Management Interview Questions & Answers

The first part of the interview was over the phone, it was a getting to know you and go through my CV and what position was I was in. As I was successful in the first part, the second half was meant to be at a group interview but due to not been able to attend they were able to get me in the day after to have a one to one interview with the store manager. I got an email a day later asking me to come back to talk to other department managers which were interviewing me to see if I would fit the role right and that I have managerial traits, energy and team work ethics.

Where do you want to be in 5 years time and what results would you do to get there?

The only practical advice is to have a little structure when it comes to the third interview with the two department managers, even though I did like how to relax it was, it was just a little nerving when I knew there wouldn't be a structure

the assesment on how i would fit in to decathlon was great and a good experience

The initial stage was the written application, was relatively straight forward. Just included basic competencies such as reasons for applying and what the Mercedes brand name meant to you. For this particular role they didn't require a numerical or verbal reasoning test however, for the longer graduate roles they do. They let me know i had passed 2 weeks after applying, and allowed me to book a slot on the system for a telephone interview, (no surprise telephone interviews) As i was in Australia considering flying home to England for the interview they fast tracked my telephone interview result and let me know the following day that I had passed and sent me an email describing how i could book a slot to attend the assessment center online detailing what would be included and the type of competencies they look for (team player, passion for the brand and role, decision maker and shows leadership)

After this initial stage was the telephone interview, this lasted 25 minutes and only included 4 competency questions, the lady on the phone was really nice and even offered to call me in Australia for the interview which is where i was at the time. The questions were just basic competency questions,

Telephone: -
Why Merc and Why role
Time you worked in a team
Time that you've had to work under pressure
Time that you made a suggestion

They probe you to use the STAR Technique

Do your research in to why you want the role and company

They came and picked me up from the train station, there was 8 people in my interview one person failed to turn up. there was three parts, role play, group exercise and one on one interview. The interviewers are really nice and bring you unlimited copious amounts of water to stop your throat from drying up. The first exercise was the group interview (3 including me in the group)with 2 people accessing, was basically read a 4 page document in 30 minutes and discuss for another 30 minutes why you should put forward two staff working under you forward for a management position. You had their backgrounds/CV's/ Statistical performance indicators/ line manager reviews.

The second part was the competency interview. Again why mercedes and role, name a time you worked in a team, what kind of teams do you like? (i thought was an interesting question) who are mercedes competitors, do you think the market is competitive

lasted around 30 miniutes


The final stage was the role play, a 5 page easy to read document specific to the role applied for (loads of pictures and tables), i was to have a meeting with a sales executive from a dealership who had some questions to ask me. The document included a page on the performance of mercedes in recent years,a lot of random information on their breakdown cover and rental policy.

The role play was a bit strange as it wasn't clear cut as to what i thought the interviewer wanted. The role play only last 15minutes. She asked me questions which weren't in the document to see how i'd act under pressure and initially told me to hurry up as she had to leave in 15 minutes.

After that you fill out a feedback form and they send you on your way or drop you off to the train station.

So I initially started with a one to one interview with a recruiter. The recruiter was really nice and made me feel comfortable and took away my nerves. The interview was just finding out about me, my experiences, education etc. I received good feedback and some advice on how to improve but was successful and was put through to the next stage, Branch Interview.
On this day I was there for a couple of hours and shadowed one of the current trainee managers and interacted with customers, went on drop offs and pick ups and just got an understanding of how the company ran. After this the branch manager took me through for another one to one interview and asked me similar questions to the ones in my first interview, next day my recruiter called me back to tell me how fantastically I did and how impressed he was with me and that they really liked me so I'm through to the final stage, Assessment Centre.

You would typically have to work 55hours + a week, how do you feel about that? (It's a bit of a weird question to be honest, what do you respond to that?)

I would say really think about if the job is worth the time and potential money you will be investing into the interview process. I had to book a nearby hotel to make it to the interview on time and then be told I was unsuccessful after all my efforts!

On this day, I was with 7 other candidates and had to be there at 8am,
We started by doing a quiz which is where prior research would've come in, I was fully prepared and was the only one who put up my hand for a few of the questions.
We then were introduced to area managers and given a cheap and shitty breakfast which didn't even look edible may I add, after that we had to do sales and customer service role play with one of the area managers, which I got good feedback from. We then had to do a 'morning meeting' with two of the area managers. We had to motivate them and get them going. Discuss figures, targets and aims etc. Again at the end of it I received some good feedback that I was energitic, bubbly and made them smile. We then had to do a group discussion with the rest of the group, we each were given an initiative to pitch and between us had to decide to which one to go for then pitch it to the area managers. This is where we had to be involved etc. Lastly we had another one to one interview with an area manager asking the same questions as all the other one to ones and finished at 2pm. It was a very long day and pretty hard to keep energy up especially because there was ALOT of waiting around through ou the day. We were told we would receive a call the following day to find out wether we got the job or not.

