30 Gallup Interview Questions & Answers

Table of Contents

1. Compatibility Questions
2. Behavioral Questions
3. Accomplishment Questions
4. Scenario Questions
5. Performance Questions
6. Discovery Questions
7. Diligence Questions
8. Leadership Questions
9. Job Satisfaction Questions
10. Competency Questions
11. Teamwork Questions
12. Adaptability Questions

Compatibility

1. Do you think a chain of command is essential in the workplace?

The Goal

The interviewer would like to know if you believe that a chain of command is necessary for organizational effectiveness. The goal of your response is to show your willingness to be a positive team player who respects the company's organizational flow and corporate structure.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid answering in a way that shows a dislike towards workplace hierarchy. Even the flattest corporations require their team members to display professional accountability.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

Great businesses require organized distribution of tasks, responsibilities, and accountability. Understanding the importance of a chain of command shows professional maturity. When responding, show the interviewer that you accept and support the hiring company's structure and systems.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I believe that a chain of command is important in nearly every business situation. For instance, it's necessary for employee issue resolution or helping clients understand where they should direct their questions. It's also essential that every team member understands their responsibilities. The depth of this chain of command, of course, varies depending on the company's size and structure. Could you share with me more about the organizational structure and flow here at Company ABC?"

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"Yes, I think that a chain of command is important and helpful to everyone working in the organization. However, I also understand that a cumbersome organizational chart can interfere with a company's ability to innovate and launch new initiatives quickly. I have always respected organizational workflow, whether at work or school. I appreciate having a clear idea of who to turn to when I have questions or needs. A well-formed organizational chart also shows me what job opportunities are available to strive for as I gain momentum in my career."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"ABSOLUTELY!!!

I am fully aware of my duties, my tasks, and challenges in a day. But without that leadership from a regional business manager, who gets their direction from the sales manager then there is no structure and without structure, we would be in danger of not fulfilling what is required as a business."

Cindy's Feedback

Nice! This answer demonstrates good teamwork and the ability to work in collaboration with your manager.

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Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I believe it is important. Depending on experience level will depend on the weight of the decision that you make. You need to be able to understand who you can go to, escalate things internally, or to be able to look to someone that you can ask for advice from in a situation like your manager, team member, or someone from another team. For external customers as well understanding who they need to speak with. But you all have one common goal that you strive together to reach."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! You've clearly explained why you believe a chain of command is important in the workplace. Can you talk a bit about the chain of command in your current company and where you fall within it? This will personalize your answer. Otherwise, your reply is excellent!

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I am accountable for my duties and responsibilities, however having a chain of command is essential to running a seamless operation to properly delegate tasks as well as have established channels of communication."

Jaymie's Feedback

Good job! Your answer is straightforward and reassures the interviewer that you value and understand the importance of accountability and structure.

Anonymous Answer

"I know a chain of command is essential to the workplace to allow for the organization of essential company goals and tasks. Each person and/or department within a company hierarchy has their responsibilities, and without a manager overseeing those responsibilities, it is very difficult to achieve tasks both efficiently and effectively."

Marcie's Feedback

Right! It sounds like you understand why having a clear chain of command is so helpful in the workplace. Is there a personal example you can provide here of a time when the chain of command in your workplace helped ensure organization and efficiency?

Anonymous Answer

"I believe the chain of command is essential in the workplace. Unfortunately, there are times when escalation is needed to get the information you need. Also, it helps individuals strive for the next level of career."

Jaymie's Feedback

Good job!

Anonymous Answer

"Absolutely. I find my managers and bosses a great source of knowledge and identify them as mentors, from which I can learn and strive to progress in my career to a higher chain of command myself. A chain of command brings structure and clearly defined roles within an organization."

Jaymie's Feedback

Good job; the interviewer will know that you value and understand the importance of a chain of command in the workplace.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I feel that a chain of command is essential. The depth of this chain of command, of course, varies depending on the company's size and structure. But it is essential for people to know their roles and responsibilities, and know where they fit within the organization. They know where to go for advice, direction, and new ideas. They also know their options for moving to the next level of their careers."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent!

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I believe it is important for a company to have a hierarchy and for employees to know the appropriate person to go to when they encounter a question."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! But why? Why do you believe this is important? Go further in your explanation to impress the interviewer. Have you worked within a chain of command before? If so, talk about this and explain where in the hierarchy you fell and why this setup was beneficial. Good job!

Compatibility

2. What does being competitive mean to you, and how competitive are you?

The Goal

The interviewer would like to know that your level of ambition is a match for the company and the job. The goal of your response is to show the interviewer that you will bring a consistent and appropriate amount of competitiveness to the role. Express that you view workplace competitiveness as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid giving the impression that you are a ruthlessly competitive person. The interviewer does not want to detect combativeness. Instead, they want to know that your level of ambition will complement the hiring company's values and align with the goals and personality of its existing team members.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

When you answer, consider telling a brief story that supports your response. Be prepared to talk about a time you were placed in a competitive situation and thrived. Your example should be work-related. If you are new to your career, consider providing an example from school or sports.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"Being competitive means that I am focused on winning. This can mean winning independently or as a team. On a scale of 1-10, I would rank my competitiveness at an 8. I like to compete internally, creating small personal milestones and connecting them to a time limit. For instance, if I complete the data entry for 50 new customers in under three hours, I reward myself with a quick coffee break. I often carry on this internal competition throughout the day until all of my tasks are complete. When it comes to being competitive in a team setting, I spend most of my time uplifting my coworkers and helping them succeed. When my co-workers win, so do I."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"To be competitive is to be eager to succeed. I have a competitive personality that stems from my years of participating in high school and college-level team sports. I learned to be competitive in my performance while encouraging my teammates to give their best. I am always striving to be better."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"For me, it means when peers challenge each other to be better or deliver better. I do not consider myself competitive, but I do like to show results, and I do put playful competition into play. For example, if we said completing performance reviews on time was a key metric, I would then post the results by department monthly. I find that departments naturally compete with each other to attain better numbers."

Rachelle's Feedback

This is an excellent example of creativity and competition in motion. Also, you present a very unique and thoughtful definition of competition.

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Anonymous Answer

"Competition, for me, stems from playing organized sports throughout my childhood and into high school. I find that I thrive off of healthy competition. I love competition because it motivates me to be the best. I am very naturally driven, but competition allows me to push further and achieve even greater results."

Rachelle's Feedback

It seems you have a great penchant for healthy competition, which is fantastic. This is a well-balanced answer.

Anonymous Answer

"Being competitive means having a "winning" mentality in life and always having the desire to be #1and the best at everything you do. Competitive people are driven and perform best when in an environment that constantly challenges them and is surrounded by peers that push them to be better. I am a very competitive person in all aspects of my life."

Rachelle's Feedback

This is an excellent start, and it seems you are very passionate about the topic. Last, try to add in a recent example of a time when you were competitive. The concept is to 'show' vs. only 'tell.'

Anonymous Answer

"I am very competitive to me this means winning and being the best, not only in my team but also in the company. It means to exceed my goals and targets and be ahead of the game. My manager had set an incentive to invite the most HCP's to a company organized training event. I worked overtime to ensure that I utilized all communication forms with healthcare professionals (email/phone/f2f, etc.). I was encouraging my colleagues to do the same."

Rachelle's Feedback

It sounds as though you have a healthy competitive streak! When it comes to the incentive that your manager provided, did you achieve what you set out to do? If possible, try adding in some tangible results (numbers, percentages, etc.).

Anonymous Answer

"It means achieving/winning. I am a very competitive person. Always have been. I am keen to win and so at work means new business. I am a tenacious person but deliver and win in an empathetic way again bringing a solution to the customer that no one else brings, adding value."

Cindy's Feedback

Ok! This is an important quality to go into detail about. Do you have an example that could help inform your answer?

Anonymous Answer

"Being competitive means aiming to be the best. Consistently working towards making a positive contribution. When I see someone successful, it drives me and inspires me to push further. To improve my skills and grow professionally and to stand out. I feel that if someone else can do it, so can I."

Stephanie's Feedback

Great start, but this response would be more impactful if you included a specific example. How has a competitive spirit showed up in your current work?

Anonymous Answer

"I learned to be competitive with myself, to try to First time right, use the 1-10-100 rule. 1 means cost of doing non-quality x 1, 10 means cost of non-quality x 10 and same way x 100.

I strongly believe in continual improvement, as a leader, we combine our efforts to build a strong team using PRIDE (Purposeful vision, role model, Integrity, Develop and Empower) concept. Always push the bar using benchmarking techniques and never stop striving for the best."

Marcie's Feedback

You've done a great job of explaining what being competitive means to you. It also sounds like you're pretty competitive by nature. Is there an example you can provide of a time when you competed for something?

Anonymous Answer

"Being competitive to me means having a strong desire to win. And this doesn't always have to be in the traditional sense as first over the finish line, but having the drive what to do better than previously, and overachieve. I am competitive, especially with myself I always want to push myself to do better than previously. I want to overachieve on my sales targets, I want to be hitting above my KPIs not just meeting them. I work with my colleagues in order for us to compete, and win against the competition, but not compete with each other, as we all have the same end goal. And I am not so competitive that I would do anything to win, like stepping on others or cheating in order to get the sale or promotion."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! It sounds like you are competitive but in a balanced manner, which the interviewer will appreciate. Can you include a quick example of a time when you were competitive and it paid off?

Behavioral

3. Tell me about a time you felt successful.

The Goal

The interviewer wants to discover how you define success. They also want to understand how you systematically reached your proudest objective. The goal of your response is to show the interviewer that you are a results- and goal-focused team member who will be an excellent addition to the hiring company.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid giving a vague response that fails to provide a memorable story-based example of your success. For instance, instead of saying, 'I feel successful every time I make a customer happy,' you could say, 'I felt successful last month when I worked closely with a disgruntled customer to ensure they did not close their account and move to our competitor.'

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

Everyone defines success differently. Your example of success does not need to be an over-the-top 'I saved the world' moment. You may feel successful when you help someone else achieve an important goal. Perhaps you finished your post-secondary education at the top of your class despite struggling with a learning disability, or maybe you felt successful when you earned an exciting promotion.

Tell the interviewer about a time you felt successful. Describe the situation and outline the actions you took to achieve this success. Then, highlight why you felt successful at that moment.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"Last year, I made Presidents' Club for reaching the top 10 for sales revenue generation out of 500 territory sales reps. I felt a lot of pride in my hard work and was thrilled to receive this accolade. Overall, I feel the most successful at work when I exceed my goals and targets."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"Last month, at Company XYZ's annual kickoff meeting, I was presented with a teamwork award. I earned recognition for being a helpful coworker and a resource for many new trainees starting their careers. I measure my success by how people feel when they are around me. It felt so wonderful when my employer and teammates recognized me for being a kind person who was willing to help others."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"When I organized a fundraiser, and monetarily we were successful, the attendees to the carnival and auction had fun."

Rachelle's Feedback

This sounds like fun! When offering up 'Tell me about a time' answers, it's best if you can expand on your details. Try using the STAR framework to organize your response (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

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Anonymous Answer

"When I took over my territory, it was 50 out of 51 in the company and had not hit quota in over five years. I hit quota the first year and finished 16 of 51, which was a huge success."

Rachelle's Feedback

That is a major success, and you should be very pleased with yourself! What did you do to get your territory to #16?

Anonymous Answer

"I love the feeling of success. I felt successful when I was recently promoted at my job and given more responsibilities. I feel I always strive to do better than the expectations of me; therefore, it was gratifying to be promoted to my current role as Sales & Marketing manager because it showed that my company saw the value in me."

Rachelle's Feedback

You really come alive in your answer; this is wonderful! You show the interviewer how they can motivate you on the job.

Anonymous Answer

"I feel most successful at work when I exceed the goals and expectations given to me by management/head office. As an engineer, I strive to be competitive and always want to do better than the expectations put on me. Last year I was top 5% in my department for Key performance indicators, which made me feel a lot of pride in my work and thrilled with my accomplishment."

Kevin's Feedback

The top 5% is amazing, and you should be very proud of this accomplishment. One stat that may be nice to add is how many people were in your department. For instance, top 5% out of 100, or top 5% out of 10?

"“I measure my success at work by exceeding the goals and expectations set by me, or my management. As an engineer, I consistently compete with my previous performance, and always aim to go above and beyond. Last year, I performed in the top 5% of my department for all key performance indicators. Our department houses a staff of 70. My last record was in the top 7%. So bettering my prior record gave me feel a lot of pride. But, beyond that, I measure success by rising to any challenge I set for myself, or goals others set for me. If I can accomplish any task, and continue to enjoy the work involved, and hit all targets, then that’s success. Especially where my achievements didn’t feel like work at all, because I love what I do.”"

Anonymous Answer

"Accomplishing my nursing degree. I was apart of a very competitive nursing program and ended up graduating with high marks. I sacrificed a lot during my undergrad as well as through the program to be successful."

Rachelle's Feedback

Congratulations! Your hard work paid off :) Try diving into more detail to bring this to life a touch further for the interviewer. For instance, what made your nursing program so competitive? What did you sacrifice, and what roadblocks did you overcome along the way?

Anonymous Answer

"I was working for a company, I was supporting a hospital with getting our product onto the formulary. I offered them a great discount which they accepted, they loved the product. I had a 3-week window where I had to train 91 wards before our product was officially used. I accomplished the ward training. The customer was very grateful and the account became the market leader for our product."

Cindy's Feedback

Good use of the STAR format. You could expand by talking about some of your challenges more specifically and how you overcame them.

Anonymous Answer

"One time that I felt successful was when I coached a physician on the implant of a device for a patient that was reporting at least 10 episodes a day. After a few days of receiving the implant, the patient reported zero urinary episodes at night and had significantly reduced her trips to the bathroom during the day."

Stephanie's Feedback

This is a wonderful example--good for you! My only suggestion is to add a closing sentence that rounds out your response. For example: "Knowing that I'd made a positive impact on this patient's life made me feel that I had succeeded."

Anonymous Answer

"I built many Greenfield and Brownfield sites globally and always take pride in what I was able to accomplish, it was a proud movement when my site received the CEO Best performing industrial site award in 2013 and 2017. However, I felt most successful when my site won the XX Excellence Award in 2018. A great journey of transformation to achieve excellence."

Marcie's Feedback

What did you do to earn the XX Excellence Award in 2018? Go into more detail so the interviewer can truly understand how hard you had to work to achieve this and why it made you feel so successful.

Behavioral

4. Tell me about a time you felt uncomfortable or unprepared in your job.

The Goal

The interviewer wants to know how you react when you feel unprepared in the workplace or find yourself outside of your comfort zone. The goal of your response is to provide evidence of your ability to overcome potentially distressing or awkward situations.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid giving an answer that makes it seem like you blame others or shirk responsibility when you feel unprepared or uncomfortable. Instead, show the interviewer that you take accountability for your success.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

The interviewer is asking you to be a storyteller. You can 'talk about a time when...' by forming a brief story using the STAR method. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. Using this framework will ensure that you provide the interviewer with the right amount of information and detail to form a compelling and memorable response.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"(Situation) A few years ago, I joined Company XYZ as their newest Inside Sales Rep. I was very excited for this opportunity, but on my first day, it became apparent that the company had not prepared for my first day. I did not have an assigned desk, an email address, or training materials. (Task) Rather than panic and quit or feel discouraged, I decided to take control of the situation. (Action) I found some training manuals online and made a place in the employee lounge. I let my supervisor know that I would do what I could from there until my desk and tech were ready for me. (Result) I made the best of an awkward situation! I had a very successful start because of my willingness to take control of my onboarding. I even earned top rep status within my first 60 days."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"(Situation) I felt very uncomfortable in my first internship. I was new and largely unaware of how challenging the placement would be. This newness and naivete made me an outsider in the office pretty quickly. (Task) Rather than keeping my head down, I decided to make the best of the situation and learn everything I could. (Action) I asked to shadow a senior team member for my first two weeks. I wrote down pages of notes, soaking in everything this person said and did. (Result) By the final week of my internship, I had a newfound confidence and many new professional strengths that benefitted me in my final year of university."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"In my previous role we sold a liquid thickener that had specific guidelines on how to mix, the guidelines changed worldwide and the supply of new materials was delayed with the new guidelines. I had a lot of training to do across one of my hospitals who were depending on this new material.

So I went back to our marketeer and requested an electric copy of the new materials that I could showcase to this customer in this big account. They agreed and as a result, I was able to deliver training with electronic copies and succeeded in my support to the customer."

