Community Manager Interview Preparation Guide
Elevate your Community Manager interview readiness with our detailed compilation of 71 questions. Our questions cover a wide range of topics in Community Manager to ensure youre well-prepared. Whether youre new to the field or have years of experience, these questions are designed to help you succeed. Get the free PDF download to access all 71 questions and excel in your Community Manager interview. This comprehensive guide is essential for effective study and confidence building.71 Community Manager Questions and Answers:
1 :: Explain me an example of a time when you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision?
Making decision to give gate pass for free or charge for it.
2 :: Tell me when have you had a problem with a homeowner or tenant before? How did you handle the situation?
Tenant does not feel she needs a lease to live in parents home. Our covenants state a lease must be on file. Explained that to her and she understood.
3 :: Tell me what kind of events cause you stress on the job?
Dealing with people with a certain entitlement or just being rude.
4 :: Explain about a time you handled a member/customer who was difficult, impatient, or upset?
Many community manager roles involve elements of customer service. After all, you’re interacting with people daily and will often encounter someone who is reaching out to you with an issue that needs solving. Let your interviewer see that they can trust you to be the face of and voice for the community.
5 :: Explain me what initiatives would you take to increase engagement/retention/growth in our community?
Engaging, keeping, and attracting new users are goals for most (but not all) communities. Be prepared with two or three ideas to achieve these goals. Don’t worry about presenting original ideas here—you’re interviewing for a job, not providing free consulting advice. Just show the hiring manager that you have ideas. If you suggest ideas they’ve already tried, well, that shows you’re on the same page.
6 :: Explain me what communities are you a member of?
Your interviewer is asking this question to see if you can demonstrate your understanding of what a community is and what it means to belong to one. We’re all part of many communities throughout our lives. If you’re an active commenter on BuzzFeed and know the other commenters there, then you’re part of the BuzzFeed community. If not online, maybe you were a member of an after-school club or local charity. Be capable of talking about a time you contributed to a community in some shape or form.
7 :: Explain how do you define a community?
“Community” as a term is something tossed around in conversation frequently, but few folks have thought to consider what it actually means. Good community talent will have their own opinions and theories and will be able to provide a succinct definition off hand. Red flag answers will include vague references to social media and content — and community management is not the same as social media.
8 :: Explain me what Are the Characteristics of an Effective Online Community Manager?
As an online community manager, you’ll need to have a strong degree of initiative. It isn’t the type of job where you’ll wait for tasks to be assigned to you—more likely, you’ll be determining the necessary actions required to achieve the goals of your new organization. Chances are, you’ll probably have more experience with online communities than anyone else in your organization, so they’ll be looking to you for answers.
In order to be an effective online community manager, you need to have a firm understanding of the pillars of online community management. You might find yourself in a situation where you need to call on that understanding to stand up for yourself and your job. Being prepared with a concrete plan for the future helps establish your purpose and relevance.
All of this starts during your job interview. Since online community managers are leaders before they are doers, it is more than likely that you’ll be interviewed by someone looking for your guidance and initiative to meet the organization’s goals. Here are effective ways to set yourself up for success both during the interview and once you have the job.
In order to be an effective online community manager, you need to have a firm understanding of the pillars of online community management. You might find yourself in a situation where you need to call on that understanding to stand up for yourself and your job. Being prepared with a concrete plan for the future helps establish your purpose and relevance.
All of this starts during your job interview. Since online community managers are leaders before they are doers, it is more than likely that you’ll be interviewed by someone looking for your guidance and initiative to meet the organization’s goals. Here are effective ways to set yourself up for success both during the interview and once you have the job.
9 :: Explain me as a community manager, what is your management style?
In my experience delegating responsibility and authority is crucial. A team needs to be able to develop and grow as individuals and a whole, not be held back by low expectations or ego.
I believe in building a team. Each member of the team should be clear on their role, know where they fit in and feel as though they can depend on one another. I also believe in real-time feedback. If you do something wrong you should know it immediately. Regardless of right or wrong, the further removed feedback is in time, the less effective it is.
I believe in building a team. Each member of the team should be clear on their role, know where they fit in and feel as though they can depend on one another. I also believe in real-time feedback. If you do something wrong you should know it immediately. Regardless of right or wrong, the further removed feedback is in time, the less effective it is.
10 :: I am curious, how did you come to find out about our company and what do you know about us?
This can be a great way to stand out from other applicants and demonstrate initiative. Almost every company will have a website, Facebook page, Instagram account, or some sort of digital footprint. Spend a bit of time doing some online research:
☛ If they have a website, check out their “About us” or “Culture/Mission/Vision” pages.
☛ Who are some of the principal people who work there? Who are the founders?
☛ What sorts of things does this company care about? Do they donate to a particular cause or charity? Which one(s)?
☛ What are their core values? Which of their core values resonate with you?
☛ Has the company been in the news recently or have they won any awards (Social Media can be a great place to find this information).
☛ If they have a website, check out their “About us” or “Culture/Mission/Vision” pages.
☛ Who are some of the principal people who work there? Who are the founders?
☛ What sorts of things does this company care about? Do they donate to a particular cause or charity? Which one(s)?
☛ What are their core values? Which of their core values resonate with you?
☛ Has the company been in the news recently or have they won any awards (Social Media can be a great place to find this information).