17 Operations Supervisor Interview Questions and Answers

In business, the saying goes, “time is money.” That’s why any successful business depends on an efficient and smoothly running operations department. The role of the operations supervisor is to make sure that everything is running as it should be and that the employees in the department are productive and meeting their goals.

If you’re interviewing for an operations supervisor job, expect to be asked a range of questions about your experience, management style, and knowledge of the industry. Here are a few sample questions and answers to help you prepare.

Are you comfortable working with a team of people to manage a large operation?

Operations supervisors often work with a team of people to manage an entire operation. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the interpersonal skills necessary for working in a management position. In your answer, explain that you enjoy collaborating with others and helping them succeed. Show the interviewer that you are willing to help your team members develop their skills and improve their performance.

Example: “I am very comfortable working with a team of people. Throughout my career, I’ve worked on many teams where we all had different responsibilities. I find it helpful to delegate tasks so everyone can contribute to the success of the operation. I also like to encourage collaboration among my team members. I feel that by encouraging teamwork, we can learn from each other and become better at our jobs.”

What are some of the most important qualities for an operations supervisor to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills and abilities they’re looking for in an operations supervisor. Use your answer to highlight some of the most important qualities that helped you succeed as a previous operations supervisor or other operations professional.

Example: “I believe one of the most important qualities for an operations supervisor is communication. Operations supervisors need to be able to communicate effectively with their team members, managers and clients. I also think it’s important for operations supervisors to be organized and detail-oriented because these traits can help them manage projects more efficiently. Finally, I think operations supervisors should be flexible and willing to adapt to changing circumstances.”

How do you handle conflict within your team?

Operations supervisors often have to resolve conflict between their team members. Employers ask this question to see if you can use your leadership skills to help your team work together and achieve company goals. In your answer, explain how you would approach a conflict situation with your team. Explain that you would try to understand both sides of the issue before making a decision about how to move forward.

Example: “I believe it’s important for operations supervisors to be able to listen to all sides of an argument. I would first make sure everyone had a chance to speak. Then, I would try to understand why each person feels the way they do. Once I understood both sides, I would decide on a fair solution that works for everyone involved.”

What is your experience with managing budgets and planning for future expenditures?

Operations supervisors often need to plan for future expenditures and monitor budgets. Employers ask this question to learn about your experience with these processes. Use your answer to explain how you manage budgets and plan ahead. Share an example of a time when you planned for the future or managed a budget.

Example: “I have several years of experience managing budgets and planning for future expenditures. In my last role, I was responsible for creating monthly reports that tracked our spending. I also created quarterly projections for upcoming expenses. This helped me identify areas where we could save money in the future. For instance, I noticed that we spent more on supplies during the holiday season. To prevent overspending, I ordered extra supplies before the holidays so we had enough inventory.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to deal with an issue within your team and how you resolved it.

An operations supervisor needs to be able to resolve conflicts and disagreements among their team members. Employers ask this question to see if you have experience with conflict resolution. Use your answer to show that you can use your problem-solving skills to help your team work together more effectively.

Example: “In my last role, I had a team of five people who worked on the same project. One day, one of my employees came to me because they were having trouble working with another employee. They said that the other employee was being rude to them and making it difficult for them to do their job.

I talked to the other employee about the issue and asked them why they were acting in such a way. After talking to them, I learned that they were just stressed out from work and apologized to my employee. From there, I helped both employees come up with ways to manage stress so they could get along better.”

If hired, what would be your priorities during your first few weeks on the job?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your work ethic and how you plan to contribute to their organization. Your answer should include specific goals that you would like to achieve during your first few weeks on the job, such as learning the company’s processes or meeting with team members to get to know them better.

Example: “During my first week, I would want to meet with each member of my team to introduce myself and learn more about what they do. I would also spend time getting to know the company’s operations by reading through our procedures manuals and asking questions when needed. Another priority would be to create a schedule for my team so we can start working together effectively.”

What would you do if you noticed a decrease in productivity among your team members?

Operations supervisors are responsible for ensuring their team members are productive and efficient. Employers ask this question to make sure you have strategies in place to motivate your team when they’re not performing at their best. In your answer, explain how you would identify the cause of low productivity and implement a plan to improve it.

Example: “If I noticed my team wasn’t as productive as usual, I would first try to determine why. If there was an issue with equipment or supplies, I would immediately address that problem. If the decrease in productivity was due to something like morale, I would hold a meeting with each employee to find out what’s going on. From there, I would work with management to create solutions to increase productivity.”

How well do you understand the products or services your company offers?

Operations supervisors often need to understand the products or services their company offers. This question helps employers determine how much you know about your industry and whether you can apply that knowledge to your job. Before your interview, research the company’s website and any other sources of information to learn more about what they do. Answer this question by explaining what you learned and how it relates to your work as an operations supervisor.