Cindy's Feedback

Good! The answer shows your problem-solving skills and ability to prepare in the face of adversity. Good work!

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Anonymous Answer

"My first week on a new team as new owner account manager was a big job change with lots of extra responsibilities. I was asked to take my first customer call on the 2nd day, and I wasn't prepared, the customer got annoyed at me for not knowing the answers to some of their queries. I had to remain calm, and following the call, I express to the manager that I believed I need some more time getting to know the processes for this new team more before going back to taking customer calls. I asked to shadow one of the most experienced members of the team, listening to calls and taking notes. We also went through the areas that I struggled to help the customer with. This was a big help and allowed me to understand gaps in my knowledge."

Marcie's Feedback

Great! This is an excellent example of a time when you were unprepared at work. You've done a great job of explaining how you overcame this so that you were properly prepared the next time around. It's also obvious that it wasn't your fault you didn't know everything (not enough time!) The interviewer will undoubtedly be impressed by your response.

Anonymous Answer

"Last year my coworker was promoted and I took on their book of business. My customer base doubled overnight. This was daunting, however, I relied on my training, organizational, and time management skills to formulate a success plan for the new overarching territory. With the confidence of my abilities and advice from my team, I was able to successfully service my new customer base."

Jaymie's Feedback

You're off to a good start! This is a perfect example to use. Can you elaborate on the actions you took to address this challenge? What specific strategies or approaches did you implement? How did you rely on your training, organizational skills, and time management abilities? Try to be more detailed in this area. Then, mention any important lessons you learned from this experience and how you feel it contributed to your growth and development.

Anonymous Answer

"I was pulled into a meeting without any knowledge of what the meeting was about. I was not involved at the beginning and came in at the end to provide information I wasn't prepared to provide."

Jaymie's Feedback

This would be a very uncomfortable situation to be in! How did you handle this? Did you speak to team members privately or your manager to discuss the communication breakdown? What did you learn from this experience?

Anonymous Answer

"Our institute was due to deliver a week-long course in basic surgical skills, I had delegated staff to teaching days, specifically to their experience and expertise. On Sunday night I received a text from my colleague to say she would not be in the following day due to sickness. I remained calm and used what little time I had to reinforce my knowledge of the subject matter. I asked her to send me all her teaching material and watch online videos to demonstrate the practical elements."

Jaymie's Feedback

Well done! Be sure to end your response with how the course went or what you learned from the experience. A positive ending will have a strong impact.

Anonymous Answer

"I was asked to present a team member's report at an executive-level meeting. The team member was going on vacation and sent me the report without time to review together. When preparing the presentation, I had some questions. With my team member unavailable, I reached out to people I knew had contributed to the report. They were able to answer my questions, and I was able to give a solid presentation."

Jaymie's Feedback

This would be a challenging situation to be in! It sounds like you were able to think on your feet and use available resources to get the answers you need. Tenacity, a can-do attitude, and critical thinking skills are essential in any role, so this is an excellent example that highlights your skills.

Anonymous Answer

"I like new challenges, moreover, I thrive in a challenging environment. When I was a disease investigator, I volunteered to do the first school-associated covid-19 case. At this time, we still did not have guidance materials developed at a local public health scale. So, I did my best to use CDC k-12 guidance to familiarize myself with handling exposures and disease control and prevention in this setting, discussed with my supervisor and created a plan of action, and was able to successfully complete the case and share recommendations with the school."

Marcie's Feedback

Wow! This is a powerful example that shows your courage and willingness to go above and beyond for others. Excellent job!

Anonymous Answer

"Two weeks after I completed my training with BD, the territory manager I was hired to work under got a promotion and moved. I was given the opportunity to cover the whole territory but didn't have much on-the-job experience. I was outside my comfort zone but looked at this as a great opportunity to learn quickly. Throughout this time, I attended cases and meetings with surgeons to build relationships. I leaned heavily on my network inside my company to give me advice on certain situations I encountered. Looking back, it was stressful but I learned quickly and built integral relationships with customers and coworkers."

Marcie's Feedback

Wow! This is a great example to cite here. It clearly shows that you can handle work situations when you feel outside of your comfort zone or unprepared. The interviewer will see you as resourceful, open to learning, enthusiastic, hard-working, and capable. Excellent!

Accomplishment

5. What is the kindest thing a boss has ever said to you? How did the compliment make you feel, and did you agree with the praise?

The Goal

The interviewer wants to know if you can accept positive feedback. They also want to hear about your most significant strengths from the perspective of a former employer. The first goal of your response is to show that you are appropriately humble, coachable, and responsive to positive praise. The second goal of your answer is to highlight a compliment focused on a specific strength that you know is important to this role.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid sounding too modest or humble when you respond. Remember - the interviewer wants to know if you are the type of person capable of seeing your strengths. It's good to be a humble person, but it's also essential to graciously accept people's kind words about you and your work ethic.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

This question is another way for the interviewer to discover your greatest strengths. Since this question aims to find out the best qualities that others see in you, be prepared to talk about a compliment that spotlights a skill or strength that you know is important for the hiring company to see in their next hire.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I recently completed a client project one week ahead of schedule. My client was so impressed that they wrote me a glowing review online that my company published on its website. The review discussed my prompt communication, phone and email etiquette, and strong organization and time management skills. I agreed with the praise, and it felt wonderful to have my hard work recognized. It can be hard for me to accept compliments at times. I am a naturally humble person; however, it does feel nice to earn verbal recognition for a job well done."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"The nicest thing a boss has ever said to me was that they could wholeheartedly trust me to do my work autonomously. I did agree with the praise. I am a very focused individual. I take pride in everything I do, whether the task is large or small. This compliment meant a lot to me and motivated me to continue delivering my utmost work, even when nobody was around to see the effort."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"The President of my division asked me to join a team that only myself and one other sales rep would be on. He said that the way I conduct myself, and my ability to think objectively and strategically would be a huge value to have on the team. This felt very good to hear and made me feel that my hard work was paying off."

Rachelle's Feedback

What an awesome compliment that must have been! This speaks a lot to your character. Well done.

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Anonymous Answer

"It can be difficult at times for me to accept compliments, as I am naturally a humble individual; however, it does feel nice to earn verbal recognition for a job or task well done. Recently, in December, I completed a client project two weeks ahead of schedule. The client got in contact with my manager to compliment me on the fast and professional way in which I completed the project. The review highlighted my strong level of organization and time management."

Rachelle's Feedback

Excellent use of the Mock Questions framework. You offer up a very specific example while highlighting your strengths.

Anonymous Answer

"He told me that I'm a very hard worker and good to see how much work I put in. This made me feel appreciated and recognized, and I agreed as I had worked very hard toward all my specific goals."

Kevin's Feedback

It can feel great to be acknowledged for one's hard work. However, you want to balance being confident and humble, and agreeing with your boss that you are a hard worker is not the most gracious or humble response. Also, being a hard worker isn't necessarily a specific strength. Every candidate will claim to be a hard worker, and doesn't spotlight your greatest strengths, nor one specifically important for the company to see in their next hire.

"“My old boss once told me I was the embodiment of working smarter rather than harder. I’m all about familiarizing myself with every tool of the trade a workplace offers. So once I learn the rules and procedures for everything at work, including why things are set in place the way they are, then I have a better sense of the big picture. So, I examine that big picture, and examine how to customize my approach, in the way that makes the most sense for my work style. You see, I get frustrated by rework. I feel like rework compromises my integrity. Rework costs the business more money when they’re paying someone to perform work that should have been done the right way, right from the start. That doesn’t seem fair, for a company to pay me to do something wrong, and then keep paying me to re-do that work. So, I analyze how things are done, then I analyze how I can do it better according to my lens and approach. Well, my last boss complimented me for this, and wanted to know what my systems were. He then adapted my systems to the entire workplace. That’s the biggest compliment a boss can give.”"

Anonymous Answer

"When I interned at a law firm, the lawyer who oversaw my work said I was performing better than some of the law students. At this point, I only had three years of college under my belt and was learning everything as I went along. It made me feel great because I was in an environment that was very different than what I was used to. I did agree, I was putting in a lot of work because I had a lot of ground to make up."

Stephanie's Feedback

What an excellent compliment! Your response highlights your accomplishments in a manner that is self-aware, yet humble. You could strengthen your answer by adding an additional sentence about what this compliment says about you and how this might translate to the role you are applying for. (For example, it illustrated your work ethic, flexibility, or ability to succeed in a variety of environments.)

Anonymous Answer

"My boss when I first started in the first 12 months, said "You have gone above and beyond on your territory, you have ran with this role, you're an excellent rep. as a result of your hard work in a short space of time you have won these new accounts. I am going to put you forward for the rep of the year."

The praise I totally agreed with, I work really hard and made me feel so good that my work is what was expected and that I went above and beyond. I knew I was a great fit for this team."

Cindy's Feedback

Nice! A great compliment and proof of your success.

Anonymous Answer

"I offered to produce a training Powerpoint for my co-workers that outlined overactive bladder, and the medical device we represented. The VP of Clinical Affairs was impressed with my work and was grateful that I delivered it to him with ample time in case he needed to make any changes to it. I was grateful for the opportunity and really happy that I was able to deliver."

Stephanie's Feedback

It sounds like you went above and beyond in this scenario and the VP was pleased. To strengthen your response, I suggest including the specific compliment that was given to you. For example, "The VP was impressed and said this was the most detailed, helpful PowerPoint he had seen in a long time."

Anonymous Answer

"One of the nicest feelings while working with my boss or leaders in my career is that they trust me so much and I take pride in that.

The first time when my IGT Business leader visited my site he made comments and same time asked questions. "I travel from airport to your site and I saw total chaos on the roads. Once I enter your site, the site looks like a perfect German factory. How do you drive this transformation to excellence in building this culture?"

Marcie's Feedback

Wow! That's a really nice comment by a boss! You've done a great job answering this question. The comment you mention indicates that you are a strong leader who inspires team members to be efficient, effective, and neat. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"My manager told me while accompanying me on a visit with a customer as a newly appointed territory manager that when I speak people listen. This really hit hard for me and made me feel proud because I always pride myself on people trusting me and being able to make an impact. Although it is sometimes hard to accept compliments as I am humble, this made me really happy and gave me the confidence boost into my new role that I was in control and could do this."

Marcie's Feedback

Awesome! This is a really nice compliment to receive, and it's great that it boosted your confidence. Your answer does a good job of showing that you are able to build trust with clients and that you're a strong public speaker. Emphasizing that you strive to remain humble is also great.

Behavioral

6. Do you consider yourself a quick thinker? Tell me about a time your quick thinking saved the day.

The Goal

The interviewer wants to know if you consider yourself alert and agile, ready to solve problems actively. The goal of your response is to provide the interviewer with evidence of your ability to think quickly and jump into action when a situation calls for a speedy solution.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid giving a vague response that fails to provide a memorable example of your ability to think and respond to challenges nimbly. For instance, instead of just saying, 'Yes, I do consider myself a quick thinker,' you could say, 'Yes, I do consider myself a quick thinker. Just last week, I...' Then, tell a story that provides evidence of your acuteness in the workplace.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

Someone who is a quick thinker will:

- Rapidly pick up on new ideas
- Be fast and feel more natural to train
- Be able to process large amounts of information more rapidly than most
- Look at potential solutions rather than dwell on problems or roadblocks

Take some time to consider if these traits describe you. Then, think of a time you showcased your ability to think on the spot. Play the role of a storyteller when you respond. Take the interviewer through the situation, your actions, and the positive impact of your solution. This approach will help the interviewer picture you succeeding in the hiring company's environment.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I consider myself a quick thinker because I can process information quickly while reverse engineering a problem, getting straight to a few potential solutions. I'm not particularly eager to dwell on problems, so I have trained myself to focus on what I can do at the moment to solve a problem. One example of my quick thinking was when a customer called in to cancel their order. I am not in sales, but our sales rep was out for the day, and I was confident that I could save the customer's loyalty. I started a conversation with the customer and asked what we could have done differently. I smoothed over the miscommunication through a series of questions and getting to know the core of their grievance. My quick thinking stopped the client from taking their business to our competitor, ensuring that we retained their valuable account."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"Yes, I consider myself to be a quick thinker. However, this is a trait that I have actively worked to improve. For instance, I recently read the book Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell. This book introduced me to many amazing techniques to boost my ability to think quickly. Last week, I encountered a challenging situation where I had three assignments due on the same day as a final exam. The methods I learned in Gladwell's book saved the day. As I studied for my final exam, I utilized my newfound mental processes to think rapidly and categorize the most important data. This approach allowed me to absorb my learnings while ensuring that I maintained a productive balance between tasks and the information that I stored."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"During an assessment of a patient, I knew something was off. He looked altered and much worse than the day before. A doctor urged me to transfuse him and did not come by to even assess the patient. I knew this was something more, so I elevated it to my charge nurse. We ultimately got a specialized doctor to assess the patient, who determined that the patient needed emergency surgery."

Rachelle's Feedback

Wow- your diligence and observance likely saved a life. This is a very important example of your quick thinking. Are you aware of the outcome for this patient? If so, it may be nice to discuss the final result as well.

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Anonymous Answer

"When I was a mentor in a juvenile detention center I constantly had to be on my toes in order to handle groups of 15+ kids. One time we were doing an activity that was planned for the day but none of the kids were getting into it. I quickly changed the game to one that was more high energy and everyone responded well. This shows that I am able to not only think on my feet but read a room of people I am unfamiliar with."

Stephanie's Feedback

This response is an excellent example of how you used quick thinking to save the day; the specific example you provided is great.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I am a quick thinker. I recently wanted to plan a speaker meeting, I was covering a new indication I had been trained on. I had 2 different colleagues suggesting to me two different speakers which were causing a rift between the team. One wanted to use a speaker that we had already used, but the other colleague thought he was good enough. My other colleague wanted to use a speaker that was from out of the territory. To solve the problem I suggested a speaker from the same ICS that I know is good at delivering the value message that both colleagues were happy with."

Stephanie's Feedback

You do a great job of highlighting a specific example of how your quick thinking and creativity show up in your work. To strengthen this response, I suggest adding a sentence or two that really shows the outcome or impacts of this quick thinking (did the speaker you suggested facilitate? What was that outcome?)

Anonymous Answer

"Oh Yes, I consider myself a quick thinker, I can process information quickly, come straight to a few potential solutions. I normally use simple problem-solving techniques like PRIDE (Problem definition, Rationale, Investigate, develop, Ensure to sustain) in case this required a structural solution.

We were working on a very confidential project i.e. Transfer of RF-Coils manufacturing from ____ to ___. This project impacted more than 250 employees on-site in GNV, FL.

I was 2 years old in the system as director of operations. I was the only person involved in creating a business case and we need to take a decision to block funds for Manufacturing Zig and Fixtures. I think quickly, refer asset register, find out the value, consider 60% new assets and 40% will use the same on new site and arrived $3.65M."

Marcie's Feedback

Excellent! This answer is very thorough. Your example shows how you were able to think quickly. Be sure to emphasize how your decision positively impacted the company.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I believe I can think effectively when under pressure to try and solve problems or to complete a task. For example, we switched our wholesaler supplier and had some teething problems and one of my hospitals called me and said they couldn't order any tins of our thickener and the hospital was down to their last 3 tins and it was a Friday. I got straight on to the wholesaler for an emergency few cases to be delivered the following morning even though it was a weekend, averting the crisis of no thickener left, and this support for the customer calmed them down. And found out who I need to speak to in purchasing and supported in the setting up the account with the new supplier."

Marcie's Feedback

Great! This is an excellent example to cite. Just be sure to explain the particulars so the interviewer understands the products you were selling and what the issue was (it's all commonplace for you but remember that they don't know much about your current company or position).

Anonymous Answer

"I consider myself a very quick thinker because I can usually see the big picture and put all the puzzle pieces in place very fast as long as I understand the process. In my case, this is usually a customer wanting a special deal or a refund on a service. Zionsville is a small town and to maintain good service everything must be consistent because the word will get out. Thinking out of the box to keep a customer or obtain a new customer is done on a regular basis. My latest example is when a client of another trainer paid for 10 sessions and wasn't happy after the first session and wanted a refund (we can't give refunds to one and not another and if we gave refunds we'd go broke). I validated their issue without throwing the trainer under the bus, discussed why she wanted training in the first place, and told her weight loss is my expertise. I currently do not take new clients but I would make an exception for her. However I charge $10/hour more for my expertise and I am glad to credit the amount of 1 session to 10, session package with me if she wanted. She chose to work with me."

Stephanie's Feedback

This is a great example, but I suggest taking it one step further. What was the outcome of this client choosing to with you? Did she achieve her desired results?

