Print manager interview preparation and supervisory experience

Print Manager -- Interview Preparation

Why should I hire you?

As a former supervisor in the industry, I recognize that a candidate for employment who is an excellent fit comes along every so often. This is especially true when a company ensures an open door possibility for prospective employees. To the position, I bring intellect, perseverance, a sense of humor, a strong work ethic, a keen can-do attitude, and robust experience in the field.

What are your strengths?

I am very hardworking and strive to do things right the first time in order to maximize my efficiency and the use of resources, including human capital. I am bright and have a consistently good attitude, which makes me a strong team player and an effective leader. Having bootstrapped my way to leadership, I have experience working at all levels of the print business.

What are your weaknesses?

I tend not give up easily. This attribute can be experiences as either an asset or a liability, depending on circumstances, but determination and perseverance are generally perceived as strengths.

4. Why are you applying for this position?

I am interested in adding to my repertoire of skills and returning to a supervisory / management role like the position I had before my relocation to this area. Although I do access the recommended self-guided training videos offered in the industry by major equipment manufacturers in the field, my desire is to enroll in a certification program.

5. How are you qualified for this position?

I have previously managed a medium-sized shop, in charge of all aspects of the printing business. I have recruited, interviewed, supervised, and evaluated staff for operations and client-facing positions.

7. What can you contribute to this company?

I can basically be plugged into any position in this company as I have worked in each role. While I am applying for a leadership position, I strongly suggest that my familiarity with all the many roles involved in the printing agency adds to my value as a supervisor and as a pinch-hitter for the team, when needed.

Section 2:

1. Tell me about a difficult situation you dealt with when supervising others. What did you do, and what were the results?

I suspected that graveyard shift workers were not committed to their roles and were, in fact, not accomplishing their duties over the course of a week. I arranged to pop in on them during their shift work. I found that my suspicions were accurate, and so I completed HR paperwork that would counsel them out of the position. The dereliction of duty that these two employees had engaged in was of such magnitude that I did not feel I could keep them in their positions, nor could I identify an alternate role in the agency that required less trust.

2. Describe a time when you had to use your best oral communication skills. What was the situation, and what was the outcome?

I once supervised an employee who was experiencing domestic violence. Her attendance was erratic and she was often late; communication was difficult. It was some time before she disclosed what was going on her life and, in retrospect, I was unhappy that I had not picked up on the clues sooner than I did. I was able to offer her security at work and helped her move to a women's shelter with her small children (and a pet).

3. Describe a time when you had to adjust to change. How did you cope?

The company I worked for decided to eliminate a department and integrated the personnel from that section across several departments. A number of the employees were disgruntled, did not deal with change well, and were not being particularly productive. With this structural change, my role also changed as I had not dealt with such unhappy employees before. My solution was to do some research about organizational change and learn about strategies that could be used to help them adjust. The employees were highly skilled and the company did not want to lose them, so I took each displaced employee to lunch in order to get them to talk about the changes and help make plans for finding ways to adjust and contribute.

4. Explain a role you filled as a group or team member.

One of my favorite roles to play in a group situation is to be the recorder of the discussion and minutes. I particularly like the need to pay close attention to all that is going on -- all the interactions and transactions -- plus have the time to organize the notes in a way that fosters their use at a later time. I know I do a better job of listening, learning, and planning when I assume this role.