How would your most recent manager describe you?
The interviewer wants evidence that you have a history of building positive relationships with previous leaders and employers. The goal of your response is to show that your character is strong, that you have built healthy relationships in your previous role, and that your character aligns with the hiring company.
"In my last performance review and also in some casual discussions, my manager has described me as motivated, encouraging to others, and consistent. I strive to exceed expectations when I can, and I encourage my fellow team members to deliver their best work. My current manager is happy to speak on my behalf as a positive reference."
"My last manager and I had a close relationship. She appreciated all of my efforts when it came to working overtime and taking my work home when required. In the past, she described me as unique, reliable, and energetic. I have many emails from her expressing thanks for my positive influence and reliability."
"My District Manager and I get along well. He values my industry knowledge and gives me the freedom to do my job with autonomy. If asked, he would tell you that I am dedicated and will go the extra mile to deliver results. My performance metrics confirm this as well, and I am happy to show you a performance report from my last 90 days."
"My manager often has nice things to say about me. In my most recent performance review, he was impressed that I exceeded February's sales target by the 9th of the month. He also mentioned how he appreciates my initiative in tackling new projects, such as the product roll-out I have been working on with the marketing team for the past three months. I feel fortunate to have a great rapport with my leader. I would be happy to put you in touch with my manager when the time comes for a verbal reference."
"I am confident that my most recent manager will give me a glowing reference. She lobbied for my promotion to assistant manager and mentored me when I stepped into the new role. She would describe me as dedicated, loyal, a quick learner, and highly adaptable to change. I am proud of these traits and love that she, and others, have recognized these characteristics in me."
"The department head at my current school has described me as passionate, excited, and reliable. I brought a copy of last year's performance review if you'd like to read it. I am very proud that my passion and love for teaching shines through to my department head, the students that I teach, and my esteemed coworkers."
"My marketing director recently reviewed me, noting that I show fortitude during long-term and challenging projects. She also noted that I am creative in my approach to new marketing roll-outs and great with client communication in situations of ambiguity. My project results reflect these traits, and I am happy to ask her to be an employment reference should you need."
Avoid guessing what your most recent manager thinks of you. If you respond in a way that sounds unsure, the interviewer may not feel confident in your employer/employee relationships. For instance, rather than saying, 'I think maybe my manager would describe me as dedicated to my work,' try saying, 'My manager would describe me as dedicated to my work because I deliver on deadlines and often make myself available after hours when my clients need me.'
Hopefully, your current leader is communicative with you and regularly expresses what they enjoy and appreciate about your work ethic. If possible, form your response around takeaways from your last performance review or a piece of feedback you have recently received from your leader. You can further solidify your response by referring to reliable references, such as any LinkedIn recommendations on your profile.
Offer 1-3 traits when you respond. Then, support those traits with an example of when you emulated those behaviors. You can also provide details of a measurable accomplishment. For instance, if you received a 100% customer satisfaction survey result, tell the interviewer about this achievement as supporting evidence. For example, you could say, 'My most recent manager would say that I am customer-focused. In fact, I recently received a 100% customer satisfaction rating in our company's latest customer happiness survey.'
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
In my recent performance reviews and discussions, my manager described me as a hard worker, motivated, and consistent employee! I always strive to exceed expectations when I can.
My client account manager and I get along well. He valued my knowledge and abilities and gave me the freedom to do the job my way, as long as I got the job done. I think he would tell you that I am dedicated and will go the extra mile to deliver results.
Rachelle's Feedback
Excellent answer! It's great that you referred to past performance reviews, solidifying the validity of what you are saying.
