Be sure to give examples that turn a negative (a mistake) into a positive. Examples of good responses include:
- I think one of the most important things I've learned is persistence. Not to give up too soon, because the solution is probably right in front of me.
- I have learned to give every person a second chance, because first impressions can often be misleading.
- I used to think that there was one best solution to a problem, but I've learned that that kind of thinking limits the possibility of great success.
2. What was most/least rewarding?
This kind of question can be tricky. You want to make sure that the things you say are least rewarding aren't responsibilities that are going to be a major part of the job you are interviewing for.
For example, if the last job you had involved extensive customer service telephone work that you hated, and if being on the phone doing something similar is even a minor part of the new job, don't mention it. Instead, focus on the tasks that were most rewarding and highlight those.
When interviewing, always be cognisant of the job you are interviewing for and tailor your response accordingly. Try to accentuate the positive, regardless of what question you have been asked, because you don't want to construed as someone who is negative about work in general.
3. What was the biggest accomplishment in this position?
Your potential employer will want to know what you accomplished, and what you didn't, in your current or last position.
The best way to respond is to give an example of something you accomplished that is directly related the job you are interviewing for. Review your résumé and review the job posting. Find the best match and use that to show how what you accomplished will be beneficial to the company you are interviewing with.
If you wrote a targeted cover letter when applying for the job use the information you included to create your response.
For example, if you are interviewing for a job at a school where you will need to manage student registration, explain to the interviewer how you registered students for courses, designed and managed registration software, and solved customer problems.
If you didn't fail at anything say so. If you can think of an example, be sure that it is a minor one and turn it into a positive. For example, if you were working on a project that was behind deadline, explain to the interviewer how you adjusted the workload and the timeline to get back on track and ahead of schedule.
4. What was it like working for your supervisor?
The reason this is asked is to find out how you get along with your boss. Be careful how you answer. Interviewers don't like to hear too much (or much at all) about bad bosses because it could be someone from their company that you're talking about next time around.
I once had a job applicant who spent 10 minutes responding to this question. She told me how awful her boss was and how her company was a terrible place to work. It so happened that her boss was a good friend and golfing buddy of my boss- our company's CEO- and the company was one of our biggest clients. Of course, she didn't get the job.
Don't make the same mistake she did. Instead, accentuate the positive and minimise any difficult situations. Discuss the strengths your past supervisors had and how they helped you succeed in your positions.
5. What do you expect from a supervisor?
Sample answers:
- I appreciate a work environment where supervisors try to make personal connections with their employees.
- In my last job, I liked the fact that management did not show favoritism and they were understanding of employee's needs as well as their strengths. Of course, these things take time to know, but I would want my supervisor to try to know me in that way.
- I would like to be able to go to my manager if I have an issue or idea and to be able to feel comfortable expressing my thoughts. I would also expect my supervisor to be open and honest with me and to let me know if there is anything I could do to improve upon or do differently in my work.
When you respond be sure to include a positive outcome to the problems you reference in your answer.
Sample answers:
- I feel that the best way to deal with any challenges is to meet them head on. When I found that one of my colleagues was saying things that weren't true behind my back, I went to him and talked it through. It turned out that he had misunderstood what I had said, and I was able to set the record straight with him and my supervisor.
- Once I found a major flaw in the work of one of the most senior members of the department, which could have been very costly to the company if it had been overlooked. I went directly to him and called it to his attention so he could fix it before it affected the final outcome.
Source: Alison Doyle
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