Anonymous Answer

"I tend to be analytical, then quick thinking when identifying strong solutions to a challenge. I am however able to jump into action and think clearly when a situation arises. One of my strengths is resourcefulness and thinking outside the box. Two years ago I was leading some tool development projects that were ahead of schedule. At that same time, I learned that a production line was down in one of our manufacturing plants because of tooling, and replacement parts were not available for over a week. I recognized that the prototype tooling for my project was similar to production tooling and could be easily modified for use in production. I also happened to be traveling to the manufacturing site the next day. I contacted our machine shop and asked that they prioritize the tool modification, then informed management in the plant. I was able to hand-deliver production tooling the next day. This effort prevented the machine from being down for an entire week. (about $1.2 Million)"

Stephanie's Feedback

This is a great example of quick thinking and excellent problem-solving skills!

Anonymous Answer

"I would consider myself a quick thinker. In one of the presentations I had to do in my current job, the monitor screen in the presenting room was not working. So I was not able to show my presentation content and data graphs or chart. I then noticed there was a whiteboard. I quickly drew up a simple bar chart and line graphs to help with the content. Due to already having a really good understanding of the presentation content, I didn't use the slides but I was able to present effectively."

Marcie's Feedback

Awesome! This is an effective response because you clearly show through an example that you're a quick thinker (as well as a great presenter who knows their stuff!) Any interviewer will be impressed by this answer. Great job!

Compatibility

7. Do you consider yourself to be direct and forthright with others?

The Goal

The interviewer wants to know that you are straightforward yet genuine in your communication. The goal of your response is to show that you are thoughtful when you interact with others. Show the interviewer that you can be sincere and honest, even when facing potentially sensitive or delicate situations.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid providing an answer that makes it seem like you are aggressive or combative in the workplace. For instance, instead of saying, 'I have no problem approaching someone directly when a problem arises,' consider saying, 'When I notice a concern or potential issue, I will approach the situation promptly and with care.'

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

Being a forthright person means you are honest, sincere, and direct. It means that you provide timely responses, offer helpful and prompt direction, and provide thoughtful feedback without hesitation. Rather than only discussing your personality traits, consider also providing an example of how you communicate in the workplace.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"Yes, I do consider myself to be direct with others. The most professional and respectful thing I can do is get to the point in a considerate way. I never sugarcoat a challenging situation; however, I approach conversations believing that everyone has the best intentions. One example of being direct is when one of my employees delivers a report with errors. I will approach them and say, 'There are errors in your report. I would appreciate you fixing these by the end of the day.' By doing so, I address the issue while being direct about the resubmission deadline."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"Part of being direct is sticking to the facts when discussing a situation. If there is a concern with my work, I appreciate my boss approaching me promptly and outlining what needs repair. As a recent university graduate, I had many opportunities to be direct and give feedback to fellow students during group projects. I would confidently bring up any potential issues or concerns and then openly brainstorm solutions with the group members to fix the issues collectively. I learned a lot about being a contributing team member and look forward to applying these skills in this role with Company ABC."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I believe that being direct and transparent is the only way to be. I help coach multiple sales reps at my company, and one time one of the reps came to me with a scenario in which they thought they had the perfect solution. They were excited about it, but I knew, based on my experience, that their solution would not work and had to tell them and let them know what their best option was."

Rachelle's Feedback

It's good that you were direct and took the opportunity to coach this person. Can you dive into the details of what you said/how you delivered the message?

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Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I am definitely direct with others but also considerate. I like to get my point across in a respectful manner and assume that people have the best intentions. Whilst mentoring a student nurse who I asked to monitor a few patients and report back to me on checking the patient's notes, I had seen that she had not completed the task in hand but told me she had. I pointed out the importance of this and asked that it be done within 2 hours and documented. I pointed out the issue and was transparent and direct with the deadline expected."

Rachelle's Feedback

Perfect example! You gave feedback, clear direction, and a measurable goal. Thinking of the outcome - did this student nurse meet your expectations in the end?

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, currently I am the lead in a senior design project with four other team members. Our goal is to make a ground work station for field researchers and currently, we are in the design phase. During our brainstorming sessions, it is important for me to be completely honest about my opinion on others' ideas. It would waste a lot of time if I wasn't direct during these meetings."

Stephanie's Feedback

Great response; the specific example that you provided does an excellent job of showing how you exhibit directness. While being direct and forthright is an important quality, this company may also be looking for someone who can balance directness with strong interpersonal skills or quality customer service. You may wish to add an additional sentence to your response that shows your ability to connect with your colleagues and/or actively listen to them.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes. It is crucial especially in business to make someone understand what is required especially when they are buying into a product or service. Being direct and honest about eg a service will only allow your customer to use it and be successful to use it again."

Cindy's Feedback

Great! An example of how you put this ethos into practice would be very helpful. Was there a time when you felt it was necessary to be direct with a customer?

Anonymous Answer

"I am a direct person. As long as you are respectful, people will appreciate honesty. When my co-worker asked me to translate marketing material to Spanish, I let him know that I was very happy to get it done, but it would be important to ensure that a Certified Translation was required. Since the material was to be provided to patients, it needed to be a Certified Translation by a professional Translation service."

Stephanie's Feedback

This is an excellent specific example, which positively affects the impact of your response. My only suggestion s to add a closing sentence to round out your response. For example: "My ability to be direct with others, while maintaining strong working relationships, has allowed me to be successful in my current role."

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I do consider myself to be direct with others. The most professional and respectful thing to do is to get to the point in a considerate way. I never sugarcoat a situation; however, I do assume that everyone had the best of intentions.

We tracked all actions in Tier 3 Daily management and each action is owned by the leadership team, one of the supplies which were impacting on customer delivery for more than 5 days. The Supply chain leader did not complete a root cause analysis to drive a solution. I approach him to post Daily Management meeting and seek his commitment to sharing the analysis and resolution date and help him in connecting with commodity and supplier quality team for their commitments."

Marcie's Feedback

It's great that you've included an example here to support your assertions. Nice job! This will make your answer more memorable to the interviewer. It's also positive that you do consider yourself to be direct and straightforward while still being considerate and respectful.

Anonymous Answer

"I would say I am definitely direct and value good communication. In my industry people lose track of how many sessions they complete and it's my job to effectively communicate how many they've used in a way that doesn't make it all about the money. I've also negotiated several small and large purchases where it is important to give the facts and consistently follow up to make sure I received what was promised and things were completed in a timely manner. Luckily for me, I must have done all the above well because I still use a lot of the same people."

Stephanie's Feedback

You pitch your skills with direct, forthright communication in a very positive way! I suggest wrapping your response up with a concluding sentence that links back to the question itself. Example: "My direct, forthright communication is one of my greatest strengths, personally and professionally."

Anonymous Answer

"I do consider myself to be forthright and direct. I don't like confrontation, but good direct communication is essential for any high-functioning team. I was a core team member on a project where another key player was challenging to work with. He was combative instead of collaborative and kept important information from the rest of the team. It started to impact our progress and so I invited him to lunch to talk through it. I indicated that he has a lot to offer the group, but felt like we're not capitalizing on it because of the communication, and his unwillingness to be open with the team. I asked what we can change to improve communication and then requested that he be more transparent and proactive in team interaction."

Stephanie's Feedback

This is a very thorough and well-rounded response. You do a great job of identifying a specific example of a time when you exhibited directness, along with the outcome that occurred as a result.

Behavioral

8. Tell me about a time you provided honest feedback to a coworker.

The Goal

Giving honest feedback is an art form, and the interviewer would like to know you are capable of doing so. The goal of your response is to show the interviewer that you understand what honest feedback sounds like and how it's best delivered.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid giving an answer that makes it seem like you are uncomfortable providing feedback to others. Instead, show the interviewer that you understand how to provide appropriate and helpful feedback. Research a variety of feedback frameworks and find a methodology that works for you.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

The interviewer is asking you to be a storyteller. Form a brief story-based answer using the STAR method. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. Using this framework will ensure that you provide the interviewer with the right amount of information and detail to form a noteworthy response.

Remember to mention any training you have received on giving appropriate feedback. Perhaps you took a workshop or read a book on the topic. If you use a particular feedback methodology, be sure to share the details of your approach.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"When providing feedback, I like to use the 3x3 method, which I learned from my first management position. With this method, I offer three strengths and three potential areas for development. (Situation & Task) For instance, while working as a Team Leader with Company XYZ, I had a team member who was often late to work or would call in sick. (Action) I let her know that she was well-liked by her coworkers. I told her that our clients complimented her customer service skills and that I appreciated her willingness to help new hires. Then, I proceeded to let her know that her team felt disappointed and hurt and lost trust in her whenever she would call in sick, leave early, or show up late to her shift. Together we worked on a 30-day attendance plan. (Result) As a result, her reliability improved. Although her attendance was not perfect, it significantly improved."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"(Situation) A few years ago, I had a coworker who made me feel uncomfortable by rushing my tasks, looking over my shoulder, and criticizing the speed at which I worked. (Task) I was new to my career and felt hesitant to speak up. However, I knew that I was responsible for my job satisfaction. (Action) I approached them privately and reminded them that this was my first office job out of university and that I was still learning the role. I told them that their behavior made me uncomfortable and only worsened my productivity. (Result) As a result of my honest feedback, they apologized and committed to showing me their methods for time management. Because I was honest and forward, we were able to find a harmonious way to work together."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I sat with a peer after a performance discussion and asked if I could provide him feedback, he welcomed it. I gave him my comments and my reasoning for it. He understood where I was coming from. The next time we were in a discussion for a similar situation, he asked me afterward if he had been better."

Rachelle's Feedback

Most people will appreciate the honest feedback, but you mentioned a key component here, which is first asking permission to provide the feedback. You show strong professional courtesy. Nicely done!

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Anonymous Answer

"While training a new hire, I noticed that she was struggling with a task because she was trying to rush. Before giving her feedback, I made sure that we were in a private setting. Then I explained that though I know she understands the concepts, it might be helpful to slow down and ensure that each step is done methodically with a specific thought process so that she doesn't make mistakes. We talked about prioritizing steps and executing them. The next time she attempted the same task, it was a success, and she received tons of positive feedback from the assigned staff and myself."

Rachelle's Feedback

Wonderful approach! The fact that you ensured this feedback was provided privately and in a respectful manner says a lot about you.

Anonymous Answer

"I had a co-worker who was learning new software that I was very proficient in. He asked me if I would check over his work before presenting it to management. I would check the completed work with him, highlighting some issues with the job, and teaching him how to improve his workflow and repair small problems. My co-worker appreciated me being honest and helpful in this regard, which improved our working relationship."

Kevin's Feedback

This is a nice example of providing feedback but also developing a trusting co-worker relationship. I've modified your answer slightly for clarity and flow, and to drive home a bit farther the big-picture of your success

"I had a co-worker who was learning new software which I was very proficient in. He asked me if I would check over his work before presenting it to management. I said yes, and as I reviewed the completed work with him, highlighting some issues with the job, I taught him how to improve his workflow while repairing small issues. My co-worker appreciated me being honest and helpful in this regard, which improved our working relationship. I didn’t feel the exaggerated level of gratitude was necessarily warranted, but my supervisor said that what is likely appreciated, more than the help, was how adaptive my communication style was. That when I offered the feedback, I delivered it in such a way that didn’t put them on the defensive, but just took a bird’s-eye view of the situation, objectively giving them the information they needed, as opposed to correcting a mistake they made. I saw it as just presenting facts in an unbiased way; I said. Then my supervisor explained it is that lack of bias, and looking at the situation objectively, which made my delivery non-defensive by nature. Understanding that about myself felt good."

Anonymous Answer

"A time when I was mentoring and observed a sales call that I assisted my colleague in. I asked if they would be happy to receive open and honest feedback on the call, and he was happy with this. I explained his approach came across as pushy and looked as if it made the customer uncomfortable, he thanked me, and we spoke about how he could resolve this approach and be more self-aware."

Rachelle's Feedback

It seems you made an important observation and approached your colleague in a very respectful way. In the end, how did your feedback help this colleague and/or the company?

Anonymous Answer

"I had a colleague who was new to our business and worked with me in providing training to care homes as proposed by the CCG of the area. The new colleague was naive and very territorial, they believed that her customers were theirs and mine were mine. In order to win the business, they weren't playing ball in order to achieve that.

So I arranged a meeting with my colleague and discuss the bigger picture of our work. I said first, it wasn't a professional way of working, we need to work together. I uncovered why they were reluctant to share, and it was down to them believing they wouldn't get a bonus. I made them aware that we are targeted differently and that who we see won't affect that, but more importantly, we need to work together to support this customer in what we can deliver! it's not professional to block your colleague out. As a result, they understood and we were able to deliver a valuable service."

Cindy's Feedback

This is a very good and complete answer. You're using the STAR format to great advantage here. Good job!

Anonymous Answer

"To provide feedback I think it is important to be respectful and objective. Make sure to balance both the positive and the negative, as well as offering suggestions for the negative. When the clinical coordinator took on additional responsibilities b/c someone was let go, I could see that he was under a lot of stress/pressure- was not able to meet deadlines, nor was he available to answer important questions. So I let him know that I really appreciated all his hard work and that I understood how his responsibilities had increased substantially. I offered my help in any way possible so that he could free up time to answer questions that Clinical Specialists had. Because any mistakes we could have made could essentially be a liability to the physicians, the patient, and the company."

Stephanie's Feedback

This is a solid example, but I suggest developing your response to show how you actually provided feedback to this colleague. As your answer currently reads, it sounds more like you just offered your support.

Anonymous Answer

"Providing honest feedback is always a gift for self-development. One of my production managers was missing on his production schedule commitments 86% Vs 100%. I gave him very candid feedback that he is not meeting the expected Goals and same time tried to help him to deep dive into the capacity analysis, attrition, absenteeism, and identified the gap in key resources. Build additional capacity, agreed on clear hiring and training plan and review every week to track the progress, Finally, he made good progress to catch up with schedule compliance of 95% within 2 months time."

Marcie's Feedback

The interviewer will appreciate that you view honest feedback as a gift for self-development. That's a nice way of saying that it helps people to improve themselves! Your example is also strong.

Anonymous Answer

"I had a trainer come in and cover my role while I was doing maternity cover as a territory manager. I asked if he would like me to accompany him on his first training sessions once signed off as support. I watched him do the training and afterward asked if he would like to hear my feedback. He welcomed this. The session was good, but took him a long time to complete. Made him aware that the optimal length of the session would be 30mins vs an hour, and to try and be a little more concise, recommended him to come shadow with me more."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! You have provided a good example; it shows that you take initiative and are willing to help others. It also sounds like you gave the trainer helpful feedback. Outside of giving him advice regarding the optimal session length, did you give him any other tips you could mention?

Scenario

9. Have you ever put your professional work ahead of your personal life?

The Goal

The interviewer wants to understand the balance between your professional and personal life. The goal of your response is to show the interviewer that you bring loyalty to your work and professional accountabilities while also maintaining a sense of harmony and avoiding burnout.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid responding in a way that makes you seem like a workaholic. The workaholic mentality is an unhealthy practice that leads to burnout and high employee turnover. For that reason, being a workaholic is no longer a selling factor for mindful employers. Instead, show the interviewer that you work hard and are flexible with your time when needed.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

Be prepared to define what professional/personal balance means to you. Some people find it very natural to put their professional goals ahead of their personal life. Others may view their professional career as the means to build their ideal personal life. When you respond, be true to yourself and answer in a way you can commit to, should you be hired.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"Yes, I have. My career is very important to me, and I have worked hard to build a solid, successful trajectory. For example, I work late two to three days per week, responding to clients or reaching a deadline. On these days, I put my personal life aside for a short time to reach my work-related goals. That said, I avoid causing an imbalance between my professional work and personal life."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"I am new to my career and fully prepared to put my work ahead of my personal life for the next few years. I want to build a stellar career and be a reliable and dedicated employee. I will work late or take work home when needed. I will keep my device on silent during the day so that personal matters do not distract me at work. Most of all, I will remain organized in both my personal and professional life so that personal issues do not creep it my workday."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Frequently as I am in the office for long hours and on weekends. However, I have managed to be off the phone in the evenings when I am home and on days off."

Rachelle's Feedback

Good! Your response shows that you strive to achieve balance while also being dedicated and committed to the needs of your company.

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Anonymous Answer

"When I am at work, I focus on work. I don't take calls or texts. I do asses that a call from home is not an emergency. I feel it's important to give my best to the job when it's their time. And give my family my undivided attention when it is their time."

