Manager Interview Activity:
Project description:
Objective: The objective of this assignment is to get a “real-world”, practical, and current perspective on some of the management topics we’ve addressed in class. An additional outcome of this activity is the possibility of making a connection with a manager who is working in the field which you are pursuing.
Preparation: Create a set of interview questions to help you gather pertinent information to meet the above stated objective. I would recommend preparing for 5-10 questions and covering as many of them as time allows. Feel free to write unique questions that are relevant to you and your field of study within the general guidelines below:
Background questions (ask 1-3): Did they plan to be a manager? What is most rewarding/ challenging about being a manager? What makes a manager effective? (Any other questions significant to you…)
“Content” Questions: Individual Behavior, Motivation, Communication, Leadership, and/or Teams (ask 3-5; You don’t necessarily need a question from each ‘topic area’; ask about what is important to you): How does personality play a role in the people you manage? What types of behaviors, attitudes, learning styles seem to work best for you/ your organization? How are reward/ punishment / other motivation tools utilized in your organization and what seems to be the most effective? What is one of the most difficult decisions you’ve made and how did you make it? What examples of effective / ineffective communication can you share with me from your experience? How do you describe your style of leadership? What are the characteristics that make for effective leaders in your organization? Does your organization provide training and development opportunities for leaders? How important is “teamwork” in your organization? What
are some examples of effective / ineffective teams you’ve experienced? (Anything else you are curious about from the class and/or your experience so far in management…)
Closing questions (1-2): Any advice or recommendations they would give a student who is preparing to become a manager? Other? “THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!”
Interview: Identify a manager/supervisor who is currently (or within the last year) supervising at least two employees. Remember you are asking for their time, a very valuable commodity. According to the Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, managers mean hourly rate is $49.47 or about $103,000 per year. When you call or speak to them ask for 10-15 minutes of their time. Quickly explain the objective of this activity. You might even email the 5-10 key questions prior to your meeting. Please watch your time. If you get to 15 minutes and are not finished, let the person you are interviewing know that you have used all the time you asked for. They may say they have more time, if so continue, if not thank them for their time.
Deliverable: Submit your typed interview questions followed by an organized, readable paraphrasing of the answers you received. Please use bullets or short phrases (clear, complete thoughts) in lieu of complete sentences. At the end of the Q&A response, write a short paragraph about what you found most interesting, surprising, and/or important as you move forward in your education and career.
Please include the following information along with your questions and responses.
Manager’s Name:
Company Name:
Job title:
Connection to you:
Number of employees under their supervision:
Their years of management experience:
Their college degree major, if they have a degree:
If they don’t have a business degree, have they ever taken a management class? And/or, which classes / topics do they feel best prepared them for management.