Tell me about a time when you improved communication between yourself and a co-worker or client.

"In my current position I have one particular client who was an exceptionally brief communicator. If I asked two questions, he would answer just one. I learned quickly that he would not acknowledge anything for which he did not have a direct answer. I began to ask him questions in a different way. For example, I would say 'Do you have an answer for me on question X?' and he would say yes or no. We would then go from there. This method was an effective form of communication for that particular client. I have a few approaches that will be useful when working for United Utilities, Inc.."

Possessing the skills to improve communication in the workplace is a very valuable asset. Talk to the interviewer about your ability to enhance communication in the workplace. Be sure to tie in how your skills will benefit United Utilities, Inc..

"I had a client who often missed email updates. It caused us to cross our wires a few times. I suggested that we book a quick call every week to review any outstanding areas that need to be addressed. This process worked well for us, and I believe it would work we will United Utilities, Inc. as well."

We value communication at United Utilities. Rate your communication skills from 1-10 with proper examples backing your given rating.

"I rate my communication skills as a 9/10 as I will, on occasion, have times when I am not as clear as I would like to be. My supervisor and co-workers will attest to my clear and concise communication skills. Because I am an open leader, my team will let me know if I need to clarify anything."

On a scale of 1-10, how skilled are you in communication? Why did you choose that particular rating for yourself?

"I will rate myself an 8.5 because I consider myself a strong communicator. It is the foundation of all success in business. I am always striving to be a better communicator, so I leave the rest of the scale as an aspirational measure."

Tell me about a time when your communication skills greatly benefited your team.

"My team is made up of great communicators whom I have trained to take every piece of information and break it down into the simplest factor. This approach has greatly reduced in-house issues related to communication."

Strong communication skills are required to be an effective leader. How have your communication skills helped your team in the past, and how will they help the team at United Utilities, Inc.?

"We recently rolled out a large organizational change. I took a very transparent approach to communication throughout the process. I asked the team for feedback and buy-in early in the process. We discussed some challenges that could be expected. Therefore, when the time came to roll out the change, there were very few surprises. It was a success!"

How do you handle a situation where your supervisor does not properly communicate information to you?

"Whenever I have had a supervisor who does not properly communicate with me, I try to learn their style of communication and emulate it. Sometimes you have to relate to others in their own style to be understood."

You cannot force others to communicate with you in a way that you would always prefer. Talk to the interviewer about a time that you have handled a supervisor who does not correspond with you in a way that you like. The way you answer this question will also set the stage for how you wish to be communicated with should you join United Utilities, Inc..

"There are times in business when this happens. I make sure I regroup with the supervisor to explain the strain a gap in communication causes on the team. I then go into mending mode, ensuring the information that needs to be communicated gets disseminated out to the team."

When entering a new job, describe how you build relationships with your new coworkers and supervisors.

"I understand that some relationships come quickly and others take time to nurture. When starting a new job all that I can do is be my true self and let my personality, integrity, and reliability speak for itself."

Due to a wide variety of personalities, relationships can take time to form. How do you ensure that you have a strong line of communication with your co-workers and supervisors, right from the start?

"First impressions are everything, and I make a strong attempt to build relationships with all of my peers right up front when starting a new job. I schedule meetings to make an introduction and ask discovery questions to learn how I can best support them when working together. It is also important to gain insight into their preferred methods of communications."

What experience do you have using team-based messaging applications?

"I have used a variety of team-based messaging applications. I am best versed in Slack and Freedcamp. No matter which system you use I am sure that I can pick it up very quickly."

There are many options for communication software and messaging applications. Give the interviewer a brief overview of the applications you are experienced in and assure them that you can learn their internal system, should it be new to you.

"I do not have a lot of experience with team-based messaging applications besides MSN Messenger years ago. I do pick up on technology quickly and have no concerns when it comes to my ability to learn. What team-based messaging applications do you use at United Utilities, Inc.?"

How would you describe your written communication skills?

"I would describe my written communication skills as very strong and would rate myself as a 9/10. I have always had a penchant for writing and have taken university courses related to communication, writing, and journalism."

Being a clear communicator, in written form, is a crucial skill to master. Have you taken any courses in communication and writing? Are you confident in your written communication skills? Talk to the interviewer about your written communication abilities and support your answer with a brief example or story.