Rachelle's Feedback

It seems you are very professional and are able to draw important boundaries. This is especially critical these days, with our attachment to devices. Well said!

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I have. I was planning an educational event and wanted to try something different so I decided I wanted to run the program on a Saturday to increase attendance. I had plans on that Saturday with my family that I had to cancel to ensure I was free to host that Saturday Educational event."

Stephanie's Feedback

It sounds like you take your career seriously, which is great. However, since many employers are concerned about employee burnout, I suggest adding a closing sentence or two that explicitly states your ability to maintain work and life balance. For example: "While I am highly ambitious and I'm willing to go the extra mile at work, I've also learned about the importance of self-care and work/life balance. I try to strike a healthy balance between setting high expectations for myself professionally and setting healthy boundaries."

Anonymous Answer

"Yes."

Cindy's Feedback

Ok, an example or more detail would be helpful. You might want to use the STAR format to develop an answer. STAR stands for situation, action, task, and result. By following this format, you'll be sure to provide the interviewer with all the information they need to assess your answer. You can read about the STAR format here: Master Behavioral-Based Interviews Using The Star Method

Anonymous Answer

"When I am at work, my concentration, focus, and efforts are to put my work before all else, I planned my day to drive productivity using my time management.

At home, I am always very organized for my daily routine like daily walks, Yoga, simple food, reading, driving, etc. I will remain organized in both my personal and professional life to lead my life as a great discipline and responsible human being."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! It sounds like you are very self-disciplined and that you tend to prioritize work because it is important to you. This is great, but it's also okay to indicate that a good work/life balance is also important to you. You might say that you are open to working after hours, etc., when needed, but that you strive to work productively and to delegate during the day so this isn't usually necessary. If you'd like, you could also include an example of a time when you went above and beyond for work.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, work is very important to me and I want to be able to build a strong career and understand that personal life may have to take a back seat. You may have to work late to deal with an important query from a customer, you know you have to work so you don't stay out late for the pub on a weekday. Being able to split your time between just work, and just personal time is healthy so the lines don't get blurred,"

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! The interviewer will likely be impressed and glad that you place such a strong emphasis on work because it's important to you. This also implies that you have a great work ethic. But don't forget to emphasize that you also recognize the importance of balancing your professional and personal lives and that getting away from the office sometimes can be a good recharge.

Anonymous Answer

"Being self-employed, I've probably done this more often than not but even with my previous employer, I cut every Christmas short every year to help the Senior Management Team cover the building and I came in 2 hours early every day to get more work done. As an owner/operator, my phone was always on, even if I had an employee covering the gym, and I can't tell you how many times I rearranged my schedule to accommodate a client's workout time. Part of this was achieving my weekly goal and the other part was making sure they got their workout in and knew I was committed to them."

Stephanie's Feedback

It sounds like you're very committed to your work! However, I suggest adding a sentence or two about how you achieve work-life balance. How do you juggle the demands of your work with taking care of yourself?

Anonymous Answer

"I have put my professional life ahead of my personal life at times. Strong commitment to my employer is very important to me, but I also feel strongly about work-life balance. I have put professional life ahead of personal life at times when it is critical to the organization; when I have an influence on a high-impact project that is time-sensitive. I may also put work ahead of my personal life if there is a unique opportunity for growth and development."

Stephanie's Feedback

It sounds like you are very committed to your work, and working actively on balancing your ambition with the needs of your personal life. Since your employer wants to feel confident that you won't burn out, I suggest adding a sentence about your self-care routine or how you take care of yourself when you're not working.

Performance

10. How do you keep track of your day-to-day tasks and activities?

The Goal

The interviewer wants evidence that you prioritize productivity and organization. The goal of your response is to describe how your time management and task prioritization skills align with the hiring company's expectations.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid giving a response that alludes to you being a disorganized person. It might be tempting to make a self-deprecating statement like, 'Oh, if only I could stay on track every day!' Instead, show confidence in your focus and be ready to provide specific details of your methods for staying organized and productive.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

This question is an excellent opportunity to discuss the tools you use to keep your day on track. Some of the most common tools used in the workplace include CRMs like Salesforce, Oracle, or HubSpot. You might also use Trello, Asana, or Basecamp project management tools. Perhaps you use an app like Evernote or pay for a service such as Monday. Maybe you take an old-school approach and keep notes and to-do lists in a notebook or ReMarkable device that you carry with you everywhere. Whatever your method, be ready to take the interviewer through your strategy for maximizing time and keeping yourself organized.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I have always been a highly organized person, and I like to keep track of my tasks in a variety of ways. Once I have decided which tasks are most urgent, I divide them into micro-tasks into a project management application called Asana. As I complete each task, I gain the satisfaction of crossing them off the app, similar to a to-do list. I do not consider my day complete until all of my tasks are complete for that day."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"Traditionally, I am a paper and pen person, which means that I keep nearly everything I need to know and do in my notebook. To become more up-to-date, I have started to use a platform called Monday. It's a visual tool that helps manage my workflow. It's been a wonderful help so far, and I haven't missed a deadline or overlooked a task since I started using it!"

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I have always been a highly organized individual. I like to keep track of my tasks in a variety of ways. Once I have decided which tasks are most urgent, I will break them down into small-tasks in a project management application called Trello. It allows me to structure my tasks in order of priority to be completed. I gain satisfaction in crossing off completed tasks like a to-do-list. I do not consider my day complete until I have crossed off all my assigned tasks for the day."

Rachelle's Feedback

Again, good use of the MQ framework. You make mention of Trello, which is very specific and exactly the details an interviewer would be looking for. Excellent job taking the interviewer through your day and your process.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I start by every Sunday, planning out and preparing for the week ahead. I use a daily planner to write down everything I need to complete for that day and then use google calendar specifically for work-related meetings. Regarding my notes and deals, I use Salesforce to stay organized, and EOD looks over all my work and makes any needed updates or changes."

Rachelle's Feedback

It seems you are incredibly well organized and focused on your tasks at hand, as well as what is coming up. You offer up some nice details in your answer.

Anonymous Answer

"I keep track by completing the CRM as I go through each meeting/call with a customer. I make any additional notes relevant to me in a handwritten form, using a notepad. At the end of my working day, I summarize and document any next steps/account plans."

Rachelle's Feedback

You sound very well organized and methodical in your work. Good answer!

Anonymous Answer

"The best tool I have is my iPad. I use an app called Goodnotes, where I have my work notes and notes for all my different classes. In my agenda, I have all my tasks I need to complete at the top and then below, I have broken down day by day how much of each task I want to complete. This has helped me avoid burnout with a heavy workload by splitting up large assignments into smaller ones. This also forces me to begin tasks earlier and gives me more time to ask for help if I need it."

Stephanie's Feedback

Excellent response; you clearly show how you stay organized and which tools have assisted you with this.

Anonymous Answer

"I am a big fan of a diary, notebook, excel spreadsheets, and CRM systems. I use it all to input my appointments, calls, ladder of adoption with my customers, and daily routine. I feel together these tools help structure the blueprint of my day in being successful."

Cindy's Feedback

Good! Approaching this answer by showing the tools and techniques you use will help the interviewer understand how you'd stay on track, regardless of the task. However, explain why and how these tools help. Perhaps give an example that shows how you apply these tools.

Anonymous Answer

"I have found that the best way to be productive and make the most of my day is to have a schedule and make a To-Do list. I begin planning the night before. I follow up on any conversations and meetings of that day and prioritize and plan tasks for the next day. I have my iPad that I carry along with me throughout the day and I update my To-Do list throughout the day."

Stephanie's Feedback

It sounds like you've developed a great strategy for staying organized and prioritizing tasks If you have any other systems that you've found helpful (example: color-coding, scheduling apps, etc) you may wish to include that as well.

Anonymous Answer

"Being a highly organized person, I would like to track my tasks, normally I arrange all my tasks in office 360 in Microsoft To-Do App, easy to sync and assign with my iPhone and Laptop. I never miss joining daily management meetings to review progress along with the team i.e. Quick Visual Mgmt.; Biggest challenge, trends, help required, and possible problem and solutions using PRIDE tool for solving the issues."

Kevin's Feedback

You explain what tool you use to track your tasks, which is a good start. Is this the only tool you use? Do you also use an online calendar? Go father. Delve into the daily management meetings you run/attend. Anything that elaborates on your thought processes, and your philosophical approach to work style you'll want to cover.

"“Being a highly organized person, I normally I arrange all my tasks in office 360 in Microsoft To-Do App, which I found compatible with my iPhone and laptop. But I utilize every tool at my disposal. I have systems for everything. This helps me ensure my attention to detail is sharp. Regarding my general approach, of course it depends on the situation. Examining the work at hand, I’ll compile all the information I have to start. From there, I’ll determine what information I’m lacking, organize everything in a cohesive manner, creating flow and transitions based on the priorities at hand. An organized bullet-pointed list, in a way, sorted based on priority. Then, examining what time I have to manage, and what makes the most sense as far as preventing rework, and what work can be built off of as a foundation for the work at hand, I’ll create a stratgegy on how to approach the work, getting a better idea of realistic time frames.”"

Anonymous Answer

"I am an organized person and like always to utilize a diary, both in work and for personal time so I know exactly how my day/week/month is going to pan out, and ensure no mix-ups,. This is a mix of outlook and veeva CRM/salesforce at nestle and my iPhone calendar. I like to write lists on paper and prioritize tasks based on how time-sensitive they are and be business-critical, and ensure all appointments are up to date."

Marcie's Feedback

Excellent! You've done a great job including the specific tools and methods you use to stay organized. Mentioning that you prioritize tasks and projects is also a good call. Good job!

Behavioral

11. Would you prefer to earn a set salary or be offered uncapped pay based on performance?

The Goal

The interviewer wants to uncover a blend of behavioral, motivational, and job satisfaction-related factors. The goal of your response is to express to the interviewer how you are best motivated when it comes to your compensation. There is no right or wrong answer, so be honest about your preference when responding to this question.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid making your response all about money and getting stuck in the weeds about your salary. The interviewer isn't asking what you want to be paid. Instead, they are asking how you prefer to earn compensation in a potentially hypothetical scenario.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

At first, this question may not seem like a behavioral-based inquiry, but look closer. The interviewer is asking about your motivations. If you have worked in a highly commission-based role in the past, you know that it takes a considerable amount of focus, competitiveness, and tenacity to succeed. Often, commission-based positions do not cap your pay, meaning the reward can be much higher than an opportunity with a set salary. If you prefer to work on a fixed salary, this could indicate to the interviewer that you value stability and consistency. Rather than being highly competitive, your job satisfaction might come from other factors like teamwork and job security.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I have worked in commission-based roles in the past with no base salary, but my potential commission earnings were uncapped. I loved it! With this pay structure, I felt very in control of my earnings and found it exciting and motivating at the same time. I thrived in this environment and would certainly do it again."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"I am a very structured and analytical person, and I do best when I know what to expect. I prefer a set salary so that I can focus on doing my job very well rather than continually tracking my commissions and earnings."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I prefer a set salary with a bonus based on real achievable performance metrics attainable within the purview of the position."

Rachelle's Feedback

Your desired compensation structure is very clear - well done. Next, consider further explaining your motivation behind this type of pay structure.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I prefer to earn a set salary with a realistic and achievable bonus structure. I like to feel in control of my earnings, and this motivates me to work harder towards goals."

Rachelle's Feedback

Perfectly said. You deliver this compensation-based question confidently and professionally.

Anonymous Answer

"I prefer both. I like the structure and dependability of a base salary. In addition, I love the financial reward from the commission. It's a challenge and completion within myself."

Rachelle's Feedback

It sounds like you are a true salesperson at heart! The challenge of hitting targets and earning commission can be very exciting. Have you ever been in a workplace situation where you are offered a blend of each?

Anonymous Answer

"I prefer a combination of a set salary with performance-related bonuses as an extra. I enjoy the security that having a guaranteed income every month brings to my family life. Also, performance-related pay continually motivates me to perform at my best and give me personal targets to exceed year-on-year."

Rachelle's Feedback

Wonderful answer! You give a great happy medium in your response, which shows that you are motivated to earn while still appreciating some financial certainty.

Anonymous Answer

"Uncapped pay based on performance. A lot of the work I do is where I go above and beyond and so to be rewarded for that extra hard work is very motivating to me."

Cindy's Feedback

Ok! good, straightforward answer with rationale included. Nice job.

Anonymous Answer

"I am very structured, so I appreciate a set salary. With my past experiences, I have had a set salary with added commission or bonuses upon performance and exceeding quotas."

Stephanie's Feedback

Great; it sounds like you've given careful thought to which type of salary structure works best for you.

Anonymous Answer

"For most of my career while working with all these fortune 500 companies I was always on Base salary + incentives + stock options based on my performance and I always liked this structured approach being a structured and analytical person."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! Consider talking more about why you prefer this pay structure. Do the incentives and stock options motivate you to work harder? If you like the ability to earn more based on your performance, make sure to emphasize this.

Anonymous Answer

"I much prefer to have a set salary with a clear achievable bonus structure in place. I like to be in control of my earning. I can then focus on doing my job well rather can constantly having to be tracking how much I would be earning. While still having the extra commission to strive for."

Marcie's Feedback

So a nice balance of the two. :) This makes sense! This way you don't have to stress because you can count on a certain amount of income, but you are still motivated to sell to earn more. Great!

Discovery

12. What does integrity mean to you?

The Goal

The interviewer wants evidence that you value the qualities of honesty and integrity. The goal of your response is to showcase your moral integrity by describing what integrity means to you. Assure the interviewer that you will bring integrity to your work if hired for the job.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid an overinflated response that comes across as a philosophical lesson. The interviewer is looking for evidence of your professional integrity, not that of everyone else. For this reason, it's best to stick to the facts behind your moral character rather than attempt to start a deep, profound conversation about society, corporations, and integrity.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

The formal meaning of integrity is 'the quality of being honest and having strong moral and ethical principles.' The way you express integrity will show the interviewer whether or not your qualities align with those of the hiring company. Before your interview, review the company's values and mission and incorporate a couple of those key phrases or words into your response.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"Integrity means standing above the rest in actions, words, and example. As a leader, I should be the hardest working on the team while setting an aspirational standard for my team members. For this reason, I work hard to ensure that integrity is the foundation of everything that I do. For instance, I arrive on time, stay late, and am reliable. My communication is clear, expectations are fair, and I allow people room to learn from their mistakes."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"Integrity means doing the right thing, even when nobody will notice or there is no recognition to earn. I work hard to show integrity in my professional and personal life. When it comes to having integrity in the workplace, I am honest, transparent, dedicated to my work, and uphold the core values of my company at all times."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Doing the right thing versus being right. My leader wanted to terminate the employment of a peer who had over eight years of tenure. There were no documented performance discussions on file. I did not support a termination without a remedy. I provided a different solution that provided the desired outcome, but the departing incumbent was thankful and appreciative of the steps I had taken to be respectful."

Rachelle's Feedback

It seems you have a thorough approach that is 'for the people' while also protecting the company for which you work. Your definition of integrity is spot on!

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"By having moral principles."

Rachelle's Feedback

How do you display integrity in the workplace? It's essential to take every question as an opportunity to tie in how you will be a fit for the company and the position for which you are interviewing.

Anonymous Answer

"To me, integrity means doing the right thing all of the time- even when no one is looking. It means always putting your best foot forward and leading by example, being honest, and treating others with respect and dignity regardless of how you feel they have treated you."

Rachelle's Feedback

Very well said! It seems you are an understanding person as well as one with integrity.

Anonymous Answer

"To me, integrity means doing the right thing, no matter the result. Even if the result is not in my favor, I will not sacrifice my integrity just to win the business or better myself. I am confronted with the opportunity to sacrifice my integrity every day. I can easily lie to win more sales, but I choose to do right by my customer and sell on the advantages of my product and lean on my relationships."

Rachelle's Feedback

Your answer is full of honesty and really highlights your integrity. This is a fantastic, genuine response.

Anonymous Answer

"Integrity, to me, means adhering to the highest ethical standard in everything I do. Being open, loyal, transparent, and honest."

Rachelle's Feedback

This answer is straightforward and has an impact. Very nice!

Anonymous Answer

"In my work life, it means being able to deliver my customer's needs. I am there for them. They can contact me day or night by phone or email and I will be able to support them as best as I can. I have had customers who were aware of my valuable training and would request me to go to the care homes they (the speech therapist) just visited as they saw a need for my services. Having that advocacy is important to moving the business forward."

