A Relationship Manager is an expert communicator who quickly and effectively builds lasting client relations. As the walking definition of a people person, the Relationship Manager loves to engage with customers and clients, as well as colleagues and internal stakeholders, to form and cultivate powerful business relationships. Their communicative skill is only surpassed by their power of persuasion, seamlessly opening upselling and cross-selling opportunities to help the company grow.
To find the right person for this position, you need to have a list of targeted Relationship Manager interview questions prepared so you can identify the perfect candidate when you see them. After all, with such an important role you don’t want to make a hiring mistake.
When searching for your new Relationship Manager you should look out for the following qualities and skills:
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to easily build relationships with customers, clients, and colleagues alike.
- Great at persuading and convincing customers to buy (or invest more into) your product.
Interviewing a Relationship Manager
To narrow down the number of applicants and get closer to finding the perfect hire, you need to play your cards right. And the earlier on in the interview process you do so the better. That’s why we’ve created this list of effective Relationship Manager interview questions that you should ask during the first interview.
Note that these questions are best suited for the first interview and early on during the process. They help you skim through the bulk of applicants to find the ones with the highest potential. During the next step, you should ask more industry/experience specific questions tailored to the unique needs of your business.
How to open the Relationship Manager job interview
Too many recruiters still think intensely questioning a candidate is the best way to test the talent pool. However, this interviewing style is generally considered to be outdated and is often actually counterproductive.
Many candidates are nervous about the interview, which is natural. These nerves can negatively influence the way they answer your interview questions. The candidate might actually know the perfect answer to your question, but if they’re overcome by nerves their anxiety can cause them to draw a blank.
Instead, you should try to start off light and make the candidate feel comfortable and at ease. Not only is this a lot more friendly, but it will also help you get better answers from them.