How to Answer: Do you feel performance should be rewarded over experience when it comes to career advancement opportunities?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Kimberly-Clark job interview.
11. Do you feel performance should be rewarded over experience when it comes to career advancement opportunities?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Over the years, there has been a philosophical shift in how large companies choose to promote their staff. Where seniority was the only factor long ago, more and more companies are basing employee promotions based on merit and performance. The team at Kimberly-Clark likes to ask a question like this, depending on if the role they are interviewing for is union based or not.
Written by Ryan Brunner on March 20th, 2023
How to Answer
Feel free to speak openly about how you feel employees should be considered for promotion, but keep in mind whether the job you are being considered for is part of the union or non-union. Unions tend to have a collective bargaining agreement that factors in promotion based on seniority for those that apply, and non-union jobs do not.
Written by Ryan Brunner on March 20th, 2023
1st Entry Level Example
"Having been in a union manufacturing environment for the first three years of my career, I've been part of a system that promotes based on seniority of the interested internal applicants and know this is a fair way of doing things. If I'm fortunate enough to join Kimberly-Clark, I'm dedicated to putting my time in and working towards future leadership opportunities on the floor."
Written by Ryan Brunner on March 20th, 2023
1st Answer Example
"Both tenure and performance are important, but I lean toward performance driving the decision. I feel employees should be paid and rewarded based on the documented value they bring to the organization. This approach is a strong motivator - a new employee would be greatly encouraged by being rewarded for performance. It also facilitates healthy competition with more tenured employees. Can you elaborate on how recent staff in this department at Kimberly-Clark were promoted?"
Written by Ryan Brunner on March 20th, 2023
2nd Answer Example
"Experience and company knowledge are so important and valuable to an organization, while performance is the documented articulation of an employee's value to the company. I believe the best compensation programs figure out a way to honor both, with an emphasis on performance. Doing so encourages good employees to stay since they know they're valued for their tenure and experience but discourages people from getting so comfortable in a long-time role that they don't strive for their highest performance."
Written by Michelle Clark on March 20th, 2023
Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback
Anonymous Answer
Marcie's Feedback