Cindy's Feedback

Good start. So, integrity is keeping your word, especially when it comes to promises you've made to your customers? I'd recommend stating it explicitly so it's easy for your interviewer to draw this conclusion.

Anonymous Answer

"Integrity means doing a great job even when no one is looking. Going above and beyond what is expected, and only holding yourself accountable for your performance. Having a strong work ethic, being honest and trustworthy."

Stephanie's Feedback

You use a lot of great buzz words here, but this response is missing a specific example. How does integrity show up in your life and in your work? Do you have a specific example of how you've used integrity in making an important decision?

Anonymous Answer

"For me, integrity means to be true to myself, following my moral or ethical convictions, and doing the right thing in all circumstances (i.e., honesty, trustworthiness, responsibility, and helping to uphold the core values of my company at all times."

Marcie's Feedback

Excellent. This is a wonderful definition of integrity. How have your life experiences shaped your concept of integrity? Why is it important to you that you have a strong character?

Behavioral

13. Give an example of a time you showed integrity on the job or in your personal life.

The Goal

Integrity means 'being honest and having strong moral principles.' The interviewer wants to see how you exercise integrity in your work and personal life. The goal of your response is to give a brief example of a time you exercised integrity.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid making over-inflated statements such as, 'I do the right thing 100% of the time.' Everyone has flaws, and the interviewer isn't looking for moral perfection. They are, however, looking for a story-based example of your integrity in action.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

The interviewer is asking you to be a storyteller. You can 'give an example of a time when...' by forming a brief story using the STAR method. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. This framework will ensure that you provide the interviewer with the best information and detail to form a memorable answer. Be sure to include details, such as why you chose to do the right thing and how it made you feel to display the quality of integrity.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I aim to show integrity in all that I do, whether or not anyone sees me make the right decision. (Situation) For instance, at Company XYZ, I had a client who incurred charges for their order for six months. Nobody else on the team seemed to have noticed the error. (Task) I could have let it go and kept collecting a commission on the double charges; however, that is not an act of integrity. (Action) Instead, I brought the matter to our accounting department. (Result) Accounting credited my client's account with the overage. Shortly after, the client sent me an email thanking me for my honesty and diligence. It felt wonderful to do the right thing."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"To have integrity is to do the right thing, even when nobody is watching. (Situation) When I was in university, I received a higher grade on my transcript than I earned. (Task) I value integrity, so I immediately knew I needed to be honest about the error. I was determined to start my career off right - through complete honesty. (Action) I brought the typo to the attention of my administrator, who then had the grade reversed. (Result) I could have taken credit, but I didn't earn that grade. My school was very thankful for my honesty, and I even received a note of thanks from the Dean."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I aim to have integrity in all that I do, whether anyone sees me make the right decision or not. For instance, I recently had a patient with an in-network insurance benefit for hearing aids. As an out-of-network provider, I knew he could get them for a better price elsewhere. He was so appreciative of my honesty and information that he ended up buying the hearing aids from our practice anyway. My integrity is important to me, especially as I expect those around me to be honest and trustworthy."

Chad's Feedback

Excellent answer! You have provided a strong example of how you have exercised integrity in your career. However, be sure to answer the full question by also providing an example of a time you showed integrity in your personal life. This will reassure the interviewer that you are honest and have strong moral principles.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"An associate shared she was resigning due to unsavory behavior in the dept. I looked into the matter confirmed that it was, in fact, occurring. I raised the issue with my leader and my peer. Both were initially affronted by the fact that this claim was coming to light. I confirmed that since the person was resigning, there was no reason for her to lie. We installed cameras as a preventative tactic."

Rachelle's Feedback

It speaks a lot about your character and professionalism that you looked into the issue, showing the associate that you cared about what they were saying, even though they were resigning. A very good example of integrity!

Anonymous Answer

"As a university student, you are constantly being tempted to cheat on homework and exams. Last semester, when classes went online, a group of my friends decided to get together and take the exam together. I decided to take it alone even though it might mean getting a lower grade. It made me feel good after, knowing that I turned in a piece of work that was solely my own thinking. I also take pride in knowing that I apply my morals to different facets of my life."

Stephanie's Feedback

This is an excellent example of how integrity has shown up in your personal life, but this question also asks how you've shown integrity on the job. You should strengthen your answer by providing a specific example of how you have exhibited integrity in the context of a workplace.

"Integrity is important in all aspects of my life. As a university student, it can be tempting to cheat on homework and exams. Last semester, when classes went online, a group of my friends decided to get together to take the exam. I stayed true to my values by taking the exam alone, even though it might mean me getting a lower grade. It made me feel good to know that I turned in a piece of work that was solely my own thinking. Another example of how I've shown integrity was ar work....(etc, etc)"

Anonymous Answer

"On the job, showing a key opinion leader in an account that they were overusing our product which was causing wastage to the consumer on the receiving end.

In my personal life is the same as in my business life, every time I get more change than I need back or if I see someone drop currency on the floor, I am quick to give it back."

Cindy's Feedback

Great example! By protecting the client, you're also creating loyalty to the company. Nice work.

Anonymous Answer

"Role model integrity in my personal and professional life is most important and I am very clear about my own values and high standard of integrity which always inspires others to trust and follow me as a leader.

"¢ Once officially I traveled to Egypt and my entitlements were Actual + $50 per day. At that time I was carrying travel cheques and cash, on return, I return $2700 as balance. My manager and finance manager told me that you should keep the amount since this is leftover from the daily allowance. Being honest and by virtue of my own principles, in reality, organizations trust me to spend money on an actual basis and balance money has to return back to the organization."

Marcie's Feedback

Wow! This is an impressive example that definitely shows your integrity and honesty. The interviewer will undoubtedly be happy to hear that you are trustworthy. Nice job!

Anonymous Answer

"Integrity is all about being honest and having a strong moral compass. Doing the right thing, even when you know you could cheat and get away with it. A nursing home getting tins on prescription for use in food, much more expensive but better for my sales. Made them aware don't need to use for food can buy alternatives for cheaper. This would reduce my sales but be better for the home and GP and speech therapists. In my personal life, I was on the tube in London and a lady left her bag on the tube, I tried to shout after her to make her aware but she didn't hear me or chose not to. Everyone seemed a little panicked about a bag left on the tube, I decided to take a note of the train and carriage and when leaving the station told TFL about the bag so they could go and access it. Either way, the lady could get her bag back, or I know I didn't stand by and put other passengers at risk if I didn't report it."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! You've given two exceptional examples here of times when you've displayed your integrity. Did being honest with the nursing home folks end up garnering you more trust (and/or future sales) that you could mention? Good job!

Anonymous Answer

"Customer billing

Just on Sunday, my child had something in their hand after we paid for several items. I asked if we already paid for that and she couldn't answer so I went back and paid for it to make sure. Also, in my divorce, my ex-wife did not know much about the business and I paid her fairly versus playing some games some businessmen do."

Stephanie's Feedback

The example of going back and paying for an item your child took is an excellent example of integrity! Many parents might feel tired and overwhelmed at the moment and might not opt to pay, but it's clear that you're prioritizing honesty and integrity over your own convenience. My only suggestion for improvement is to remove the reference to your divorce and your ex-wife. Although it's obviously great that you treated her fairly, I suggest leaving personal life details (example: divorce) out of the interview process, as it can cause unintentional bias for an interviewer.

Anonymous Answer

"Integrity is of the utmost importance to me. At a previous company was in a situation where we had a tight timeline from corporate to deliver a new product to market. I was leading a team to develop the product which includes testing and documentation to show the product meets specific standards. There were delays in the development and the product testing had not been completed. I was encouraged to sign off on the testing to meet the department goals even though testing had not been completed. I communicated that I was not comfortable moving forward with sign-off and that our target date would not be met, but made a proposal to expedite the completion and testing to deliver the product as soon as possible."

Stephanie's Feedback

This is an excellent specific example, but you should develop this response a bit further to share more about the outcome. What happened as a result of this situation?

Diligence

14. Walk me through your morning routine.

The Goal

The interviewer wants to learn more about your work style, daily habits, and routine. The goal of your response is to show the interviewer that you have a strong level of personal accountability, structure, and discipline, which translates to productive work-related habits.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid giving the impression that you do not have structure to your day. You may also want to avoid sounding too rigid. Instead, show a healthy balance between planning and a willingness to shift your routine when needed.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

Take a couple of minutes to walk the interviewer through your morning routine, showing that you have structure and goals. It's perfectly fine to have flexibility in your routine. However, the interviewer wants to see that you have a solid level of discipline that will carry into your workday. At the end of your response, be sure to highlight how your morning routine contributes to your work performance and productivity.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I begin mapping out my day the night before, ensuring that I have my suit pressed and ready for the workday. I also like to make sure my house is clean before going to bed. This way, I feel fresh and never overwhelmed when I wake up. I love listening to podcasts on life, business, and finance, so I will listen to a podcast while I shower and get ready. During my commute, I listen to a book on Audible or music to put me in a great mood for the day. Once I arrive at the office, I take about 30 minutes to plan my tasks and set some intentions for my day. For instance, an intention could be to do 50 cold calls that day. I am a very structured individual, and I value having a plan for each day."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"I like to get up at the same time every day, always before the sun is up. If I rise after the sun, I tend to feel behind in my day. I review what needs accomplishing for the day, have a quick workout, and then get ready for work. I like to listen to energetic music or a motivational podcast while I get ready. I take public transit to work, so I am sure to arrive at the train early to avoid any surprises with my timing into the office. I take that time to begin returning emails and completing smaller tasks. By the time I arrive to work, I am ready to take on my higher-priority responsibilities."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Once I get in, I review my task list to see if priorities have changed. On my way to the office, if I pass by work areas, I say hello to everyone. In my office, I say hello to my team and ask if there is anything they need and anything I need to bring up at the daily meeting. I check for urgent voicemails, and I head up for the daily meeting. I come back and brief the team concerning the day."

Rachelle's Feedback

You sound highly organized and composed. A very good response that is easy to follow.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"My mornings are always very exciting. I start my morning routine with walking, yoga, and a small prayer and I reach my office at 8:30 am sharp. While in my office, I re-check and re-adjust my priorities and set a time to pray for 30 minutes.

My actual professional day starts with a daily management review board with the team. We go over things like quick visual management, our biggest challenge, trends that follow with the root cause, and countermeasures.

The rest of the day follows all structured meetings and engagements basis on their priority. The customer is always first, followed by the company, and lastly is functionality. I always try to balance my time for short-term and long strategic goals."

Marcie's Feedback

Wow! It sounds like you follow an excellent morning routine that helps to set you up for both personal and professional success. Any interviewer would be impressed by this response!

Anonymous Answer

"Each morning I wake up 2.5 hours before my first meeting time, I exercise for an hour, drink a protein shake right after, shower, get dressed, review my schedule for the day, review my plan for my first meeting or appointment, and hit the road."

Rachelle's Feedback

Boom - just like that, you're dominating your day! Your response shows a lot of discipline and drive.

Anonymous Answer

"6:00 am I wake, have some coffee, check the news and emails, get kids off to school, workout, and off to work. Lead generating calls from 9-11."

Kevin's Feedback

It sounds as though the start of your day is very busy! If I was interviewing you, I would consider your answer a red flag. I don’t see any hints of putting thought into your time-management. Instead, it sounds like you are handling some chaos and are flying by the seat of your pants. I recommend highlighting more of the intention and preparation behind your schedule. Go deeper than your activities. What is your approach to time management with regard to preparing for the day? What are you doing to set your day up for success?

"“I set my alarm for 6:00 am. That gives me a half hour of padding time to wake up. My coffee maker will have turned on from its autotimer. So my coffee is already waiting for me. I’ll turn on my happy-light, drink my coffee, go for a run, listen to motivating music on my headphones, and get pumped for my day. I’ll take an invigorating shower, get dressed in the clothes I set out the night before, and I’m out the door. I’ll listen to NPR while I get kids off to school, and after I’m off to work. Arriving at least 20 minutes early, I’ll take my time getting situated, having another cup of coffee and a piece of fruit for breakfast, and performing a friendly check in with the rest of the team. Worst-case scenario, something in my morning goes wrong, and I arrive to work later than I’d planned, which is right on time.”"

Anonymous Answer

"In business or personal life, I wake up with purpose and structure, whether it's with work where I plan ahead and know where I want to be in a day or with my family, there is a structure in place a timeframe to achieve and be the best."

Cindy's Feedback

Good! I'd recommend prefacing this answer with a description of your routine and using what you have written here as a way to sum up and draw conclusions for the interviewer.

Anonymous Answer

"I like to set myself up for success the night before. I get my outfit ready and my lunch packed. I set aside extra time to take my dog for a short walk. This is good for both of us; the morning exercise gets me ready for the day. During my commute, I listen to one of my favorite podcasts. I always arrive to work at least 30 minutes before my first patient. This gives me time to prepare for the day. The structure of my morning routine sets me up for a successful day."

Chad's Feedback

Excellent! It sounds like you are well organized and highly structured in your daily routine. I like that you mention listening to podcasts during your daily commute, as it shows a desire to learn and grow.

Anonymous Answer

"I check my diary before going to bed to see if I have any meetings first thing. I get up around the same time each morning, 7 am. Jump straight in the shower, can't start my day without a shower, wakes me up, and get me rejuvenated. I always like to listen to a podcast while I'm showering and getting ready. I have my breakfast and then start work. I always start by checking my emails and phone to see if there is anything urgent that needs action, check my diary again. Start planning my day, what calls I am going to be doing, anything else from the week that needs following up."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice. You come across as someone who enjoys a routine, and using the word 'rejuvenated' makes you seem enthusiastic and excited to start your day. Mentioning the podcast indicates that you like to learn and use your mind, which is great. You've also done a great job of showing that you are a good planner and organized. Excellent!

Anonymous Answer

"I typically get up, drink some green tea, take some vitamins, look at my email to make sure nothing urgent popped up, shower, get dressed, take a few minutes of reflection to slow down and become present and then write a list of what I need to accomplish for the day."

Stephanie's Feedback

This sounds like a great morning routine (and one that sets you up for a successful day!)

Leadership

15. When a leadership opportunity presents itself, are you excited to jump in, or do you feel nervous?

The Goal

The interviewer wants to see that you have the courage to jump into an unexpected leadership opportunity, even if you feel nervous. The goal of your response is to give the interviewer a clear idea of the way you approach opportunities to lead. Show the interviewer that you have the potential and desire to influence your co-workers positively.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid focusing on your lack of leadership experience. Most hiring companies look for leadership competency in candidates, no matter how entry-level the job title. Even if you are new to your career or have not yet reached a formal leadership position, you can still showcase your natural leadership qualities. Consider speaking about how you act as a leader in group projects at school or while playing a sport.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

Be prepared to highlight the leadership characteristics you have. These qualities might include being a clear communicator, showing empathy to others, setting thoughtful goals, or having the courage to speak up when others may not.

If possible, talk about when you took on a leadership role regardless of feeling excited or nervous. You can use the STAR framework (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to form your story-based example.

If you do not have a specific example of a time when you took on the role of a leader, consider discussing the ways you actively improve your leadership skills. Perhaps you read books on leadership, listen to podcasts from thought leaders, or engage a mentor to develop your leadership abilities.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"When a leadership opportunity presents itself, I am excited to jump in. I often listen to interviews with motivational business leaders such as Ed Mylett and Warren Buffet, where I learn a great deal about active leadership and integrity. As a result, I have learned to be a confident leader, whether in a formal setting or when an unexpected opportunity arises. (Situation) For example, when I worked for Company XYZ, my manager would travel a lot as she was responsible for three business units globally. (Task) I became the unofficial manager when she was away. Team members would come to me when a customer issue needed resolving, a sale needed closing, and even when a piece of tech needed troubleshooting. (Action) I readily took on the responsibility and made myself available for any questions or any roadblocks they faced. (Result) This situation taught me more about teamwork, communication, and task prioritization. (Closing Statement) When you hire me, you will see that I am an outgoing and confident person, and leadership comes naturally to me."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"I used to feel nervous when a leadership opportunity arose. However, today, I am much more confident and usually excited to jump in and lead. While attending university, I was part of many group projects. I would naturally fall into a leadership role within the group more than half the time. I believe this is because I am an active listener. I am also highly organized and easy to approach. I enjoyed being viewed as a leader and look forward to more opportunities for leadership in the future. To prepare for leadership in my career, I have been reading leadership books such as 'Good to Great,' by Jim Collins."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Excited, every leadership opportunity is a chance to develop and create new skill sets professionally. My supervisor recently sent an email to the team with a list of who has completed the necessary number of projects this year to meet our year-end performance objectives. Teams are subdivided by region, and I noticed that one person on my team hadn't met her goal yet. I met with her and volunteered to help her work on her projects to reach her goals."

