How would your most recent leader describe you?

Avoid guessing what your most recent manager thinks of you. If your response sounds unsure, the hiring managers 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 answer by referring to reliable references, such as any LinkedIn recommendations on your profile.

Offer 1-3 of your best 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, talk 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."

The average HireVue interview takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. This one-way video interview typically includes 3-5 questions. Depending on the HireVue parameters set by Morgan Stanley, the asynchronous interview platform will generally give you 30 seconds to prepare a response and up to 2 minutes to answer each question. It's important to note that HireVue stops recording as soon as your time limit is up, so it's better to run under time than overtime.

"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."

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.