Example: “I have worked in the construction industry for over ten years now, so I am very familiar with the types of projects my company takes on. For example, I know that we are a general contractor who specializes in commercial buildings. I also know that our team is responsible for planning and managing all aspects of each project, including budgeting, scheduling and quality control.”

Do you have any experience training new employees?

This question can help the interviewer understand your ability to train employees and develop their skills. Use examples from past experience where you helped new employees learn about operations or how you developed a training program for new hires.

Example: “In my last role, I had two new employees join our team within one month of each other. I created a training schedule that allowed them to shadow me for a week before they started working on their own. This gave them time to ask questions and get comfortable with the job before being completely independent. The training plan also included weekly check-ins so I could answer any questions they may have.”

When planning for future growth, what are some things you consider?

Operations supervisors are often responsible for planning and implementing strategies that help their company grow. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the skills necessary to plan for growth in a way that benefits the company. In your answer, explain how you would approach planning for future growth. Explain what steps you would take to ensure the company is prepared for any changes or challenges ahead.

Example: “I think it’s important to consider all aspects of business when planning for future growth. For example, I would look at our current resources and capabilities. Then, I would determine if we need more employees, equipment or supplies to support our goals. I would also evaluate our customer service standards and quality control measures. This helps me create plans that will allow us to continue providing excellent service while growing.”

We want to improve our customer service. Give me an example of how you would do that.

Customer service is an important part of operations. Employers ask this question to see if you have any ideas for improving customer service at their company. In your answer, explain how you would implement a new system or process that improves the quality of customer service.

Example: “I think one way we can improve our customer service is by implementing a call queueing system. This allows customers to get in line and wait for someone to help them while they’re on hold. It also gives us more time to handle other calls so we can provide better service to everyone who needs it. Another idea I have is to hire more employees. If we have more people working here, we can take care of more calls and questions.”

Describe your experience with using production or inventory management software.

This question can help the interviewer determine your comfort level with using software to complete tasks. Use examples from your experience that highlight your ability to use technology and apply it to a work setting.

Example: “I’ve used several different types of production management software in my previous roles, including Microsoft Project, Primavera P6 and Oracle ERP Cloud Service. I find these programs helpful for managing projects or inventory because they allow me to create timelines, assign tasks and monitor progress. In my last role, I also used an app on my phone to track our inventory levels so we could make sure we had enough supplies to meet demand.”

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and why you are the best person for the job. Before your interview, make a list of all of your skills and experiences that relate to the operations supervisor position. Highlight any unique or hard-to-find skills you have that would be beneficial to the company.

Example: “I am highly organized and detail-oriented, which makes me an excellent candidate for this position. I also have experience managing a team of employees and overseeing large projects. In my previous role as operations manager, I successfully managed a team of 20 employees while completing several projects at once. This helped me develop my leadership skills and taught me how to delegate tasks effectively.”

Which industries or companies have you worked for in the past that are similar to our company?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your experience and how it relates to their company. It’s also an opportunity for you to show that you’ve done research on the organization and are excited to work there. When answering this question, try to mention industries or companies that are similar to the one you’re interviewing with.

Example: “I have worked in both manufacturing and service-based operations before. I find that my skills as an operations supervisor translate well into both of these environments. In my last position at a manufacturing facility, I helped implement new processes and procedures to increase efficiency and reduce waste. At my previous job working in customer service, I was able to use my problem-solving skills to help customers resolve issues quickly.”

What do you think are the most important qualities for an operations supervisor to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the qualities they’re looking for in an operations supervisor. Use your answer to highlight a few of your most important skills and how they relate to this role.

Example: “I think one of the most important qualities for an operations supervisor is communication. Operations supervisors need to be able to communicate effectively with their team members, as well as other departments within the company. I also think it’s important that operations supervisors are organized and detail-oriented. These two qualities allow me to keep track of all the information I need to manage my team and ensure we’re meeting our goals.”

How often do you make production or inventory reports?

This question can help the interviewer understand how much you rely on data and information to make decisions. Use your answer to highlight your ability to analyze data, interpret information and use it to improve processes or implement new ones.

Example: “I usually make production reports every week or two depending on the company’s needs. I find that weekly reports are sufficient for most operations because they allow me to monitor progress and identify any issues before they become major problems. However, if a company is in the middle of a large project or has several projects going at once, I may make more frequent reports so I can adjust my team’s workload as needed.”

There is a problem with a product or service. How do you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle challenges and make decisions. Use examples from your past experience to show that you have what it takes to be an operations supervisor.

Example: “In my last position, there was a problem with one of our products. I gathered all the information about the issue and talked to everyone involved in the production process. After talking to everyone, I realized we had a quality control issue. We needed to hire more employees to ensure the product met our standards. I spoke with upper management about hiring new employees and they approved the request. The company hired two new employees and resolved the issue.”