"My written communication skills are solid. I often utilize written communications as a follow up to verbal communications. They provide a great resource for associates to go back to and reference, plus might answer any questions that come up along the way."

Tell me about your experiences giving presentations in front of large groups.

"In my last two roles I have been responsible for regularly presenting to my team of 43 staff as well as to our entire warehouse team of over 200. I have taken a couple of Toastmasters sessions which helped a great deal. I am a confident public speaker."

Public speaking can be intimidating so assure the interviewer that you are capable of communicating well in front of large groups. Have you taken any courses or training in public speaking? Perhaps you have so much experience that it comes second nature. Assure the interviewer that you are capable of giving presentations should it be required in your role with United Utilities, Inc..

"I do not have a lot of experience in presenting to large groups. Perhaps, 4-6 people at most. I am a confident public speaker and am sure that I could present in front of many people."

How do you handle communicating bad news to a fellow worker or subordinate?

"I certainly do not enjoy communicating bad news to a co-worker, but I do have experience in doing so. When this type of task is required of me, I make sure to practice empathy. Truth is always key, so I will be honest and clear when communicating the news. For instance, if I am to terminate someone's employment, I will not sugar coat the reasons why. It's best they know so that they can learn from the experience."

One of the toughest parts of communication can be delivering bad news to people that you work with and care for. Whether it is delivering a less than positive work review or terminating someone - it doesn't come easy. Assure the interviewer that you can handle this type of task in a transparent, concise, and professional manner.

"I am very to-the-point when it comes to my communication skills. Good or bad news, there is always a way to improve the situation and create something good from it. After delivering bad news, I will work with my coworker to find a viable solution."

Would you say you are a better verbal or written communicator?

"I prefer verbal communication because I feel that with written communication, a lot can be misread due to lack of tone, fluctuation, expression and body language. I will always choose a face to face conversation whenever possible."

In which manner do you prefer to communicate - written or verbal? Discuss your preference with the interviewer and support your answer.

"I do not lean one way or another when it comes to verbal or written communication. Both are equally important to me. If I have to choose just one, I will choose written communication as one can always look back on written communication for reference."

Tell me about an error or mistake you made because of a breakdown in communication from you or one of your team members.

"I recall one instance where I misread an email from one of my subordinates. The punctuation was incorrect, and I read it in in a dire tone rather than in a positive one, as it was intended. After a tense conversation, the employee clarified her intention, and it seems I was mistaken. She and I agreed to exercise verbal communication on a regular basis to avoid a similar situation from happening again."

On occasion, mistakes will happen, and communication will be broken. Talk to the interviewer about a time that this occurred in the workplace. How did you resolve the situation?

"We recently had a missing link in communication to one of our vendors, who we signed on to provide a large service. They were not aware of a change in the agreement which cost the company wasted time, resources and money. We were able to identify the breakdown in communication and change the process to ensure it does not happen again."

At your current or former place of employment, how important was communication and dealing with others?

"In my previous role, healthy communication was required to protect the safety of our employees. We transported dangerous goods, and our management required that we all take specific workshops on communication and documentation. Because of this, my communication skills are solid."

Are you accustomed to working in an environment where clear communication with others is critical? Talk to the interviewer about your most recent work and how communication played a part.

"There is not a healthy level of communication in my current workplace. This is part of the reason why I am seeking new employment. I highly value clear communication. How do you encourage strong communication between employees here at United Utilities, Inc.?"

At United Utilities, we give everyone the opportunity to be a mentor. Have you had the opportunity to teach an important skill to a co-worker?

"Last week our company introduced a new module in our SAP system. I could see that our contracted HR Assistant was having some troubles with the new module. I was familiar with it already, so I offered to help him learn the module. We spent his lunch hour for the next three days working on it. He perfected the module and our company was so impressed with his dedication to learning that they are now trying to find room to hire him on a full time, permanent basis."

Interviewers want to hear that you have experience teaching or mentoring other employees one-on-one. You may have taught a new hire all of your department's standard processes. Perhaps you taught a long-standing employee how to use Excel. You may have mentored an employee who was struggling to hit their monthly goals. All of these scenarios are great examples to draw on. Better yet, if you have personally seen someone struggling with workplace skills or knowledge, approached them, and offered to mentor them, it is a shining example of leadership! Whatever your scenario may be, tell the interviewer what you helped the person with, while highlighting the positive outcome of their skills improvement.