On my call back, they told me I was unsuccessful because I wasn't oozing with confidence, which I find is completely unfair because I received a lot of good feedback from various people in the company during my stages.

The presenter Raj, was talking about how when she first started she disputed washing cars, setting off a negative thought in everyone's mind. I was then with another candidate who came unprepared, didn't bring a pen or a notepad and kept pulling his phone out during the day!! Had a really foul attitude and was sitting like he just didn't care and I later discovered he got the job. There were many of us in the room who visibly really wanted the job and a few of us didn't get it. And yes I know we are not competing against each other, I just find it unfair and disheartening that you could get all this way and really proving that you want it and sell yourself for an a****e like this guy to carelessly walk in and get it. I'm so gutted and upset at the company but I guess all blessings are disguised.

Initially was a telephone interview, which lasted 20 minutes.

At the assessment centre there was a one on one hour interview. Consisted of 9 competency questions which needed to include relevant experience as evidence to support my answers.

Example of when you have received good customer service?

Be friendly and enthusiastic.

The company and everybody involved was very friendly. The Assessment centre was challenging and very tiring. It last from 9am until 4.30pm. The day consisted of an hour group scenario, then there was my presentation lasting 15 minutes. The subject was how University will help with transition into the work place. Next was the one to one hour interview and the day ended with a group tea building exercises which lasted about an 1 hour and 30 minutes

Following my online application for the Graduate Management Trainee role at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, I received an email from a Talent Acquisition Manager at Enterprise whom requested a telephone interview the following day. My initial telephone interview lasted approximately 30 minutes and covered a number of sales and customer service-related positions I had held and documented on my CV. I was asked a number of competency questions in which I had prepared examples taken from my prior work experience, voluntary community fundraising and educational attainment to demonstrate my suitability to each stated requirement.

I was then told by the Talent Acquisition Manager that I had been successful in my telephone interview and asked to attend an interview at the Central Office in Heathrow. This initial meet with the Talent Acquisition Manager consisted of a 45 minute process in which I was asked approximately 12 different competency questions ranging from my experiences in exceeding sale-related targets, working alongside a busy team in a small workspace and describing my greatest sense of achievement.

I initially received no feedback for approximately 3 days and so I contacted the Talent Acquisition Manager to prompt a response. I was then told that I had passed the 1st interview stage and was asked to attend a branch interview and 'shadowing' exercise at a disclosed Enterprise Rent-A-Car location.

Upon arrival to the local branch, I was asked to 'shadow' two members of staff for approximately 3 hours and in interviewed with the Branch Manager. This interview also consisted of a Senior Member of staff sitting in on a portion of the interview in which I was asked a range of new competency questions, asked to participate in a small role-play and give examples of 'upselling' and negating objections. The entire branch interview process lasted approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Describe a time in which you failed to hit a sales target and what was the outcome?

Describe an experience with an angry or irritable customer, how did you manage the situation?

Can you describe a step-by-step sales process which would be utilised here at Enterprise on a day-to-day basis?

Be fully prepared for an expansive range of competency based questions which are designed to test both your prior experiences and how closely aligned this are with the 'Enterprise' model of sales and customer service.

Take time to compose your answers as any 'holes' in your answers will be picked up on and scrutinised irrespective of your academic achievements and transferable work experience, knowledge and skills.

My application was not put forward towards the assessment centre stage.

The entire process was well communicated to all of the candidates from beginning to the end. I was very aware of where I stand, what was expected of me and details information about the company.

The telephone interview was simply competency questions and very informal. Once you passed this stage, you had a day spent at your local branch shadowing the staff to see first hand what the role involved which was very interesting. You then had a one to one informal chat with the branch manager.

The most difficult question was adapting yourself into the company's core values and explaining how as an individual you had some of these core values.

Be yourself, they want people who are genuine, leaders and team players. Being a leader is what the role involves but being a team player also plays a big role in the type of candidate they are looking for.

At the assessment day, ensure to make yourself noticeable and be vocial enough and take part in all of the activities.

A variety of different tasks both group and indivdual based all of which included what the role would involve day to day. This was slightly more difficult than expected but it was fun and very different from other companies as you are more engaged with everyone.

Furthermore, an interview with the general managers with a variety of different competency based questions.

