IT Manager Interview: How to Improve Your Chances for Success

Have you got an IT Manager interview coming up? Do you want to impress the hiring manager and be the one who gets the job? Is the interview your only obstacle to the job you want?

Well, passing an interview isn’t only about your experience nowadays. It’s about how well you play the game.

You need to know the rules of the game, and how to win.

This article will show you the winning formula you need. 

Whether you’re an experienced IT Manager looking for a new role or somebody looking to start their IT Manager career – learn how to convince the hiring manager you’re the only one for the job here.

The Qualities of A Good IT Manager

To impress the hiring manager, you have to prove you have what it takes as a great IT Manager.

To do this, you need to know the qualities of a great IT Manager. And you need to prove you have them. 

The qualities of a great IT Manager are:

• • Technical expertise: A deep understanding of the technical aspects of IT (including hardware, software and network systems).
  • Leadership: Motivate and inspire your team, delegate tasks effectively, and provide clear direction and feedback.
  • Communication: Good communication both verbally and in writing.
  • Strategic thinking: Think strategically and make decisions which align with the overall goals of the organisation.
  • Problem-solving: Analyze complex issues and identify innovative solutions.
  • Time management: Manage time effectively and prioritise tasks.
  • Empathy: Empathise with your team members and understand their perspectives and needs.

Whether or not you have experience in IT Management, show these qualities in each example during your interview.

However, be mindful that the ways you express these qualities will differ if you have experience or not.

If you have experience as an IT Manager, head to ‘IT Manager Interview: An Experienced IT Manager’.

If you are starting your journey as an IT Manager, head to ‘IT Manager Interview: Starting IT Manager’.

IT Manager Interview: An Experienced IT Manager

So, you’ve got the experience of an IT Manager but you want a new job. Here’s how you play the game:

Think of Your Answers To The Most Common Questions

You need to know how to play the game to get the job. With that, you need to know the most common questions asked.

And you need to have an answer for each of them.

These are:

1. What experience do you have in IT Management?

2. How would you handle a difficult team member?

3. Can you tell us about a project you have managed successfully?

4. How do you stay current with new technologies and industry trends?

5. How do you prioritise competing demands and manage your time effectively?

6. What is your management style?

7. How do you ensure the security of company data and systems?

8. Can you describe your experience with project management methodologies (such as Agile or Waterfall)?

9. Can you tell us about a time you had to make a difficult decision that impacted the team?

10. What strategies do you use to motivate and lead your team?

To ensure you have great answers to each question, use the STAR formula.

The easier you make it for the interviewer to follow your examples, the better your game.

And the likelihood of you passing the interview increases.

STAR Formula for An IT Manager Interview

If you don’t know the STAR formula, here’s how you use it to structure your interview answers:

1. Situation: Describe the situation or problem you faced.

2. Task: Explain the task or objective you were trying to accomplish.

3. Action: Describe the specific actions you took to address the situation.

4. Result: Explain the outcome of your actions and the impact they had on the situation or task.

Using this, you give the hiring manager detailed and specific examples that demonstrate your skills, experience and qualities.

See below if you want an example.

STAR Example: ‘How would you handle a difficult team member’

1. Situation: I was working on a project with my team when one member was being consistently negative and uncooperative. Their behaviour was affecting team morale and productivity so I knew I had to do something.

2. Task: I had to address the behaviour of the difficult team member and find a solution which would allow the team to work together more effectively.

3. Action: I scheduled a 1-1 meeting with the team member to discuss their behaviour and try to understand their perspective. During the meeting, I asked open-ended questions and actively listened to their responses. I also provided specific examples of how their behaviour was affecting the team and the project.

1. Based on the conversation, I suggested that we work together to develop a plan and improve communication and collaboration within the team. I also suggested that we establish clear expectations for behaviour and performance.

4. Results: As a result of our conversation and the action plan we developed, the team members’ behaviour improved significantly. They became more positive and engaged in the project. Team morale and productivity improved as a result.

5. Overall: My approach to handling a difficult team member involved a proactive and collaborative approach. By addressing the behaviour directly and working together to find a solution, I improved team dynamics and achieved a better outcome for the project.

Answer each question with the STAR formula and embody the features of a great IT manager in your examples. Prove to the hiring manager you’re the only person for the job.

IT Manager Interview: Starting IT Manager

Are you working in IT right now but you want to progress into IT Management? Is the IT Manager interview the only thing that stands in your way?

Well, don’t worry! Here’s how to play the interview game and pass your IT Manager interview:

Think of The Most Common IT Manager Questions

If you want the job, you need to know how to play the game of ‘answer the most common questions’.

The most common questions for an IT Manager interview are:

1. What experience do you have in IT?

2. Why would you make a good IT Manager?

3. How would you handle a difficult team member?

4. Can you tell us about a project you managed successfully?

5. How do you stay current with new technologies and industry trends?

6. How do you prioritise and manage your time effectively?

7. How would you manage your team? Give examples.

8. How do you ensure the security of company data and systems?

9. Can you describe your experience with project management methodologies (such as Agile or Waterfall)?

10. Can you tell us about a time you had to make a difficult decision that impacted your team?

11. Tell me about a time when you had to take the initiative to solve a problem as an IT team member

12. What strategies do you use to motivate others?

To ensure you have great answers to each question, use the STAR formula.