"Absolutely. In each of my two previous roles, I have been tasked with leading a small team. I have worked on everything from appointment setting and overcoming objections to price negotiations with those respective teams. What's more, I always look for an opportunity to connect with the new folks to the team. I try to always invite them out for coffee so not only they have a friendly face in the office, but also so I can be a resource to them. I was promoted from their role, so I am always happy to share how I did it on such a fast timeline and what I've found effective that can help them be a change-maker in the company, too."

At United Utilities, we value calculated risk. When have you taken an unusual risk in the workplace? What was the outcome?

"Last month I took an unusual risk by taking an outside sales call when I am an inside sales employee. My client asked me to meet him because he had some additional business he was thinking of giving our company, but he wanted to make sure we had strong rapport before he handed the business over. I met him in person, and we got along so well that he gave me an additional $1M in annual business. I knew it was a risk because my boss preferred that I stay on inside sales accounts but I knew the reward was greater than the potential risk, so I took it. Well worth it!"

The interviewer wants to know that you are capable of taking calculated risks in the workplace and that you understand the difference between a calculated risk and a risky choice. Think of a work-related risk, like trying out a new idea to solve a problem. You may even take on a new responsibility that you're not trained in, which is a little bit of a risk. Give an example that shows you are thoughtful and strategic when taking risks. Do you weigh the pros and cons first? Are you considering how it will affect others? Do you consider the company's bottom line? These are all things that the interviewer will be looking for in your answer.

"I certainly took a risk by leaving my strategic account management position to take an entry sales position in another organization. While it was risky, I wanted to get into sales and a startup environment. My family thought I was nuts. It worked out great, as I got basic sales experience, and then was promoted within months and have since been headhunted out of that position to a strategic senior account executive role."

Work volumes can become very high at United Utilities. How do you handle a larger than average workload?

"When I have a large workload on my plate, I do not stress over the tasks that are in front of me. Rather, I make a simple plan of which tasks are a high priority and which tasks are a lower priority. The higher priority tasks, I complete first. Through this system, I can focus on my tasks individually, rather than stress out by the multitude of tasks ahead of me."

The interviewer wants to be assured that you can handle the workload required of you in this position and that you will not become overwhelmed if/when workloads unexpectedly increase. When workloads increase, stress levels do too. How do you react?

"Here are some suggestions on how to handle a large workload:- List your tasks and prioritize them - Think of which tasks add to the company's bottom line, and start there (Closest to the money!) - Exhale. Relax for a minute and collect yourself - Organize your tasks by which ones you can complete independently and which ones you need help with - Take sufficient breaks, so you do not exhaust yourself - Communicate your struggles with your leadership or team"

Tell me about a time when you undertook a project that demanded a lot of initiative.

"We recently had a major inventory count requested of us by the corporate head office. At the time, our Manager was away on holidays. No one quite knew where to start or who should take the lead. I took the initiative to lead my co-workers through the inventory project. I taught myself the tracking software in a short amount of time and created a schedule for the inventory counts, so everyone knew what was expected of them. We completed the project three days ahead of schedule! It was a great success."

This interview question allows you to demonstrate your ability to be a self-starter. Show the interviewer that you are a motivated individual by telling the interviewer about a specific time that you took the lead. Include details of your project timeline, which you led, or what you had to teach yourself for the project to be successful. Be sure to complete your answer by telling the interview what the outcome was.

"We recently switched over our entire leadership team during the process of changing over our team's compensation plan. I took the initiative to manage the culture during this time by reaching out to all associates individually to gain their feedback on what compensation they would like to see in our change. I explained some possible options and gained their feedback on the new leadership team. This, with the day to day responsibilities, demanded strong time management and initiative. However, it leads the associates through a seamless compensation transition while gaining strong feedback on leadership changes."

How can United Utilities motivate you, as a leader?

"I am motivated by words of encouragement and compensation based rewards. This could be a competition for a gift card or a contest where I can earn a bigger holiday party budget for my team. Being a leader comes naturally to me, so I don't find it to be a taxing task very often. My competitive side keeps me motivated, as well."

