17 Survey Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Survey managers are responsible for developing, conducting, and overseeing surveys that collect data about people’s opinions, preferences, and experiences. Survey managers work in a variety of industries, including marketing, social research, and government.

If you want to become a survey manager, you’ll need to have strong analytical and communication skills. You’ll also need to be able to use data analysis software, such as SPSS or SAS. Most survey manager jobs require a bachelor’s degree in a field such as market research, statistics, or psychology.

Before you can start your new job, you’ll need to pass an interview. During the interview, you’ll be asked a variety of survey manager interview questions about your experience, skills, and knowledge. We’ve compiled a list of sample questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Are you familiar with the principles of sampling?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your knowledge of the fundamentals of survey design. Use your answer to highlight your understanding of sampling and how it can impact the quality of data in surveys.

Example: “Yes, I am familiar with the principles of sampling. In my last role as a survey manager, I worked with a team of researchers who used random sampling techniques to collect data for our client’s annual consumer satisfaction report. We implemented stratified sampling methods that allowed us to gather information from different demographics within our target audience. This helped us ensure we had enough data to support our findings.”

What are some of the challenges you have faced in your previous roles as a survey manager?

This question can help the interviewer gain insight into your problem-solving skills and how you overcame challenges in the past. When answering this question, it can be beneficial to highlight a challenge you faced and how you overcame it or what steps you took to solve the issue.

Example: “One of the biggest challenges I have faced as a survey manager is finding qualified candidates for my team. In my last role, I was responsible for hiring new employees to join our team. To overcome this challenge, I started reaching out to local universities and colleges to find students who were interested in working with us. This helped me build a strong team that could handle any project we were assigned.”

How would you describe the importance of data analysis in a survey manager’s role?

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your knowledge of the role and how it relates to other aspects of a company. Use examples from your experience to explain why data analysis is important in survey management.

Example: “Data analysis is an essential part of my job because I use it to determine which surveys are most effective for our clients. For example, when we were working with a client who wanted to know more about their customers’ shopping habits, I analyzed the results of several surveys to find out what questions they should ask their customers to get the best information. This helped us create better surveys that led to more useful insights for our client.”

What is your process for ensuring that all questions in a survey are legally compliant?

Interviewers may ask this question to understand how you ensure that the surveys you create are legally compliant. Use your answer to highlight your attention to detail and ability to follow company policies.

Example: “I always make sure to check all questions in a survey for compliance before sending them out. I first read through each question, making sure it’s not leading or offensive. Then, I look at the answers to see if they’re biased toward any one response. If there is any doubt about whether a question is legal, I change it until I’m confident it’s appropriate.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to manage a difficult or challenging team member.

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your leadership skills and how you handle conflict. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation and what steps you took to resolve the issue or challenge with the team member.

Example: “In my last role as a survey manager, one of my employees was consistently late for work. I had a conversation with them about their tardiness and explained that while they were doing good work, their attendance could impact their performance reviews. They agreed to try harder to arrive on time, but after several weeks, they continued to be late. I spoke with them again and let them know that if they didn’t improve their attendance, we would need to terminate their employment.”

If hired, what would be your priorities as a survey manager?

This question helps employers understand your management style and how you would prioritize projects. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list the most important tasks that a survey manager completes on a daily or weekly basis.

Example: “As a survey manager, my top priority would be ensuring that all of our surveys are completed accurately and in a timely manner. I would also make sure that all employees have the resources they need to complete their work, including training materials and technology support. Another priority would be making sure that we’re meeting deadlines for client requests.”

What would you do if you noticed a significant decrease in survey response rates?

This question can help interviewers understand how you respond to challenges and make decisions. Your answer should show that you have the ability to analyze data, identify problems and develop solutions.

Example: “If I noticed a significant decrease in survey response rates, I would first look at the demographics of who is responding. If there was a change in age groups or other factors, I would try to determine why this happened. For example, if more older people were responding than younger people, it could be because we changed our survey language to be more clear for older respondents. In this case, I would continue using the new language to ensure we are getting accurate results from our surveys.”

How well do you think you can work with researchers, statisticians and other professionals in the field?

The interviewer may ask this question to gauge your interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with others. Showcase your communication, problem-solving and teamwork skills by describing a time you worked well with professionals in the field.

Example: “I think I can work very well with other professionals because of my strong communication skills. In my last role as survey manager, I collaborated with statisticians and researchers on several projects. We had weekly meetings where we discussed our progress and any challenges we faced. This helped us solve problems quickly and ensured that all surveys were completed accurately.”

Do you have any experience working with large data sets?

