thoughts on work-life balance and how do you support your team's wellbeing?
Click to see why this works
What are your thoughts on work-life balance and how do you support your team's wellbeing?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their values around work-life balance and shows whether they prioritize employee wellbeing and mental health.
8How do you handle mistakes and what is your approach to learning from failures?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle mistakes and what is your approach to learning from failures?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows their attitude toward mistakes and reveals whether they create a safe environment for learning and growth.
9What is your approach to delegation and how do you determine what to assign to team members?
Click to see why this works
What is your approach to delegation and how do you determine what to assign to team members?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their delegation skills and shows whether they trust their team and provide appropriate autonomy.
10How do you handle stress and what support do you provide during challenging periods?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle stress and what support do you provide during challenging periods?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows their stress management approach and reveals whether they can support their team during difficult times.
11What are your goals for the team and how do you measure success?
Click to see why this works
What are your goals for the team and how do you measure success?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their vision for the team and shows what metrics and outcomes they prioritize.
12How do you handle different personality types and what is your approach to team dynamics?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle different personality types and what is your approach to team dynamics?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows their emotional intelligence and reveals whether they can work effectively with diverse team members.
13What is your approach to innovation and how do you encourage creative thinking?
Click to see why this works
What is your approach to innovation and how do you encourage creative thinking?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their openness to new ideas and shows whether they foster an environment that encourages innovation.
14How do you handle difficult conversations and what is your approach to addressing performance issues?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle difficult conversations and what is your approach to addressing performance issues?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows their ability to handle challenging situations and reveals whether they can provide difficult feedback constructively.
15What are your thoughts on remote work and how do you manage distributed teams?
Click to see why this works
What are your thoughts on remote work and how do you manage distributed teams?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their flexibility and shows whether they can effectively manage remote or hybrid work arrangements.
16How do you handle competing priorities and what is your approach to resource allocation?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle competing priorities and what is your approach to resource allocation?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows their decision-making skills and reveals whether they can effectively manage multiple demands and constraints.
17What is your approach to team building and how do you foster collaboration?
Click to see why this works
What is your approach to team building and how do you foster collaboration?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their team-building philosophy and shows whether they can create a collaborative, supportive work environment.
18How do you handle change and what is your approach to leading through transitions?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle change and what is your approach to leading through transitions?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows their adaptability and reveals whether they can effectively lead their team through organizational changes.
19What are your thoughts on diversity and inclusion and how do you ensure equitable treatment?
Click to see why this works
What are your thoughts on diversity and inclusion and how do you ensure equitable treatment?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their commitment to diversity and shows whether they can create an inclusive, equitable work environment.
20How do you handle your own professional development and what are your career goals?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle your own professional development and what are your career goals?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows their commitment to continuous learning and reveals whether they model the growth mindset they expect from their team.
Best Practices for Supervisor Evaluation
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Ask for Specific Examples
Request concrete examples of how they've handled situations rather than accepting general statements about their approach.
Observe Their Communication Style
Pay attention to how they communicate during the interview and whether their style matches your preferences.
Consider Cultural Fit
Evaluate whether their values and approach align with your work style and career goals.
Question Sequences
The Management Style Assessment
The Team Dynamics Evaluation
Common Pitfalls
Don't Focus Only on Technical Skills
While technical competence is important, also evaluate their leadership skills, emotional intelligence, and management approach.
Avoid Accepting Vague Answers
Push for specific examples and concrete details rather than accepting general statements about their management philosophy.
Don't Ignore Red Flags
Pay attention to any signs of micromanagement, lack of support, or poor communication during the interview process.