Your motivation may be that the idea of success and achievement drives you. Perhaps you are working towards career advancement. Take some time to think about what truly motivates you.

"I am motivated by a company that is ethical and strives to do the right thing. I am at my best when I am trusted and allowed to make decisions to remain on the straight and narrow."

If United Utilities hired you today, what would you accomplish first?

"When we were speaking earlier, about sales targets in this position, you mentioned that most new sales professionals hit their KPI's after 120 days. If hired today, my goal would be to exceed my KPI's after the first 90 days. I plan to make a positive impact on United Utilities, Inc. very quickly."

When you start a new position, it is essential to set a goal on how you will make a positive impact quickly after being hired. Tell the interviewer what your impact goal is, should you be the successful candidate and hired at United Utilities, Inc..

"If hired today, I would start with analyzing all quantifiable data from the last month, quarter, and year to identify any bottlenecks or shortfalls and set a plan to correct them."

Do you prefer doing work on a routine day-to-day basis or do you prefer mixing up your routine occasionally?

"I prefer working in a more predictable environment because I can be more effective in my tasks. With that said, I can certainly work in an unpredictable environment from time to time."

Are you the individual who prefers to know what the routine will be, or do you thrive on the challenge and excitement of unpredictability? The interviewer would like to know if your work style will be a fit with United Utilities, Inc..

"I like to have a bit of both, honestly. I have a general schedule that I follow in the morning including a team huddle, setting objectives for the day, following up with clients, and then setting new meetings with prospects. That said, the in-between of that framework is always pretty unpredictable. In sales, you never know what might happen, especially when selling a good as I do. More often than not, there is some snafu throughout the day (or twenty) so that variety keeps me on my toes, engaged, and excited."

What do you know about the culture at United Utilities?

"I have researched United Utilities, Inc. through your social media channels, and on glassdoor.com. Your employees have great things to say, and overall it seems that you have fun while you work. I am looking forward to joining an organization, like yours, that is upbeat and thoughtful with an eye on helping the community at the same time."

Company culture and fit is a significant factor when considering a career move. Assure the interviewer that you have put thought, research, and consideration of how the company culture at United Utilities, Inc. will work for you.

"I read many positive reviews online about the organization level and culture at United Utilities, Inc.. You offer great incentives to keep people motivated, and it seems to be the type of fast-paced environment that values innovation and performance. My type of place!"

We appreciate innovative thinking at United Utilities. When have you created a new product or service?

"In my previous role I was fortunate enough to introduce my company to the idea of a gold level service where, in addition to our general customer service, we added on additional options. Our customer base responded very positively, and we kept the program running for a few years."

Using your creative mind, have you ever introduced an employer to a new product or service opportunity? Talk to the interviewer about a time when you have created a new product or service.

"I am newer to my career, so I have not had a lot of opportunities to create a new product or service in the workplace. In my personal life, a lot of my neighbors have pets. I started a neighborhood dog walking, sitting, and vacation service when I was in high school. It was highly popular in the summer. I made some money and helped my neighbors enjoy their vacations. Plus, I love animals."

How often do you discuss work with your colleagues, in order to think up new systems and styles of working?

"I have a policy with my team that if they have an innovative and helpful idea they can bring it to me at any time. If their idea or system is something that I think could work, we then create a plan together to present it to our head office. This policy has generated some powerful ideas in our office over the past three years including a work-share program and some health and safety initiatives."

Do you use your creative mind with your colleagues to discuss ideas and systems in the workplace? Talk to the interviewer about how you have used creative thinking in the workplace and how this will benefit United Utilities, Inc., if hired.

"I think it is important to discuss work with colleagues in a collaborative nature to encourage all types of ideas to come forth. Often, when people put their heads together, they will create something better than something one individual could have done alone."

Give me an example of a time when you had to troubleshoot to solve a problem?

"Last week, while working in our new SAP system, I was receiving a repeated error. I entered in a few different codes, but that didn't solve the issue. I then did a hard reset on my system. Then, I referred to the user guide for additional suggestions. It took a little time and patience, but I was able to resolve the issue without calling the support line and waiting on hold."