After applying online, I shortly received a phone call (which turned out to be a phone interview) of which involved some questions about my background, what I know about enterprise, what I do and have done etc. The phone call ended with an invitation to a face-to-face interview.
The face-to-face interview involved plenty of competency based questions. Additionally, this stage talked briefly a bit more about the specifics of the role. At the end of the interview, I was invited to attend a branch visit to the branch I had applied for.
The branch visit involved meeting all the employees at the branch, and shadowing several employees for an hour or two before a interview with the branch manager at the end of the visit. This was the most informative stage of recruitment, as I was able to witness the specifics of the role I was applying for. After the branch visit had ended, I was informed a week later by phone call that I had been invited to attend an assessment centre.
Upon attending the assessment centre, I met 11 other candidates, of which 2 were applying for the same branch as me, I was briefed about the structure of the day. The day started with a group discussion, of which each candidate had to persuade the group to pursue their initiative (of which the group had to consider the associated costs and then come to a collective decision). The second task was a day in the life of a manager, whereby candidates were given several pieces of information, and were asked to plan the morning based on said information. The third task involved role play; where candidates had to convince customers (acted by Area Managers) to both upgrade their vehicle and ask them to pay for damage to a vehicle (two different scenarios). After these tasks, candidates were provided with free lunch, and were then invited to ask any questions (essentially a Q and A session). This concluded the assessment centre.
The next day I received a phone call from the area manager of the branch I had applied for offering me the position.

The most difficult question I received was at the branch visit, of which the branch manager asked for a time where a customer had complained to my face about the service I personally had provided. This was the only question I failed to answer.

Be confident with your attributes.
Learn the values of the organisation and try to relate your answers to these values.
Ask as many questions as you can, the company enjoy people who are inquisitive and want to learn more about the company.

Upon attending the assessment centre, I met 11 other candidates, of which 2 were applying for the same branch as me, I was briefed about the structure of the day. The day started with a group discussion, of which each candidate had to persuade the group to pursue their initiative (of which the group had to consider the associated costs and then come to a collective decision). The second task was a day in the life of a manager, whereby candidates were given several pieces of information, and were asked to plan the morning based on said information. The third task involved role play; where candidates had to convince customers (acted by Area Managers) to both upgrade their vehicle and ask them to pay for damage to a vehicle (two different scenarios). After these tasks, candidates were provided with free lunch, and were then invited to ask any questions (essentially a Q and A session). This concluded the assessment centre.

Following an online application form and some basic personality testing as part of the application process, I received an email within a day and a telephone interview just a few days after that.

The telephone interview was with the Group HR Manager for the West Midlands and lasted around 10 minutes. Questions were fairly straightforward and were generally expected, talking about past experiences in terms of customer service, leadership and decision-making.

I was offered a one-to-one interview very quickly, within two weeks, at a regional office. The interview was 50 minutes-1 hour and was a combination of expanding on my past experiences and the interviewer explaining the interview process and a normal day at work amongst other things.

I found that the interviewer did speak a little too much at times, and I couldn't expand on my points as much as I wanted to because they tended to "butt in" a little. Because of this and without wanting to interrupt, by the time she had finished talking she was onto another question.

The interview was successful and I have been put through to the next stage which consists of a three-hour visit to a local branch. During this time I will shadow a fellow trainee or employee and see how a store operates on a day-to-day business, and complete a checklist with tasks to do throughout the three hours, such as checking returned cars, view of a contract being signed and head to a customer pick-up. I will be assessed on how I interact with clients and colleagues, and further interviewed by a regional manager with some competency questions to end.

After this stage, if successful, I will be put through to an assessment centre with other potential candidates.

"Describe a situation where you showed initiative..."

Research Enterprise, their values and what they're looking for, and be able to apply these findings to the interview process, and throughout your working career.

Have a set idea about why you want to do the job, and be prepared to respond to questions if your degree is quite a specialist one. For instance, I am completing a degree in Accounting, and have been questioned several times on why I don't want to further this career path, I think they fear that Accounting students only want to be Accountants so will not be fully committed to a management role.

Think outside of the box when answering questions and don't relate every single answer to your employment. Any activities outside of academia such as sport clubs, societies or groups seem to be welcomed.

Yet to complete one.

The interview was focused on discovering if I was a good fit for the company, and whether my values matched Decathlon's values, rather than my prior experience and skill set. Both managers were very friendly yet professional and created a comfortable environment for me to be able to present myself.

Describe a time when you have tried and failed at something. Explain what you have learnt from the process.

Research and explore what the company looks for in their staff members before you apply or attend the interview, as they prefer to recruit the right types of people rather than those with the most experience.
Be prepared to back up claims about yourself with examples.

Group activities and presentation

The company policies are well describe, it's dynamic interview with different type of questions, with friendly approach that make you feel comfortable during the process, the interview is tailored to the vacancy that needs fulfilling.
The application process is also efficient and you have a quick answer.

Which are the main reasons that made you apply to work for Decathlon?

I'd like to see group interviews as part of the interview process. It's another way to show some skills and behavior, as for example team work that they can only be explained but not shown with a one to one interview.

Organised