Question Overview: This question is designed to see how well the applicant can think on their feet. The ideal candidate will have a creative response that will allow you to see how they think. Do they have a good sense of humor? Are they able to come up with a witty answer?
Sample Answer: I would be able to fly because I would be able to get anywhere in the world in a short amount of time.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will be able to articulate the differences between a boss and a leader. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to understand how they view the role of a shift leader. Does the individual believe that a boss is someone who gives orders and expects them to be followed, while a leader is someone who inspires others to work harder?
Sample Answer: A boss is someone who gives orders and expects them to be followed. A leader is someone who inspires others to work harder.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have experience in the industry you are hiring for. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to gauge how knowledgeable they are about the business. Does the candidate have experience in your industry? If not, what other industries have they worked in?
Sample Answer: I have worked in the retail industry for 10 years. I started as a cashier and worked my way up to shift leader.
Question Overview: Shift leaders are responsible for ensuring that each customer receives the correct order. If an order is incorrect, the applicant must be able to handle the situation in a professional manner. The ideal candidate will have experience in handling this type of situation and will be able to offer a solution to prevent it from happening again.
Sample Answer: If a customer received the wrong order, I would immediately apologize and offer to make it right. I would then find out what went wrong and make sure that it does not happen again.
Question Overview: The ideal applicant will have experience working on a team to complete a project. The candidate's response to this question will allow you to understand what types of strategies they have used in the industries they have worked in. Does the individual use quotas to make sure each person is hitting their sales requirements? What aspects do they focus on throughout their shift to improve productivity?
Sample Answer: At my last position, I helped my team develop a new product by creating a prototype and testing it with customers.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have experience in all areas of the operation to ensure that they are providing value to those they teach. Focus on the applicant's ability to convey their answer as it indicates how good they are at explaining topics to someone who does not know the business as well as they do.
Sample Answer: I have trained several hundred employees over the course of 10 years. At my last position, I learned about jobs and duties within each department to ensure that I could answer any questions regarding a specific zone.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have done their research on the company prior to the interview. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to understand how well they know the business. Does the individual have a basic understanding of the company's history and how it has grown over the years?
Sample Answer: I have read about Five Guys Burgers and Fries in several magazines. I know that you started in 1986 in Arlington, Virginia, and have since expanded to over 1,000 locations.
Question Overview: This is a general question that is used to learn more about the applicant. The ideal candidate will be able to speak about their life in a way that shows their personality. Do they have a strong sense of humor? Are they serious? What are their hobbies?
Sample Answer: I am a very outgoing person who enjoys spending time with my family. I have been playing soccer since I was a child and still play on a local team.
Question Overview: Mistakes are inevitable, but the ideal candidate will have learned from their errors and will not make the same mistake twice. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to understand how they handle their mistakes and what they have done to ensure that they do not repeat them.
Sample Answer: In my last position, I made a mistake by not asking a coworker if they were able to complete a task before I left for the day. When I returned the next morning, I found that the task was not completed.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have researched the company and will have a strong understanding of what it has to offer. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to gauge how well they know the company and whether or not they are interested in working for your business.
Sample Answer: I have been interested in working for your company for some time now. I have read about your products and services, and I am very interested in working for a company that is growing as quickly as yours.
Question Overview: Shift leaders are often required to work overtime and weekends. The ideal candidate will have experience working on weekends and holidays. Does the applicant have a flexible schedule that allows them to work extra hours when necessary?
Sample Answer: I am available to work any time of the day or night. I have worked many weekends and holidays in the past, so I am comfortable with this schedule.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a clear idea of what they want to accomplish in their career. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to understand what they are looking for in their next position. Does the individual want to be promoted to a higher position in the company? Does the applicant want to move out of the shift leader role and into management?
Sample Answer: My goal is to become a regional manager within the next few years. I have been working toward this goal by taking on more responsibilities and gaining more experience.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a talent that they can leverage to help the company. For example, if the applicant is a musician, they might be able to play music at company events. If they are a writer, they might be able to write a blog for the company website.
Sample Answer: I am an excellent public speaker. I have spoken at several conferences and have been able to help my employers by promoting their products.
Question Overview: Difficult people are a part of life, and shift leaders must be able to handle them. The ideal candidate will have experience dealing with angry customers or other individuals who are upset about something. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to gauge how well they handle difficult situations.
Sample Answer: In my last position, a customer was upset about the price of a product. I was able to calm the individual down by explaining that the price was set by the company and that I could not lower it.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have experience dealing with difficult situations. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to understand how they handle problems. Do they have a plan for how to deal with difficult times? What are some of the strategies they use to overcome challenges?
Sample Answer: In my last position, I was required to fire an employee who was not meeting their sales quota. This was a difficult period in my life because I had to let someone go who had been with the company for many years.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have experience dealing with difficult employees. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to understand how they handle conflict. Do they have a plan for how to deal with such situations? What do they do to ensure that the employee is no longer a problem?
Sample Answer: In my last position, I had an employee who was not meeting their sales quota. I sat down with them and discussed the issue, and we came up with a plan to improve their performance.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have experience in dealing with a large number of customers at once. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to understand how they handle stressful situations. Do they feel as though it is important to stay calm and listen to the customers' needs?
Sample Answer: I would first assess the situation to determine what caused the rush. If there was a sale on a popular product, I would try to find a way to increase the stock so that I could meet the demand.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have experience helping others. This question is designed to gauge how well the applicant works with others. Does the individual have experience helping other employees with their work? How do they handle situations when they are not sure how to help someone?
Sample Answer: I helped a colleague in my last position by teaching them how to use a new software program. I was able to show them how to use the program and helped them understand how it could be beneficial for their job.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have experience in motivating their team to achieve goals. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to understand how they would handle a situation where one of their employees is not performing well. What strategies do they use to get their employees to perform better?
Sample Answer: I would motivate my team by setting goals for each individual. I would also give them the opportunity to set their own goals so that they can feel as though they are in control of their success.
Question Overview: Conflict is inevitable in any workplace. The ideal candidate will have experience resolving issues with other employees. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to gauge how well they are able to handle conflict with others.
Sample Answer: In my last position, I had a disagreement with a coworker regarding a project. I was able to resolve the issue by talking with them and coming to an agreement that both of us were satisfied with.