Rachelle's Feedback

This example of jumping in as a leader and mentor are fantastic! Your answer has a lot of energy behind it, which is great.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I am excited and jump right in. Open communication is something I feel strongly about, and I saw room for improvement at my company. I stepped up and started a WhatsApp group with one person from each sales region to help increase communication across the sales force. I still lead this group, which has dramatically improved open discussion amongst the sales force."

Rachelle's Feedback

This is such a great leadership initiative - great idea! Any company should be thrilled to have a forward thinker like yourself on their team.

Anonymous Answer

"I enjoy acting as a leader, whether it be formally or unexpectedly. I am an outgoing, confident person, and leadership comes naturally to me. I was involved in a rugby final when our captain became injured in the last 20 mins of the game. I stepped up and took charge of the team to reassure them we had to stick to the plan initially set out by our captain. I ran through what everyone needed to perform. I enjoyed taking on the responsibility as it taught me more about teamwork, communication, and prioritization. I felt a great reward for my teammates and me when we won the final."

Rachelle's Feedback

Winning the final must have felt fantastic! If you could describe your leadership style, what type of descriptive words could you weave into your response?

Anonymous Answer

"I love taking on a leadership role and its responsibilities. I feel I have a good strong skill set, and when I was in a regional meeting, I had noticed that we needed to target a few more of our key accounts and have accurate/specific account plans to get an advantage over the competitor. I took it on myself to designate 2 accounts to each team member, ask for an account plan by the end of the week, and email this to myself and the manager."

Rachelle's Feedback

It seems that leadership comes naturally to you! This is a fantastic example of taking control of the workplace. Be sure to also include the result in your answers :)

Anonymous Answer

"I like to jump in!

I have extensive knowledge about our CRM system known as Veeva/Salesforce. More than my colleagues and so I wanted to help with that. After all, this is the system that allows us to be successful in our call inputs. So I would always support my colleagues free willingly with how to input eg customers into the system which bettered their work and day. As a result of how well this worked, I opted to become the national CRM champion for the company. Based on my collaborations with my colleagues, the role was created for me and I was responsible for helping my colleagues on eg how to create virtual calls during covid."

Cindy's Feedback

Nice use of the STAR format. This is a complete and accessible answer. Nice work.

Anonymous Answer

"Sure, when a leadership opportunity presents itself, I see it as an opportunity for growth and development. I take on challenges with enthusiasm. I volunteered to train my colleagues. Because my VP was busy traveling so much, I offered product training material for my fellow CS and he took me up on the offer."

Stephanie's Feedback

It sounds like this was a meaningful leadership opportunity! I suggest adding a sentence or two highlighting the outcomes of this contribution. How did this impact your colleagues?

Anonymous Answer

"Whenever I got an opportunity in leadership, I am always excited to take it up. Two of my own greatest strengths are significance and command.

There are many situations in my career where I took on leadership. One of the latest situations was when Covid-19 impacted the supplies and backorder increased to $ 4.6M. I took charge of the situation and quickly implemented best practices of state guidelines to prevent any Covid impact on site. I was able to build clarity on material availability and match demand."

Marcie's Feedback

Great! So it sounds like you relish the chance to lead. Nice! Don't forget to indicate whether this type of opportunity leaves you feeling excited or nervous, however, since that's what the question specifically asks. The example you provide strengthens your answer.

Anonymous Answer

"I feel excited about the opportunity and jump right in. I naturally do this when I see something I can help with. When I see someone doing something wrong or confused, I automatically ask if I can help or if they would like a recommendation with that exercise. Luckily for me, this sometimes leads to a direct or indirect sale. There are also several events I organized for a fundraiser or profit where I enrolled the help of others to get the job done well. At the Healthplex, before all the social media craze, the General manager asked for someone to volunteer to give a fitness tip in the quarterly newsletter. I volunteered and turned it in to me and my trainers writing a weekly fitness tip emailed to the members."

Stephanie's Feedback

It sounds like you possess natural leadership abilities, which is awesome! My only suggestion here is to add a few additional words to indicate the impact of your contributions to the newsletter. What happened as a result?

Job Satisfaction

16. What motivates you the most in your current role?

The Goal

The interviewer wants to know what keeps you excited in your current or most recent job. The goal of your response is to highlight the responsibilities that make you feel the most enthusiastic. This way, the hiring company can assess if the job will excite you long-term.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid speaking negatively about your current or most recent role. If 'nothing' motivated you, the interviewer might get the impression that you focus primarily on the negative. Instead, consider even a small part of your role that makes you feel happy or proud, such as learning a new skill that you are ready to take into your next opportunity.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

Situations that keep you motivated at work could include:

- Learning new skills
- Coaching others
- Exceeding targets
- Troubleshooting complex problems
- Coming up with creative solutions

The interviewer needs to see your enthusiasm for what you do, and one of the best ways to express this is by providing a specific example of your motivation in action. Consider telling a brief story around your most significant motivating factor. Then, connect these motivating factors to the new job opportunity.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I feel motivated when I have the opportunity to help others. This year, Company XYZ asked me to assist in a new training program for our outside sales reps. I helped our new hires feel comfortable and learn about our products and taught them how to cold call and prospect effectively. It felt wonderful to see these individuals flourish and find great success in the weeks after their training was complete. When I saw your job posting for an Assistant Training Manager and read that much of the role is training and coaching new hires, I knew I needed to apply."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"When I meet and exceed my goals and targets, I become incredibly motivated. I love to make a plan, put it into action, and then reap the rewards. For instance, last month, I exceeded my sales goals by 25%. As a result, I earned a spot in the top three Customer Service Reps out of 200 company-wide. The feeling was so rewarding that it motivated me to do even better this month. I was excited to hear that your organization offers clear performance targets with a strong incentive program for team members who exceed their targets."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I honestly love meeting new people, teaching, learning, and the excitement a new sale gives, as I see the opportunity for increased potential in the future. I currently do this on a regular basis and believe this position gives the opportunity for all the above."

Stephanie's Feedback

It sounds like you're naturally motivated by a lot of aspects of your current work!

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"The ability to coach others, meeting new people, and seeing the engagement in associates."

Rachelle's Feedback

These are excellent motivators that show off your true leadership skills! Do you have an example of how you've successfully coached others in the past?

Anonymous Answer

"When I meet and exceed my goals and targets, I feel incredibly motivated. It feels amazing to take the plan, put it into action, and then reap the rewards. For instance, in my previous workplace, I was in the top 5% in my department in performance indicators. The feeling is so rewarding that it motivates me to do even better in the following performance tests. I appreciate that your organization offers clear performance targets and then incentives based on exceeding them."

Rachelle's Feedback

It must have been very rewarding to be in the top 5% of your department. Utilizing the MQ framework, you give the interviewer a clear idea of the ways you are best motivated in the workplace.

Anonymous Answer

"Exceeding goals and targets and seeing results. Knowing that my hard work and perseverance will help me achieve greater professional success keep me going. I feel that aligning the company visions and values with my own is one way to do that."

Rachelle's Feedback

It is apparent that you are highly dedicated and driven in your career. This is a well thought out response. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"Knowing that I am helping someone improve their quality of life. In that, the work I do will benefit them and their families."

Cindy's Feedback

Nice! Set the context by explaining what you do and how you help others and then explain why it's satisfying.

Anonymous Answer

"I am results-oriented. I like getting things done and I aim to exceed expectations. I am very motivated by making my team a success. Working together with the shared goal of improving patient outcomes, making the physician's job easier, and assisting with any challenges faced as a team."

Stephanie's Feedback

It sounds like you make a wonderful team member! My only suggestion for improving your response is weaving in the phrase "self-motivated" (since you clearly are self-motivated!)

Anonymous Answer

"I am very passionate about working in the healthcare industry since it enables me to touch the lives of people by providing them with better products and services.

"¢ I feel incredibly motivated to see positive trends in my daily management and exceed goals and targets.

"¢ Winning trust and leading impactful, high-priority global industrial transfer projects or acquisitions, or setting up new sites while being successful.

"¢ Helping my team on troubleshooting complex problems.

"¢ Coaching successors"

Marcie's Feedback

These are all great motivators to mention. Be sure to answer in such a way that you aren't just listing items; instead, make your answer conversational and explain each motivator. Consider emphasizing one as your biggest motivation (perhaps touching the lives of others) since the question specifically asks about what motivates you the most. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"Knowing that I have been able to support our customers effectively to build strong relationships and contribute towards helping those HCPs and the patients they are caring for. I love going into nursing homes and being able to help the carers really understand dysphagia and how our product is best used to improve patient care. I love hearing the feedback that the session has made things much clearer for them, as they were often using the thickener incorrectly, which was putting their patients at risk. I found great motivation in helping support them and improve patient care."

Marcie's Feedback

Excellent. You come across in this response as genuine and passionate about helping others, which is great. Discussing the fact that you're very customer-driven will leave a good impression on the interviewer. It also sounds like verbal and written praise greatly motivates you. You might consider directly pointing this out in your answer. Great job!

Job Satisfaction

17. Name for me one task in your current job that you wish you could perform more often.

The Goal

The interviewer asks this question to determine if the tasks of this open job opportunity match what you enjoy doing the most. The goal of your response is to show the interviewer that there is a strong connection between the tasks you enjoy doing the most and the tasks you'll be doing in this new role.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid speaking negatively about your current or most recent role. If nothing about your job felt exciting for you, the interviewer might get the impression that you focus primarily on the negative. Instead, consider a small task you enjoy and want to do more often in your next job opportunity.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

The task you want to perform more often is likely one you perform well. After all, most of us prefer to do the things we are good at. Think about your favorite moments at work and consider the tasks you find yourself accountable for during those times.

Maybe you love being on the phone with customers, helping them solve product-related issues. Perhaps you most enjoy training a coworker on the company's new software update. Or, maybe giving outstanding stakeholder presentations brings you to life!

Whatever your answer, be sure to show enthusiasm for your work. Then, make a connection between the task you enjoy the most and the aligning responsibilities of this new opportunity.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I thoroughly enjoy many tasks in my current role, especially making client site visits. I like to interact with my clients in person and learn how their business operates. This way, I can make better product and service recommendations. I also feel I can be more hands-on and helpful this way. When I read the job description for this new opportunity, I was thrilled to see that on-site visits were a significant part of the weekly accountabilities. The responsibilities of this role align strongly with what I enjoy doing the most."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"I love to learn and conduct research. If I could perform one task more often, it would be the database searches and analysis that my current company has me perform in Salesforce. I enjoy taking client information, breaking down trends in customer buying patterns, and presenting the sales team with targeted opportunities. Businesses thrive when they can better understand their customer data and trends, and I take pride in discovering and presenting that research. I look forward to performing even more research and data analysis in this new opportunity with Company XYZ."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I enjoy studying the market trends, looking at the business month's sales performance over the month, year over year. And anticipating what will happen next and therefore making an action plan. In real estate, the action plan is finding the right price to buy or sell a home and writing the best offer."

Rachelle's Feedback

Nice! It seems you have a lot of enthusiasm for research, analysis, and market data.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"It is conducting skip-level one-on-ones with leaders of different operational areas. Be able to plan learning programs that are longer than 4 hours."

Rachelle's Feedback

Very specific, which will certainly help the hiring company to know where they could put more focus when it comes to your responsibilities.

Anonymous Answer

"Presentations for customers showing how great the company product is. Helping them to believe in something that I feel is a great product!"

Rachelle's Feedback

Your enthusiasm is fantastic! You are obviously very talented when it comes to developing interest and buy-in from customers.

Anonymous Answer

"I perform many tasks in my day and one I particularly enjoy is seeing customers. I love being able to solve their problems with my line of work, so if there was an opportunity to do so, I would like to be able to be with them more and see how our great work benefits them throughout the day."

Cindy's Feedback

Great! In this role, will you be able to do the same? The question is designed to make sure the job you're seeking can be satisfying, so be sure to draw a connection between what motivates you currently and what will motivate you in the future, should you get this position.

Anonymous Answer

"I wish I could have performed more cases. I got a lot of satisfaction from working with the healthcare staff, coaching them through the procedure, and getting positive feedback from patients receiving the implant, reporting a significant reduction of symptoms, and improving their quality of life."

Stephanie's Feedback

You clearly articulate the task in your current job that you'd enjoy performing more frequently. I just suggest being a bit more specific and sharing exactly what kind of cases you are referencing.

Anonymous Answer

"We were faced with complicated, multidimensional issues or problems in our company that was not limited to our own teams. My position was to practice with the Kaizen events to drive perfect solutions.

I am always eager to facilitate the Kaizen events. This involves market demand planning, MR supply chain, the operations team, business and operations leaders, and the market supply chain delivery team. We follow the VSM process, define the current state and future state while identifying any hindering gaps. We also remove non-valued activities and finally as a team we are able to achieve our phase 1 target."

Marcie's Feedback

What exactly is a Kaizen event? Perhaps clarify this in case the interviewer isn't aware of this terminology. Also, consider talking more about why you enjoy facilitating these kinds of events. What do you like about doing that?

Anonymous Answer

"I enjoy breaking down the monthly sales data we are provided on a tableau reader to study potential market trends and changes. Enabling me to see where there is potential growth, or where competitors may have a stronghold. This means I can formulate my sales plans. I think this is really useful to discuss with customers as well as they may not be able to see what is going on in their area, and could use this to leverage a conversation/and or sales."

Marcie's Feedback

Awesome! This is a really interesting answer, and it shows your passion for both data and sales. Is it possible to include a specific example of when you used this type of data to close a deal or initiate a conversation? This would only strengthen an already great response. Good job!

Anonymous Answer

"I love analyzing data and seeing trends and areas for opportunity. Numbers don't lie and when I can find cost savings opportunities or get a budget back in line I feel very accomplished and satisfied."

Marcie's Feedback

Awesome! That's great that you enjoy uncovering cost-saving opportunities and reconciling accounts and budgets. Can you talk more about the experience you have doing this? You might also add a sentence at the end of your response that emphasizes how you look forward to doing this within your new role.

Competency

18. Do you understand what is expected of you in your current role?

The Goal

The interviewer wants assurance that you are focused, disciplined, and accountable for your expected outcomes in the workplace. The goal of your response is to show that you are aware of the impact of your work performance.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid answering in a way that implies you have little direction, focus, or accountability. If you show little awareness of the positive impact you make for your company, the interviewer will see this as a red flag. Instead, display maturity and self-awareness through an understanding of your job expectations.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

The interviewer would like you to take some time to describe your current role and the key expectations placed on you. There is no need to take 10 minutes guiding the interviewer through every detail of your day. However, take a minute to discuss your key responsibilities and what you aim to achieve. Then, make a connection between the expectations of your current role and the expectations of this new job opportunity.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"Yes, I thoroughly understand the expectations of my current position. I perform a significant variety of tasks; however, my key responsibilities include keeping our 15 Customer Service Reps on track with their goals. This means that I am responsible for training and onboarding new hires and taking accountability for the store's sales performance. I communicate with the corporate head office regarding sales numbers, customer returns, stock levels, and inventory discrepancies. Just like in this open opportunity with Company ABC, my current job requires a great deal of attention to detail while expertly juggling multiple priorities."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"Yes, I do understand the expectations of my role with Company XYZ. First, I am to be reliable and enthusiastic about the company's mission. I am the first face that our customers see when they come into the office, so I smile, greet them, and make them feel comfortable. Similar to the key responsibilities in this opportunity with Company ABC, I keep the office running smoothly every day, which means answering the phone promptly, supporting our executive team, and responding to email inquiries."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I oversee recruitment, succession planning, performance improvement and management, leadership development, and engagement. I have reengineered our recruitment practices to be more efficient and to seek out the best talent. I created a competency profile so we can better access our current leaders for future progression, and I recently relaunched and facilitated performance improvement - thru effective interaction."

Rachelle's Feedback

You do a wonderful job bringing your key accomplishments into this response. Well crafted!

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, the expectations for my current role are very defined."

Rachelle's Feedback

Try giving the interviewer a glimpse into your most critical responsibilities so they can align these with the role for which you are interviewing.

Anonymous Answer

"When I was recruited, they had a meeting, and it was explained to me the expectations, by increasing the number of customers and maintaining existing customers, as well as reviewing operating expenses, evaluating the team, distributing tasks according to their capabilities, and creating an information platform database for the company. also proposing new products in the market, or adding value to existing products

And I think that after three years I have achieved all...and this all motivated me to work on to keep achieving their expectation."