Troubleshooting is like reverse engineering - it takes skill, effort, and patience. You have to understand the problem to know how to work backward from it to find a solution. Knowing how to solve problems with technical equipment is always a solid skill, and a great way to demonstrate your example. Show that you are insightful in your approach.

"We do not have an IT department in my current office so whenever an issue arises, I am the person that my team calls. Troubleshooting is fun for me - it's like a new challenge every time. Google and IT related forums are often my best friend!"

When a major problem arises, what is your first reaction?

"When a major problem arises, my first instinct is to take a step back and absorb what just happened. I then go into 'brainstorm' mode, jotting down potential ways to resolve the issue. From there, I can generally use a pros and cons list to determine the best course of action for a fast and amicable resolution."

The interviewer wants to know if your reactions to problems reflect maturity and professionalism. How you react will significantly determine how you fit with their existing team at United Utilities, Inc.. Perhaps your computer crashes and you realize you may have just lost all of your hard work. Or maybe you are limited on time and have a deadline rapidly approaching. Demonstrate to the interviewer that you take a very methodical approach to problem-solving, rather than reacting in an impulsive way when a problem occurs.

"I have taught myself to become much calmer with my first reactions when problems arise. Now, I will step back and review my options for solving the problem rather than allow myself to become frustrated."

If you were given a choice, which work related task would you leave for last? Why?

"If given a choice, I would leave my documentation tasks for last. I say this because I like to spend my time selling and hitting targets so anything to do with documentation during business hours - I feel takes away from my business development tasks. I do understand the importance of it, though."

Often we will leave the tasks that we don't like for last in the act of procrastination. Other times, we will mindfully move a particular responsibility for last because we feel that it makes the most sense. Help the interviewer to determine which personality type you are by answering this question.

"I tend to leave the hardest assignments for last. It is not because I dread them, but because I can make a lot more people happy by completing their small requests first and getting them back to work."

United Utilities encourages continued education. Tell me about a time when you took on a new course to study in order to improve your own work performance.

"Our company offered the Sandler Sales program to anyone in the company who was interested. I took this workshop in 2014 and really enjoyed it. My sales increased by 23% that year."

Once you are in your career, it certainly doesn't mean that you need to stop learning. There are many job-related courses available. Talk to the interviewer about the last time you took advantage of these available courses. Discuss your interest in continuing your education even after joining United Utilities, Inc..

"Last year, I worked towards my Project Manager certification while working full time. That experience alone greatly increased my multitasking skills. The PM Certification is a great addition to my already existing management skill set."

When have you shown a willingness to learn a new method or new approach to solving a problem?

"When our company came under new management last year many new methods and policies came into place. I was able to learn many new approaches to our challenges in sales and customer management. I quite enjoyed the process."

It is a great skill to have when you can approach a problem in a new way. Discuss with the interviewer your ability to approach a problem using new methods.

"Our company switched to an SAP system last year that I was not familiar with. I enrolled myself in a 4-week evening course at our local community college so that I could quickly learn the system without it affecting my performance at work. It helped a great deal, and my employers were impressed with my willingness to learn."

When planning, how often do you create alternative scenarios to help you adjust to changing situations?

"I feel that it is very important to create alternative scenarios in all situations. One cannot guess what will happen in the end, so it is great to be prepared for all possible outcomes. I try always to create 'what-ifs' because I know that plans change and fail. Plan B is always ready to go."

Being able to problem solve and think outside the box when it comes to changing situations is a very valuable skill set. Talk to the interviewer about your ability to create a variety of potential scenarios.

"I love having contingency plans. It's important for my team to understand that ideally we are going to do X, but if that fails, we need to be ready to hop on and make sure Y happens. It takes out the uncertainty at the moment, and better prepare everyone to adapt if a problem should arise."

"I have a healthy competitive edge, even if its a personal competition. For me, I am excited and motivated by winning; whether that be winning over a new client, exceeding my KPI's or being recognized for a job well done. I am also motivated and energized through great teamwork."

Every hiring manager wants to know how to keep you best motivated and excited about the job. Talk to the interviewer about what excites you and keeps you happy at work.

"I get excited when new challenges are presented in the workplace. This could include a new program, a new customer initiative, a sales contest, or even the training of a new employee."

