If I asked you to quit your job and start working at Tesla tomorrow, what are three things your manager would miss about you?
Many questions give you opportunities to advertise your merits. The subtlety of this question lies in what your manager would miss about you, which speaks to your qualities that made their job easier. The trick to this question is how it is phrased; it suggests quitting without giving notice, which is the antithesis of a desirable trait. Yet at the same time, there is fierce competition to land a position at Tesla, and they know this. So they are interested only in those individuals who would do anything to earn that opportunity. As Musk once said, "It's okay to have your eggs in one basket as long as you control what happens to that basket."
"First and foremost, they'd miss my professionalism, and quite honestly, I'd miss it too if I quit tomorrow without proper notice. I consider myself a professional. I come into work every day and say my hellos, make enough coffee for everyone, and change the bottle in the water cooler. Then I go through my systems and set everything up before getting started on time every day. The second thing is my attitude. I'm a happy-go-lucky, positive person, and I find that I am more motivated in my work when I am motivating others. I often find myself setting the pace as well. Lastly, I'd say I act as an extra set of eyes and ears for our team leaders. I'm always keeping an eye out for any of those details that might clue me into some pesky thing early on that might be more of a pain to address down the line. I have a high level of attention to detail. It's a strength, and I put that gift to good use."
Think of how you support your leadership and the leadership qualities you possess. That should be the focus of your answer. Some good examples are being a positive influence on morale, supporting the big-picture, being a liaison between your managers and your team, being a team player, having a strong work ethic, and setting the team's pace.
"I have good instincts and am loyal. When my boss gives direction, I always have my boss's back and tell the rest of the team about their vision to get everyone in line. I am easily coached and take the advice I am given in stride. In the past, my boss advised me that I should be more selfish in advancing my career. I suppose if Tesla offered me a job and told me to leave my job tomorrow, I would take that advice and prioritize my career and this opportunity. I am loyal, have a lot of integrity, and always try to do the right thing. I'd regret not jumping on an opportunity to join the Tesla team. If I was guaranteed this job, not just any job, but a job with Tesla, I'd do whatever it takes."
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