How have you demonstrated leadership ability when you were not in a leadership role?
"I naturally take on a leader and mentor-ship type of role with my co-workers. In one instance, I had a new coworker who was having some troubles fitting in. I took her out for lunch and talked to her a bit about the workplace culture and semantics surrounding the various departments. I wanted her to stay and enjoy her employment with us, so I took the responsibility of ensuring she was settling in well. I believe there are always opportunities for leadership - you have to keep your eyes open."
Raytheon has a long-standing record of hiring strong leaders. As such, they have woven leadership characteristics and behaviors into their values and general approach to developing aerospace and defense solutions. Raytheon seeks candidates with leadership skills regardless of their formal leadership designation within the organization. Your interviewer wants to know if you are able to demonstrate leadership qualities when you are not ultimately in charge of a team or project.
Share how you have positively influenced others through actions you've taken to support and motivate others at work. You can give an example of how you coached a coworker who was having difficulty preparing for a big presentation. Maybe you gave them confidence in their strengths by encouraging them, or perhaps you offered some helpful hints. You can be a motivator and a confident communicator in any situation at work!
If you're struggling to come up with a solid example, it may help to review a list of leadership qualities and determine where you fall within the categories described. Regardless of the scenario you select, provide a brief overview of your actions and then describe the positive effect it had on the team you were working with.
"I demonstrate leadership qualities every chance that I get! I believe that everyone can be a great leader if given the right environment and opportunity. For example, I formally mentor two members of my department. We work together to grow their professionalism, technical skills, and leadership skills. I genuinely enjoy assisting in the development of others and would love the opportunity to demonstrate my leadership skills here at Raytheon."
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