This question can help the interviewer determine your experience with a specific skill that is important for this role. If you have relevant experience, share it in your answer. If you don’t have any experience working with large data sets, explain what steps you would take to learn how to do so if hired.

Example: “I’ve worked with large data sets before when I was conducting research on my dissertation. The project required me to analyze thousands of survey responses and compile them into an organized database. I used software programs like Microsoft Access and Excel to organize the data and create charts and graphs from the information. This helped me understand how to work with large data sets and taught me valuable skills that I could use as a survey manager.”

When conducting market research, why is it important to ask open-ended questions?

This question can help the interviewer determine your knowledge of market research and how you apply it to a company’s goals. Use examples from your experience to explain why open-ended questions are important in this role.

Example: “Open-ended questions allow me to understand what customers think about a product or service, which is especially helpful when I’m trying to find out their preferences for different features. This information helps me create surveys that target specific customer needs and wants. It also allows me to gather more detailed information than closed-ended questions, which can be beneficial when analyzing data.”

We want to improve our customer service. How would you go about conducting a customer satisfaction survey?

Customer service is an important aspect of any business. Employers ask this question to see if you can help improve their customer service and overall satisfaction with the company. In your answer, explain how you would conduct a survey that helps you understand what customers like about the company and what they don’t. Explain how you would use this information to make improvements in the company’s customer service.

Example: “I would start by creating a questionnaire that asks questions related to customer service. I would include both multiple choice answers as well as open-ended questions so we could get more detailed feedback from our customers. After collecting the data, I would analyze it to find out which areas of customer service need improvement. Then, I would present my findings to management and work with them to create a plan for improving customer service.”

Describe your experience with data visualization tools.

Survey managers need to be able to analyze data and present it in a way that’s easy for others to understand. Data visualization tools are software programs that allow users to create charts, graphs and other visual representations of data. When answering this question, describe your experience with these types of tools and how you used them to complete projects or tasks.

Example: “I have some experience using data visualization tools, but I’ve found they’re most useful when working on large-scale projects. For example, at my last job, we were tasked with creating a survey about the state of education in our county. We had over 1,000 responses from teachers, parents and students. Using data visualization tools allowed us to quickly sort through all of the information and find patterns and trends.”

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 your skills that relate to the position. Think about what makes you unique from other candidates and how those skills can benefit the company.

Example: “I am the most qualified candidate because I have experience managing teams of surveyors. In my previous role, I managed a team of five people who conducted surveys in different locations. I also had to analyze data and create reports based on our findings. These skills make me an excellent choice for this position because I know how to manage a large group of employees while still getting work done efficiently.”

Which computer programming languages do you have experience using?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience using the same programming language that their company uses. If they don’t specify which languages they use, it’s a good idea to mention several common ones like C++, Java and Python.

Example: “I’ve worked with many different computer programming languages throughout my career, including C++, Java and Python. I also know some HTML coding, but I’m not as experienced with it. However, I am always eager to learn new things, so I would be happy to take on additional training if necessary.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of data analysis?

This question can help the interviewer determine your knowledge of data analysis and how you prioritize tasks. Your answer should show that you understand what is important in this role, such as accuracy, timeliness and attention to detail.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of data analysis is ensuring that all information is accurate. If there are any mistakes or inconsistencies in the data, it could lead to inaccurate conclusions. I am very thorough when analyzing data so that I can ensure everything is correct before reporting my findings. Another important aspect of data analysis is meeting deadlines. It’s important to analyze data quickly but accurately so that we can report our findings in a timely manner.”

How often do you recommend conducting customer satisfaction surveys?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your knowledge of the best time to conduct surveys. They want to know that you understand when it’s most beneficial to survey customers and how often they should do so. In your answer, explain what factors influence your decision about when to conduct a survey.

Example: “I recommend conducting customer satisfaction surveys at least once per year. This allows me to gather data from enough customers to get an accurate idea of their overall experience with the company. I also find that doing surveys annually is usually sufficient for identifying trends in customer satisfaction over time. However, if there are specific issues or concerns that arise during the course of a year, I will recommend conducting additional surveys.”

There is a discrepancy in the results of two different surveys. What would you do to resolve the issue?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to resolve issues. Use past experiences to answer this question, but if you haven’t encountered such an issue before, use common sense to respond.

Example: “I would first determine the cause of the discrepancy. If it’s due to human error, I would repeat the survey with the same questions and compare the results. If there is still a difference in the results, I would contact the client to discuss the issue and find out what they want me to do. If the discrepancy is due to a change in the target audience or other external factors, I would have to rework the entire survey.”