| Getting job interview answers correct is one of the | | | | requirements stage though the full project life cycle to |
| keys to fulfilling your career goals and landing your | | | | completion. The project came in on time on budget |
| dream job. Best of luck at your next job interview. | | | | and to the client specification. There were very few |
| Q. What part did you play in a recent success? | | | | errors during the user acceptance testing and I |
| A. Another question where the interviewer is giving | | | | received plenty of praise for a job well done as the |
| you a chance to shine. However it is interesting to see | | | | client was thrilled. It was a fixed price contract so there |
| how many people attend interviews and never have a | | | | was no room for error or cost over runs. We had a |
| suitable example to share for this type of question. | | | | lessons learned phase at the end of the project as we |
| The whole point of the interview is for the interviewer | | | | always do. The results were that there were so many |
| to find out what BENEFITS you are going to bring to | | | | positive lessons we could share with other |
| the organization. The simplest way to do this to talk | | | | departments. |
| about your successes. | | | | Q. If you were hiring a person for this job, what would |
| As always you can use the Situation, Task, Action, | | | | you look for? |
| Result formula for constructing an answer. | | | | A. This is another opportunity to talk about YOUR |
| We recently had a major order for an important client | | | | positive attributes. You need to answer in a way that |
| that needed to be complete and shipped by the end of | | | | lets the interviewer know you have these traits. There |
| the weekend. We had been let down by our main | | | | is no point in listing ten items that a candidate should |
| supplier and were short of materials. I worked long into | | | | possess and then the interviewer has to ask whether |
| the Thursday night contacting other suppliers across | | | | you have these or not. They want you to tell them |
| the state until we found what we required. With time | | | | that you have these qualities! So tell them! Here are |
| running short I hired a van and went and collected the | | | | some examples of how to reply. |
| material myself. | | | | In my current role I have found that being organized, |
| I then organized for an extra two shifts to work the | | | | conscientious and an effective time manager has |
| weekend so the order would be completed. I | | | | resulted in me exceeding my targets. Often I find that if |
| supervised the weekend working as well which was | | | | you have an organised plan of activities and assign |
| two 16 hour days. | | | | time limits to each I am more focused and an effective |
| We all pulled together as a team and shipped the | | | | manager. |
| order on time to the client. They were delighted with | | | | A detailed knowledge of the companies product |
| our commitment as they had been informed of the | | | | ranges while not necessarily required has enable me |
| struggle we had to complete the order. It resulted in | | | | to spot issues in the manufacturing process and also |
| further orders and a great deal of goodwill with the | | | | offer valuable suggestions which have resulted in |
| client. They remarked that they felt we were a | | | | increased productivity gains. |
| company that went the extra mile to make sure | | | | Q. Where do you see this industry in 5 years time? |
| deliveries were completed as per schedule. | | | | A. Here is another question that will allow the |
| Such an answer has many positive points that the | | | | interviewer to judge your knowledge of the industry |
| interviewer can pick up on and assimilate wit the role | | | | which goes beyond the narrow question of can you |
| you are applying for. Teamwork, commitment, | | | | do the job?. It will test whether you have an all round |
| ingenuity, hard work and dedication are all | | | | view of factors which will influence the job you do. |
| characteristics that can be transferred between roles. | | | | The question allows for the interviewer to judge |
| Are you a team player and if so demonstrate how | | | | whether you have additional knowledge (and therefore |
| this could be beneficial to the organization. | | | | bring additional benefits) about the role. |
| Firstly you want to make the point you are a team | | | | Although this is the type of question that would be |
| player as the very suggestion by the interviewer | | | | asked in a more senior position everyone should know |
| implies you will be working in a team. You need to | | | | something about their industry. The interviewer is not |
| confirm that working in a team is something you have | | | | asking for a prediction but looking to see that you |
| done in the past, you have done well and that you | | | | understand the current issues facing the industry and |
| agree team work is an essential benefit for any | | | | what the future trends may be. Although possible |
| successful organization. Demonstrating you are part of | | | | answers are unlimited and will be tailored to each type |
| a team requires you to show you can listen, | | | | of business you may find the following suggestions |
| encourage, empathize, persuade, lead and reach a | | | | helpful: |
| successful joint conclusion to the task. | | | | - More industry consolidation into larger corporations |
| Although I enjoy working on my own using my own | | | | - Move away from retail outlets to e-commerce web |
| drive and initiative to get a task completed I have | | | | selling |
| found that working as a member of a team often | | | | - More niche players in the market |
| yields additional benefits, I have found it particularly | | | | - Globalisation of the supplier network |
| beneficial when there is a complex issue to be | | | | - Stronger sales growth in 3rd world countries |
| resolved where two-heads are better than one. Team | | | | - Wider diversity in product ranges |
| working is about giving everyone a chance to air their | | | | - Increased reliance on software to run the business |
| opinion, sounding their opinions with others and reaching | | | | A more senior managerial position will require you to |
| an effective solution. A team environment will often | | | | have an in depth knowledge of the future direction of |
| stimulate thoughts and suggestions which would not | | | | the industry. This is because your decisions may have |
| necessarily occur if you were working alone. | | | | a direct impact on the long term direction the company |
| It is important to remember that the group as a whole | | | | is taking. If you are going for a more junior position and |
| needs to be creative, constructive and reach a | | | | the question comes up be grateful. By answering with |
| consensus. Therefore the airing of all facts, opinions | | | | a full and carefully considered reply it will clearly |
| and ideas is to be encouraged. An example of this | | | | distinguish your application and elevate you above the |
| was when I was faced with a problem where the | | | | competition. |
| office I was managing had run out out of desk space | | | | Q. What has attracted you to this job? |
| and we had some new starters to accommodate. I | | | | A. You may find that you only have a limited amount |
| tried various methods of re-arranging the office space | | | | of information on the role. Your understanding of the |
| but there was no likelihood of succeeding given the | | | | role may be limited to what you have read in the job |
| number of individuals and the available equipment. | | | | description. However there must be a reason for you |
| I convened a meeting with the other heads of | | | | applying! You may need to reply to the interviewer |
| department to share my problem. IT turned out they | | | | looking for clarification about some of the aspects of |
| too were facing similar problems and again were trying | | | | the job. Concentrate on describing the challenge, |
| to resolve o their own, After reviewing the total | | | | rewarding career, and the experience you will gain. |
| workforce numbers and the facilities required a | | | | Do not mention money if you can help it. Definitely do |
| resolution was found within 30 minutes. It was clear | | | | not say anything negative about your previous |
| that all departments were using valuable office space | | | | employer/boss and wanting to leave. ''I just cannot wait |
| on duplicate services such as photocopiers, stationery | | | | to leave my existing employer'' will not go down well. |
| cupboards, meeting rooms, break out areas. All such | | | | However the question will not just be role related but |
| areas were often under used. By combining these | | | | will include the wider organization. Additionally describe |
| across the whole organization we managed to free up | | | | what you perceive to be the forward thinking |
| over 10% additional space for all departments to use. | | | | elements of the organization and what advantages |
| Here is another example you could use.... | | | | they appear to offer. For example their use of new |
| I recently had a project for a client. I was the project | | | | technology. |
| manager tasked with delivering the end product. I | | | | Hope this helps to land our dream job! |
| organized the team and took the project from the | | | | |