The easier you make it for the interviewer to follow your examples, the better your game.

And the likelihood of you passing the interview increases.

The STAR Formula For An IT Manager Interview

Since you don’t have any experience as an IT Manager, you’ll need to use examples from your previous IT job.

If you’ve made it this far in the application process, not having experience isn’t a dealbreaker.

All you need to know is how to use your experience and frame it. Prove you’re the only one for the job with the STAR formula:

1. Situation: Describe the situation or problem you faced.

2. Task: Explain the task or objective you were trying to accomplish.

3. Action: Describe the specific actions you took to address the situation/ problem or how you completed the task.

4. Result: Explain the outcome of your actions and the impact they had on the situation or task.

Using this, you give the hiring manager detailed and specific examples that demonstrate your skills, experience and qualities.

Example: ‘Tell me about a time when you had to take the initiative to solve a problem as an IT team member’

1. Situation: In my previous role, I was part of a team responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting our company’s IT systems when the main server crashed and all the data was lost.

2. Task: I had to work with my team to quickly restore the data and ensure that our company’s operations were not affected.

3. Action: I took the initiative to research and identify possible solutions by consulting with other team members and external experts. Then, I collaborated with my team and implemented the best solution I found.

1. We had to rebuild the server from scratch and restore data from backups. I made sure to consistently communicate with my team members and create a detailed report for my management team.

4. Result: As a result, we were able to restore the data and minimize the impact on the organisation. My management recognised my initiative and leadership to quickly reach out to external experts and prevent any serious problems.

5. Overall: While it may not have been a formal leadership role, I demonstrated the qualities of a good leader. By taking ownership of the problem and working effectively with my team, I was able to quickly solve an important issue before any serious damage.

If you prepare enough and set examples showcasing the qualities which make you a good fit, you’ll prove to be a great candidate for the role.

No matter your previous experience.

IT Manager Interview: Tips Everybody Needs To Know

Whether you have years of experience or no experience, here are some tips to ace your interview:

Research the company

Before your interview, research the company you’re interviewing for. Learn about their history, culture, products, services, and competitors.

This will help you understand business objectives and challenges.

Showcase your technical knowledge

Utilise your strong technical knowledge. Make sure you highlight your technical knowledge and experience with the relevant tools and technologies.

An IT Manager is a technical job at heart. Strong technical knowledge can tip you over the edge.

Be prepared for behavioural questions

IT Manager interviews often include behavioural questions that evaluate your ability to handle common management scenarios.

Practise answering common behavioural questions and provide examples of similar situations you’ve had in the past.

Ask questions

At the end of the interview, have questions prepared (and written down in front of you) about the company, the role, or the team.

The Most Important Questions To Ask At The End

Excellent questions at the end of the interview can seal the deal.

But what questions impress the hiring manager?

The Questions:

1. ‘Is there anything about my background that makes you hesitant to move me forward in the interview process?’

2. ‘How does my background compare to the other candidates you are interviewing?’

1. With the first question, you can address any issues the hiring manager has with your answers and change the narrative positively. Additionally, If you don’t get the job, you can also take the points on board for your next interview!

2. With the second question,  you can quickly gauge your likelihood of getting the position. Asking the question also shows the hiring manager that you are very interested in the position.

Extra Questions You Might Be Asked

Most hiring managers nowadays will ask  ‘tricky questions’ to trip you up and get your real answers.

However, you can learn how to pass these too – and do it well.

Checkout CareerVidz on Youtube for the best responses to tricky interview questions (and take notes!):

1. Describe yourself in one word? 01.51

2. Why do you want to leave your job? 3.51

3. What’s your greatest achievement? 5.12

4. What’s your biggest achievement? 7.12

5. How do you define success? 8.39

6. Have you ever disagreed with how your manager wanted you to approach a task? 9.54 

7. Tell me about a mistake you made at work? 11.24

If you’re looking for any more general advice on passing your interview, I’d recommend all of CareerVidz’s videos!

What To Do If You Don’t Get The Job

Sometimes, no matter your experience or how well you’ve answered the interview questions, somebody else will get the job.

But, to increase your likelihood of getting the next job, network with other IT managers around the UK and learn some tips.

You can do this with us here at Jera.

We host a community of IT Managers looking to better themselves through networking, partaking in thought-leader presentations/ webinars, and guidance emails.

If you wish to join the community and pass your next IT Manager interview (or just join the community), complete the steps below.

Criteria:

• • You’re currently working as an IT Manager/ looking to progress into IT Management.
  • You currently live in the UK.

How To Sign Up

If you fit the above criteria, sign up by:

1. Emailing us on tribe@jerait.co.uk

2. Put ‘Joining The IT Managers Community’ as the email header.

3. Put the following in the body of your email:

1. Your name.

2. Your work email address.

3. Your phone number.

4. The name of your company.

And that’s it! You’ll have all the tools you need to pass your next IT Manager interview…

Contact us here today!