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United Utilities Interview Questions

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1. Tell me about a time when you improved communication between yourself and a co-worker or client.
2. We value communication at United Utilities. Rate your communication skills from 1-10 with proper examples backing your given rating.
3. Tell me about a time when your communication skills greatly benefited your team.
4. How do you handle a situation where your supervisor does not properly communicate information to you?
5. When entering a new job, describe how you build relationships with your new coworkers and supervisors.
6. What experience do you have using team-based messaging applications?
7. How would you describe your written communication skills?
8. Tell me about your experiences giving presentations in front of large groups.
9. How do you handle communicating bad news to a fellow worker or subordinate?
10. Would you say you are a better verbal or written communicator?
11. Tell me about an error or mistake you made because of a breakdown in communication from you or one of your team members.
12. At your current or former place of employment, how important was communication and dealing with others?
13. At United Utilities, we give everyone the opportunity to be a mentor. Have you had the opportunity to teach an important skill to a co-worker?
14. At United Utilities, we value calculated risk. When have you taken an unusual risk in the workplace? What was the outcome?
15. Work volumes can become very high at United Utilities. How do you handle a larger than average workload?
16. Tell me about a time when you undertook a project that demanded a lot of initiative.
17. How can United Utilities motivate you, as a leader?
18. If United Utilities hired you today, what would you accomplish first?
19. Do you prefer doing work on a routine day-to-day basis or do you prefer mixing up your routine occasionally?
20. What do you know about the culture at United Utilities?
21. We appreciate innovative thinking at United Utilities. When have you created a new product or service?
22. How often do you discuss work with your colleagues, in order to think up new systems and styles of working?
23. Give me an example of a time when you had to troubleshoot to solve a problem?
24. When a major problem arises, what is your first reaction?
25. If you were given a choice, which work related task would you leave for last? Why?
26. United Utilities encourages continued education. Tell me about a time when you took on a new course to study in order to improve your own work performance.
27. When have you shown a willingness to learn a new method or new approach to solving a problem?
28. When planning, how often do you create alternative scenarios to help you adjust to changing situations?
29. What excites you?

United Utilities Interview Questions

1. Tell me about a time when you improved communication between yourself and a co-worker or client.

2. We value communication at United Utilities. Rate your communication skills from 1-10 with proper examples backing your given rating.

3. Tell me about a time when your communication skills greatly benefited your team.

4. How do you handle a situation where your supervisor does not properly communicate information to you?

5. When entering a new job, describe how you build relationships with your new coworkers and supervisors.

6. What experience do you have using team-based messaging applications?

7. How would you describe your written communication skills?

8. Tell me about your experiences giving presentations in front of large groups.

9. How do you handle communicating bad news to a fellow worker or subordinate?

10. Would you say you are a better verbal or written communicator?

11. Tell me about an error or mistake you made because of a breakdown in communication from you or one of your team members.

12. At your current or former place of employment, how important was communication and dealing with others?

13. At United Utilities, we give everyone the opportunity to be a mentor. Have you had the opportunity to teach an important skill to a co-worker?

14. At United Utilities, we value calculated risk. When have you taken an unusual risk in the workplace? What was the outcome?

15. Work volumes can become very high at United Utilities. How do you handle a larger than average workload?

16. Tell me about a time when you undertook a project that demanded a lot of initiative.

17. How can United Utilities motivate you, as a leader?

18. If United Utilities hired you today, what would you accomplish first?

19. Do you prefer doing work on a routine day-to-day basis or do you prefer mixing up your routine occasionally?

20. What do you know about the culture at United Utilities?

21. We appreciate innovative thinking at United Utilities. When have you created a new product or service?

22. How often do you discuss work with your colleagues, in order to think up new systems and styles of working?

23. Give me an example of a time when you had to troubleshoot to solve a problem?

24. When a major problem arises, what is your first reaction?

25. If you were given a choice, which work related task would you leave for last? Why?

26. United Utilities encourages continued education. Tell me about a time when you took on a new course to study in order to improve your own work performance.

27. When have you shown a willingness to learn a new method or new approach to solving a problem?

28. When planning, how often do you create alternative scenarios to help you adjust to changing situations?

29. What excites you?