Rachelle's Feedback

You offer a lot of great detail here, but the delivery is a bit awkward. It seems you 'bury the lead,' so to speak. I have offered a revision for you, below :)

"Yes, I understand my current role very well and have exceeded expectations for the past three years. When hired at Company ABC, they explained to me their expectations, which included increasing our customer base and maintaining existing customers. Also, reviewing operating expenses, evaluating the team, distributing tasks according to their capabilities, and creating an information platform database for the company. I was also to propose new products in the market while adding value to existing products."

Anonymous Answer

"Absolutely, my day consists of supporting customers' needs where I am supporting a CCG with cost-effective evidence and then educating the community on how our product works based on the CCGs proposals. Each area that I work in is different and so enjoy the challenges in order to bring the most effective support to my customers."

Cindy's Feedback

Good! You're providing a clear picture of your current work.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I am expected to build relationships. That is with my teammates, with the physicians, and with the patients. I am expected to KNOW my product inside and out. Know how my product stands out and Ensure that the physician and healthcare staff are well educated and trained on the medical device I represent. I am expected to produce results and exceed expectations."

Stephanie's Feedback

Excellent response! You sound very confident in your understanding of what is expected in your current role, as well as how to execute that.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, of course. I use a hosting plan to drive breakthroughs with objectives and KPIs which are fully aligned in annual planning. I also make alignments in daily management, and monthly and quarter review processes. On top of this, I always have 1:1 meetings with my key stakeholders and seek feedback to continually improve on my performance."

Marcie's Feedback

Can you possibly talk more about what some of the objectives and KPIs are? What other responsibilities are expected of you? Make sure to explain these elements so that the interviewer completely understands your current role and its expectations.

Anonymous Answer

"I perform several tasks in my current role as an audiologist. My key responsibilities include diagnostic evaluations and fitting and dispensing hearing aids. My role continues long after the initial appointment. I pride myself on developing long-term relationships with my patients. These relationships are based on unsurpassed personal service that begins the first time a patient walks through our doors."

Chad's Feedback

Good answer! You clearly understand your current role and take pride in doing it well. Great job communicating the key responsibilities to the interviewer in your response.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, my job consists of many tasks. I have just undertaken a new territory and project. My key responsibilities are currently seeking out new customers and identifying new business opportunities by using sales data and learning about new teams to build relationships in previously unworked competitor areas to drive new business and the growth of Resource Thicken Up Clear. I provide existing customers with product support, samples, and training package for nursing homes. I contact nursing homes to offer and provide this training, and find out what products are being used in each home, and then switch to our product, generating sales."

Marcie's Feedback

What exactly is Resource Thicken Up Clear? Can you provide a few details about what the product is that you currently sell? Otherwise, you've done a great job of explaining that you identify new business opportunities, analyze and leverage sales data, build new relationships, drive new business and growth, provide existing customer support and training, and contact nursing homes to offer this support. Wow! This is definitely an impressive list of responsibilities.

Behavioral

19. How do you react when you do not have the materials or equipment needed to perform your work?

The Goal

The interviewer wants to know how you go about meeting expectations, even when your resources may fall short. The goal of your response is to show the interviewer that you are capable of problem-solving and meeting roadblocks with a positive, proactive mindset.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid giving a response that makes it seem like you panic or blame others or the company when you are short on resources to perform your job. Yes, your company must provide you with the support and tools needed to succeed; however, it's also essential that you show resourcefulness and problem-solving abilities.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

You must prove to the interviewer that you are accountable for the outcomes of your work. Throughout your career, you will face challenges in completing tasks and projects. Often, these challenges arise due to resources falling short or materials and tools being unavailable at the precise moment you need them. Discuss in detail how you react to these types of situations.

If you've encountered a scenario like this, whether at work or in school, consider providing a brief story. You can achieve this storytelling approach by using the STAR framework (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"When I do not have the resources I need to complete a task or reach a goal, I get creative and work through the issue from the bottom up. Most of all, I am sure to maintain a positive outlook. (Situation) Just last week, one of my favorite statistics resources suddenly went offline. (Task) The situation was intense because I was supposed to turn in my research the following morning. (Action) Instead of panicking and focusing on the inconvenience, I took inventory of the resources I had access to. I completed the research that I could, knowing that I could ask for an extension on the project if needed. (Result) As a result, I remained focused and undistracted, getting as much productive time in as I could, despite the roadblock. (Closing Statement) You will find that I am a resourceful person and can work independently to figure out a situation, even when I may not have a full range of tools or resources."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"When I fall short on resources, I begin by gathering an inventory of the resources I do have. I dig in, discover where the gaps are, and then track down what I need to complete my task. I find resources online, refer to internal company processes, or ask experienced coworkers to help when appropriate. Most importantly, I maintain confidence in myself and rely on my knowledge. It's important to go for it and do the best I can with the resources I have."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I think it is important to understand, when materials aren't available from a company perspective, that there is a valid reason for this and to make sure I am seen as supporting that reason to our customers as opposed to pointing fingers. When materials aren't available I always make sure first of all that I can reassure them that there is a solution in the interim of the current delay. I have offered historically for eg, electronic copies of product literature that they can use. When for example a customer has wanted samples and they haven't been available, I have apologized for and sent them some of my own samples, as I always kept stock in my garage in case there ever was a need."

Cindy's Feedback

Ok, good. I might organize this information so that it's as clear as possible to the interviewer. I've given an example below to give you a start.

"It's not unusual for materials or equipment to be in use or unavailable. I understand why not everything is always immediately available and try not to point the finger of blame. Instead, I try to plan ahead and ensure that I have everything I need for a presentation or a meeting in advance so that I don't give the impression that I am unprepared or unprofessional. On the rare occasion when I haven't been prepared with samples, for example, I apologize and ensure that the customer receives them as soon as possible after our meeting."

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I have been in this situation a few times, I have learned to work with what I have. Sometimes budgetary constraints will mean I do not have the workforce or the ability to bring in training materials. I have run a fully functional HR department on my own for up to 6 to 12 weeks."

Rachelle's Feedback

You sound very resourceful. This answer showcases your ability to do your best no matter what is, or is not, provided to you.

Anonymous Answer

"I try not to panic and work with what I have available."

Rachelle's Feedback

Using the resources available to you is a significant first step. Can you include an example of a time when you needed to do this?

Anonymous Answer

"I stay calm and assess the situation to identify other ways to complete the task at hand or set the expectation with the customer, so they are not caught off guard when the equipment is needed."

Rachelle's Feedback

It seems you are able to handle this type of situation with poise and professionalism. If you have ever come across this situation, be sure to tell a quick story.

Anonymous Answer

"I use what I do have and identify anything that I may need to complete the task successfully. I am more than happy to refer to co-workers/management for help and use online/ internal resources. I keep a positive outlook, break the task down, and plan how to tackle it in segments."

Rachelle's Feedback

You seem to be very resourceful, and it's great that you mention keeping a positive outlook throughout situations where you may need to work harder to reach your goals.

Anonymous Answer

"Well, I first assess the situation to clarify the materials that I do have. If there is anything that I feel I may be missing, I find ways to make it happen. It's so easy to search online for any necessary resources. I communicate with others to get their take on things. I do my best with what I have."

Stephanie's Feedback

It sounds like you've consistently exhibited resourcefulness, which is such an important quality to have!

Anonymous Answer

"Materials or equipment are very important for the completion of work most of the time. this is like a half glass full or half glass empty. I always find alternative or creative solutions by exploring with a most experienced team, many a time we find a solution once we finalize a problem statement itself."

Kevin's Feedback

So you react by looking for alternatives or creative solutions? Good! Is there an example of a time when this happened to you that you could mention. I've changed the wording of your philosophy and approach for the sake of clarity and flow. See below.

"No doubt, one has to have the tools of their trade readily available and on hand in order to properly perform the functions of their job. So, I’m pretty good at managing my time and my projects. But even when situations arise when you don’t have everything you need at your fingertips to do your job right. I look at these as half glass full moments. It’s time’s like those where you should never let the obstacle take root. So, I’m always on the lookout for alternative or creative solutions by exploring every resource, and more often than not, the best resource is another member of the team. But for me, the best tool and resource at my disposal is one I have on hand at all times, and that’s my attitude. With the right attitude, you can overcome any obstacle."

Anonymous Answer

"I stay calm and start figuring out what I do have and how I can best utilize those materials. Then I will start researching, either online if I am trying to find out about a new team for example, or use salesforce to research a customer. I think this is where being comfortable enough to reach out to other team members or departments to see if they have any materials. But this won't always be able to happen. For example, when I was shadowing my TM we were going to meet a key customer to show him some new materials, but the TM was unable to come to the meeting and I didn't have the hard copies. This was the whole purpose of the meeting. I stayed calm and explained the situation to the customer, and then used my knowledge of the product to explain it. I had asked the marketing team if they had a PDF copy last minute and they sent it to me during the session, so I was able to show it to him. You have to do the best with what you have available."

Marcie's Feedback

This is an exceptionally strong answer. Great job! Your example is on point and shows the interviewer that you can handle a situation like this. You also indicate that you would remain calm and professional if this happened and are someone who is resourceful and willing to ask others for help if needed. Great response!

Job Satisfaction

20. Would this job give you the opportunity to do what you do best every day?

The Goal

The interviewer wants to know if this new opportunity aligns with your motivating factors. The goal of your response is to show the interviewer that you have researched the opportunity and are confident that it's a solid match for your professional goals and values.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid responding in a way that makes it seem like you view this opportunity as 'just another job.' A response like that shows you lack professional direction. Many people leave their job because they no longer find the work fulfilling. For this reason, it's essential to the hiring company that you wholeheartedly believe that this opportunity will allow you to do fulfilling work.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

This question is another way for the interviewer to uncover your genuine interest in the opportunity and why you think it's a good mutual fit. Be honest with the interviewer about how you believe this job will fulfill you. Name specific tasks and responsibilities that you look forward to performing and highlight which parts of the role will be an exciting new challenge for you.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I believe that this role with Company ABC will provide me with the opportunity to utilize the professional skills that I value the most. For instance, I look forward to inputting, tracking, and analyzing data in Software XYZ while also addressing our users' needs. Since I will be spending a significant portion of my day troubleshooting for our customers, my excellence in communication will be well-utilized. I am eager to gain more experience in Software ABC as well, which is an exciting challenge that this role will provide me."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"Yes, I wholeheartedly believe this position will allow my greatest competencies to shine while also providing me with the opportunity to learn important new skills. For instance, I bring expertise in inventory management, vendor relationships, and warehouse operations. From my understanding, these skills are most important in this role with Company ABC, and I'm thrilled to say that they are the tasks I enjoy doing the most."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"The position indicates the importance of leveraging relationships to bring together strategies and ideas to manage talent, provide the right and consistent experience to leaders, managers, and support engagement. I build strong relationships with people and, from there, determine how and what is needed to be successful. This "partnership" role would allow me to bring my best every day."

Rachelle's Feedback

Awesome response! You do an excellent job bringing the responsibilities of the job into your answer, showing the interviewer that you have put ample thought into your application and candidacy.

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Anonymous Answer

"Yes. I will be able to do what I do best, and that is a trusted advisor to my clients."

Rachelle's Feedback

You sound very confident in this fact!

Anonymous Answer

"From the role description, I feel that there are many opportunities for me to utilize my stand-out skills. I look forward to providing engineering support for new product and new process introductions while also carrying out structured problem-solving. I look forward to working cross-departmentally with teams to produce a final product for the market. These aspects of the role apply to my strengths as an individual."

Rachelle's Feedback

Good use of the MQ framework, while personalizing it to your own experiences.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, it will be 100% as it will allow me to utilize my sales skills and clinical knowledge. I have expertise in sales, patient care, building relationships, and rapport, and I am eager to continue to develop and challenge myself further."

Rachelle's Feedback

This response is super clear and highly targeted when it comes to your skills and expertise. This is wonderful!

Anonymous Answer

"Yes!

The companies values reflect my own. I have been successful with my customers by being a human being, listening to their needs, and providing them the value that they seek to help support their patients. I could do this every day until I retire knowing I am helping someone improve their quality of life."

Cindy's Feedback

Great! I like the way you align your values with the company's values. This demonstrates fit!

Anonymous Answer

"Absolutely! It will allow me to fulfill my passion to improve healthcare and patient outcomes. This job will give me the opportunity to make a positive contribution to my team, proving my strong work ethic and loyalty. Building relationships and working alongside a variety of professionals with the shared goal to improve patient outcomes."

Stephanie's Feedback

This response is very positive and highlights your enthusiasm, but doesn't explicitly state how the role would bring out your strengths. What are you good at that you'd be able to do every day in this role?

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I always love connecting, collaborating, and accomplishing big things that always keep me motivated to do the best every day.

I feel that I will be a great fit as Senior Director, International Manufacturing with Company with my strong background as a former Director & Global Operations Leader with XX healthcare, Gainesville, USA and previously with XXX Healthcare, I was heading India & SEA manufacturing Operations and led the $500Mn investment in the region by setting up 4 manufacturing sites for Renal and IVs fluid.

I have a very successful career in leading Operations sites for Medical Device and Pharma, implementing best in class E2E Supply Chain and Manufacturing Operations practices, Global Industrial Strategy, setting up several sites, sourcing alignment, Supplier and Material Management, International Tech transfer projects, new product development, P&L performance and crafting a high performance and a winning culture across sites."

Marcie's Feedback

Wow! You have definitely taken the opportunity here to really sell yourself! Good job. You come across as confident, driven, and qualified for the role. You've done a great job of talking about how your skills, strengths, and background make you the best candidate for the job.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes definitely. This role allows me to utilize many of the skills that I have built working in this field, such as my knowledge of the NHS, sales analysis, account management, and gives me the opportunity to really grow and refine these skills. This company and role aim to be able to provide an outstanding service to customers, we are providing a solution not just selling a product. I am a strong relationship builder and communicator which means that I am really able to get to know the customer and their needs and earn their trust. This will enable me to and provide a solution as to how we can help which is critical for this job. I look forward to really being able to establish and nurture long-term relationships."

Marcie's Feedback

Great! You do a good job in your response of reminding the interviewer of your strengths (being a strong relationship builder and communicator). You also come across as enthusiastic about the position and confident that it will be a good fit. Nice job!

Performance

21. How do you know if you're doing a good job?

The Goal

The interviewer would like to know how active you are when monitoring your work performance. The goal of your response is to provide evidence that you are meaningful in your work and accountable for the results you generate.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid responding in a way that makes it seem like you rarely track your success or progress. Even if you are unhappy in your current work environment, the interviewer shouldn't feel you are 'checked out' of your job. Instead, consider providing a statement like, 'I know I am doing a good job when my co-workers thank me for my contribution and my customers respond positively in their post-service surveys.'

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

There are many ways to measure your work performance outside of direct feedback from your boss. Common indicators of a job well-done include:

- Being given promotions or more responsibility at work
- Being offered more autonomy
- Being given more significant customer accounts
- Being offered the opportunity to attend a valuable industry networking event
- Being given continuing education opportunities

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"My current boss is great at giving me praise and feedback regularly. Also, I know I am doing a good job when my company offers me more exposure to our high-profile clients. Only those who put their best foot forward get opportunities to represent the company. When offered a chance to present to a large client, I appreciated the trust that my boss extended to me. It made me want to shine and continue to do my best work."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"I know that I am doing my best work when offered more autonomy and when my employer offers me more significant projects. If I were falling behind in my responsibilities, my manager would not give me more tasks. By expanding my responsibilities and giving me more room for independent work, they are showing me that they trust my work ethic and the quality of my deliverables."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I am given more responsibility in the role. Bigger projects, and tasks, with less input from my manager on dealing with them. I know the support would be there if I needed it but this shows that they are confident and trust me to do the work given independently. Also being put forward for promotion. I was put forward for the territory manager role by my manager having only been in the business for a few months demonstrating to me that I had been performing well enough for them to see the potential in me for this job as opposed to hiring a more experienced applicant."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! Being given more responsibility, needing less oversight, and being promoted are all definitely ways to know that you are succeeding within your position. Including the example of your promotion further strengthens your answer. Excellent!

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"Feedback from my clients and my sales results."

Rachelle's Feedback

Can you add in a specific example of positive feedback that you have received from a client lately? If you have stellar sales results, then it will be important to share some of these achievements.

Anonymous Answer

"I am an instructional assistant and I hold office hours. I can tell I am doing a good job because my numbers in my office hours are going up every week. I have also gotten feedback from students that they make it a point to attend my office hours, even when their schedule is busy."

Stephanie's Feedback

Your response clearly shows a specific way that you're evaluating your performance (by students attending your office hours.) I would encourage you to provide a few more details to further clarify why an increase in attendance at office hours is an indicator of a job well done. Do students feel connected to you or find you to be trustworthy? Have any students given you specific feedback about office hours being helpful? Sharing this type of information would add additional context to the point you're trying to make.

Anonymous Answer

"From the customer's perspective, they are satisfied and I am attending to their needs.

Also from a company perspective, the sales data that I would obtain is showing growth in the areas that I have worked indicating the customer is actioning what was discussed in our face-to-face meeting.

On top of all that I am happy."

Cindy's Feedback

Good! Referencing the customer in this answer shows you've got the right perspective.

Anonymous Answer

"This is very important for me to measure my own performing in the job. As a leader, I used a Hoshin Plan to drive breakthrough objectives and KPIs, and the same is fully aligned with my all stakeholders. The performing treads, action plan gives a very visual picture of my performance. I always seek frequent feedback from my team and stakeholders to stay on the same page.

My boss always keeps giving me more challenges, involving me in critical or more impactful projects that give me a sense that I am doing my job well."

Marcie's Feedback

This is a strong response. Great job! It sounds like you recognize the importance of measuring your own work performance, which is great. How did you learn about the Hoshin Plan? Maybe you can talk a bit more about how you discovered that and why you choose to use that method? Otherwise, you've done an excellent job of showing all the ways you monitor yourself to ensure you're doing a good job.

Anonymous Answer

"Currently, the only way I know I am doing a good job for my company is based on performance. When it comes to a customer, I know when they give me praise, make another purchase from me, or refer another customer to me. In my last job, it was when the boss, an employee, or a customer gave me praise. I always appreciate it but I do not require a lot of praise as long as I know I'm doing a good job. I would assume as an associate, I would know when they start giving me more freedom or give me my own territory."

Stephanie's Feedback

This is a great start, but I suggest adding in quantitative performance measures too, if possible. For example, are there specific numeric goals that you're charged with meeting? How has your performance been in this area?

Anonymous Answer

"Outside of direct feedback and hitting goals, I know I'm doing a good job when my projects or teams are creating additional value for the company. Example:"

Stephanie's Feedback

This is a great start but would be even better with a specific example!

Anonymous Answer

"For each training course we run, we always request feedback. Feedback on courses I have taught, I know that I am doing a good job, with a teaching style that agrees with most people. I feel the level of autonomy I have been given in my current role, also indicates that my manager is happy with my work, and doesn't feel the need to micro-manage me.
Finally, the fact that I have been allowed to complete a postgraduate certificate in anatomical sciences, tells me that my company believes I am worth investing in, by allowing me to continue with educational opportunities."

Jaymie's Feedback

Feedback surveys are a great tool to understand better what you've done well and what areas could be improved. Direct and indirect feedback from your manager, as you've given examples of in your response, are also great ways to gauge your performance.

Job Satisfaction

22. How can we encourage your professional development?

The Goal

The interviewer wants to know what type of professional development opportunities you value the most. The goal of your response is to outline the growth opportunities you'd like to be provided in this role and to highlight where you would like these opportunities to take you in your career with the hiring company.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid giving a response that fails to show an interest in continued professional growth. Regardless of your job title or how new or seasoned you are in your career, it's essential to have well-defined goals and ambitions to share with your future employer.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

Professional development opportunities can present themselves in courses, workshops, gaining new credentials, collaboration with your superiors, or attending industry-related conferences. These resources help you improve your job performance and lead to new career opportunities. When responding, be as specific as possible regarding the professional development opportunities that capture your interest.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I value the opportunity to grow in my education and industry-based knowledge. For this reason, the best ways to encourage my professional development could be to offer continuing education, meaningful coursework, or even tuition reimbursement opportunities based on my work performance. I appreciate that Company ABC values growth and development, and I am eager to continually improve my work performance with this organization."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"I appreciate that Company ABC encourages continued professional development. I am eager to learn and grow through a steady increase in duties and responsibilities. I also value skills-based training opportunities that are followed up with related job assignments, allowing me to apply and develop my new knowledge immediately."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Teach me and/or send me to workshops/classes that benefit my growth in my future position. When I moved from Ky to Indy, I was coming from a strictly salary position to a salary plus commission position which was completely new for me. Luckily, I attended a workshop the following month and became their top-selling trainer and more than doubled what they expected me to do by selling and retaining customers."

Stephanie's Feedback

You do a nice job of clearly outlining what a future employer could do to support your professional growth. To make your answer even stronger, I suggest adding a few specific details, such as what kind of workshop/classes are you hoping to attend in the future?

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I enjoy attending courses related to my field. So I would like to continue that. I would also like to have an in-depth understanding of the organization, so I would like to spend real time with people of the various areas to appreciate what they do."

Rachelle's Feedback

Your answer is clear and will give the interviewer a strong idea of what you need to remain happy and motivated in the workplace.

Anonymous Answer

"I feel there are many ways for this to take place. Training sessions, collaboration with leadership, attending regional/national conferences, and being under a manager that is a great coach are some ways to help me grow."

Rachelle's Feedback

You offer the interviewer some very do-able ways to motivate you and help you grow. Your answer will give the interviewer an excellent sense of what you need to perform.

Anonymous Answer

"I really value attending field-related educational events organized externally or internally. I love learning and gaining an in-depth understanding of my company and organization."

Rachelle's Feedback

Very nice suggestion for the interviewer. Are there any specific educational events or opportunities that you have in mind?

Anonymous Answer

"I currently have Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status, which demonstrates I have been recognised for my engineering knowledge and experience to date. However, I would like to work towards Chartered Engineer (CEng) status by being accountable for the project and financial management, building the skill sets necessary to develop other technical staff, which I feel this company can support me in doing."

Rachelle's Feedback

Your answer is perfect. It's highly detailed, actionable, and measurable. Excellent job!

Anonymous Answer

"I am always keen to learn to be the best at what I do. The industry that I am coming into is a new sector to me and so anything from understanding the business environment courses, processes in procurement would be of benefit."

Cindy's Feedback

Good! Are you also self-motivated to learn the new industry? How would you go about marshaling your learning?

Anonymous Answer

"Fostering a culture of sharing knowledge and experience. Conducting regular meetings, encouraging the sharing of experiences, successes, failures, and challenges. Offering continuous training."

Stephanie's Feedback

Great response! When you mention "continuous training," do you have specific examples of training you'd like to receive?

Anonymous Answer

"I appreciate the fact that this company encourages professional development. I am eager to learn and grow to expand my role. One area of professional and self-development I need is product knowledge and NPI project management in the company. Gallup leadership assessment, leadership feedback, one-on-one meetings, and formal training will also help to finalize my development plan and mentoring,"

Marcie's Feedback

This is a good answer! You come across as appreciative and enthusiastic. It's also great that you specifically mention product knowledge and NPI project management as areas that interest you.

Diligence

23. What steps have you taken this year to encourage your professional development?

The Goal

The interviewer wants evidence that you have taken responsibility for your career path by being accountable for your personal and professional development. The goal of your response is to take the interviewer through the steps you have actively taken this year to contribute to your professional development.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid giving an excuse-based response like, 'I have been so busy this year, it's been impossible for me to focus on my professional development.' Yes, you have likely been busy; however, the interviewer wants to hear more about your interest in your growth versus how overworked you feel. Instead, be prepared to talk about even one small thing you do to contribute to your success. Your response doesn't have to be grand. For instance, perhaps you recently listened to a podcast on boosting your communication skills, or maybe you have started to seek out a mentor.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

There are many straightforward ways to take advantage of professional development. These opportunities include:

- Reading books and articles from thought leaders in your industry
- Taking online courses to gain new skills
- Attending industry conferences to grow your network
- Listening to podcasts and audiobooks related to your professional interests

At the end of your response, be sure to spotlight how your professional development initiatives will contribute to your success in this new role.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"At the beginning of each year, I make a plan for what I would like to accomplish in my personal and professional life. This year, my plan included attending two industry conferences and expanding my local network by attending more business commerce meetings. I also enrolled in a course on leadership to learn new ways to boost team productivity through relationship building. I am so glad that I took these initiatives this year as I believe the skills I developed will significantly contribute to my success with Company ABC."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"This year, I have been accepting more responsibilities at work and taking on more tasks without being asked. I committed to perfect attendance at work this year and have been reading more business books in my personal time. I have a list of top 25 leadership books, and I plan to get through the list before the end of the year. So far, I have completed the first eight books and have noticed a boost in my professional performance already!"

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I am continuously looking for ways to improve and to stand out. I have a natural passion for the healthcare industry, and I am fascinated by medical technology. I enjoy listening to medical podcasts, TED talks, and I have enrolled in LinkedIn training courses to improve my skills in leadership further. I also make it a point to volunteer and assist in various projects to learn new networking skills."

Stephanie's Feedback

This is a very well-rounded and detailed response. Good for you for continuing to develop yourself!

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I listen to speakers and podcasts.
I read books to grow and learn."

Kevin's Feedback

Your answer needs more. Always ask if you would hire you based on your answers. Most interviewers will choose the candidates who go above-and-beyond with their answers. Anyone can claim to listen to speakers and podcasts and read to grow. By offering that as your answer, how have you sold them on your merits? Try offering up details on the speakers and podcasts you listen to the most. When it comes to books, which are your favorite? Also, what is your approach to your professional development on the job?

"“In my off hours I listen to podcasts, and read everything I can to stay up to date on all the developments in the industry. If you’re interested, I can make a list of the podcasts and TED Talks I’m into. I enjoy sharing those with others in the field who’d appreciate them. But, as far as encouraging my self development on the job, that’s easy to answer.

I’m careful to not take on too much work at any given time. I am never the kind of worker who over-promises and under-delivers. But when I have enough room on my plate, and my time management skills are outstanding, I will take on any work that falls outside of my comfort zone. If it feels attainable, and it also feels scary, then I go for it. That is the perfect combination for developing oneself professionally. That, and ever constant clear communication.”"

Anonymous Answer

"To take on more responsibility and leadership duties. This will allow me to look at situations from a management mindset and help me in my PDP."

Rachelle's Feedback

These are great goals to have and very achievable. Are there any specific duties within leadership that you would like to take on in your next role?

Anonymous Answer

"I have enjoyed being a territory manager in the 15 years that I have been in sales. However, I strive to be the best at what I do. I find it key to learn from the best; my senior colleagues, education on the internet in courses on selling, and the mindset, taking advantage of courses available to us over our company hub, coursework on understanding our customer's environment. I found this to be extremely developmental in my career this year."

Cindy's Feedback

Great! Describing both informal and formal learning is a great approach. You may want to reference something that you learned recently and use the topic as a way to turn the interview into a conversation. Are there new developments in your industry that would be of interest to the interviewer?

Anonymous Answer

"I made my manager aware that I would like some more responsibility because I don't want to feel like I'm plateauing. I was then given a new project and territory, with responsibilities very similar to TMs. I requested to attend TM sales training as a trainer."

Marcie's Feedback

What is a TM? Make sure not to use too many acronyms so you don't confuse the interviewer who might not be familiar with all of them. That's great that you asked for more responsibility and then were rewarded with that and additional training. This shows your initiative. It also indicates that you are motivated and proactive. Excellent!

Anonymous Answer

"When I decided to transition my career into medicine I knew that I would have to start with a much more junior role than I was used to due to my lack of experience. I went back to school, started with a job as a trauma surgeon making less money, kept my eyes open for better opportunities with more room to grow, and have diligently been reviewing job boards for positions that can utilize my current skill set and help me grow my career in medicine."

Marcie's Feedback

Awesome! It sounds like you have taken many different steps recently to grow professionally. The interviewer will undoubtedly be impressed by this. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"This year, I have watched numerous videos, read instructions on how to, and volunteered with other professionals to learn how to properly use a skid steer and numerous attachments other than just a bucket. Personally, I have read some great books, "Love Is Letting Go Of Fear, Green Lights, The Anatomy Of Peace, The Energy Bus, and The Five Levels Of Attachment", which I believe all translate over to professional life."

Stephanie's Feedback

This is a great response! It's wonderful to see the ways that you've focused on professional growth and development.

Anonymous Answer

"My development for the past two years has been different than previous years because of Covid. I have been using the Corn Ferry book FYI to identify competencies that I will focus on developing this year. I sat down with my boss and together we outlined opportunities to gain experience specifically for development in those areas. Two of my primary competencies for this year are Business Acumen (communicating), and Managing Ambiguity."

Stephanie's Feedback

The past two years have presented a lot of professional challenges, and it's clear that you've done a good job of learning new skills, despite the challenges that the pandemic has created.

Diligence

24. How often do you give yourself challenges outside of your comfort zone?

The Goal

The interviewer wants to understand how eager you are to grow in your career and gauge your willingness to go outside of your comfort zone to reach new heights. The goal of your response is to show the interviewer that you have ambition and a desire to try new approaches to achieve success in the workplace.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid answering in a way that makes it sound like you are idle in your professional growth. When we remain overly content with our tasks, our work-life can begin to feel mundane over time. In those instances, it's easy to start feeling unfulfilled. Instead of focusing on the lack of challenges in your current role, show that you are proactive by describing how you actively search for new and exciting challenges.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

Employees who commonly face new challenges in the workplace tend to be happier and stay in their jobs longer. Think about the last time you performed a task outside of your comfort zone. Perhaps you helped a coworker reach a deadline, but the initiative required you to learn a new skill. Maybe you volunteered to lead a project when you typically do not take on a team lead position. Whatever your example is, show enthusiasm for growth within your company.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I welcome new challenges, whether they come from me or my employer. The last time I gave myself a challenge outside of my comfort zone was when I committed to doubling my cold calls for an entire month. I wanted to see how the increase in activity could boost my sales numbers. So, rather than making 50 cold calls per week, I made 100 calls, for a total of 400 for the month. My sales numbers nearly doubled, which I found exciting and rewarding. Although this increase meant that I worked late a few days and came into the office early on others, the reward was well worth the sacrifice in the end."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"Bravely facing challenges is the fastest way to grow in the workplace, so, although it can be uncomfortable at times, I believe that it's always a rewarding move. I recently volunteered to take on a client most of my coworkers find difficult to please. I decided to do this because I knew it would allow me to learn more about overcoming objections and creating meaningful rapport through solution-based approaches. So far, I was right! I have learned a lot about myself in the process and have grown my critical thinking and problem-solving skills exponentially."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"The last challenge I gave myself outside my comfort zone was to obtain my Solidworks software accreditation. I wanted the challenge of increasing my knowledge of the software, which would boost my work productivity. I exceeded my expectations and completed the accreditation exams in 6 weeks. Although this meant working late many days, the reward was well worth the sacrifice."

Rachelle's Feedback

This is a solid example of giving yourself a challenge that pushed you personally and professionally. Another very specific answer - well done!

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"Quite often. Each day brings new challenges, and I am there to be a resource."

Rachelle's Feedback

Examples are your friend in an interview :) Can you think of a recent situation where you pushed and challenged yourself to learn or experience something new?

Anonymous Answer

"As often as possible. I am a change agent and always jump at the next opportunity to learn something new, be challenged, and grow my knowledge and skills."

Rachelle's Feedback

Good start! Can you share a bit about the most recent initiative you took?

Anonymous Answer

"I think challenging yourself is an important part of life and self-development.

I spend time weekly with self-reflection, asking tough questions; how has the day and week been? Where could I have been better, more thorough? Where could I have gone the extra mile?

Helping out a teammate is a way I like to add dimension. Asking them questions to help them get where they need to be. I enjoy seeing the light come on for them."

Rachelle's Feedback

It seems you are unafraid to reflect and assess your performance. When asking these tough and reflective questions and uncovering room for growth, what action steps do you take next?

Anonymous Answer

"Always, I feel that if I'm always in my comfort zone, I'm not growing professionally or personally. I made a career change from a clinical background to a sales career, and this was one of my biggest steps out of my comfort zone and proving I could do something that I was initially uncomfortable with and felt that I would not be able to achieve. When I proved to myself, I could achieve this; it gave me a great sense of accomplishment."

Rachelle's Feedback

This change sounds like a significant one, showing you are unafraid of making big moves and challenging yourself.

Anonymous Answer

"As often as I can. I love a challenge as it literally is a task that I need to solve. I have come across many of my accounts that are competitor-led and where my predecessors have stated that they aren't "rep friendly". This hasn't phased me, there is a reason that customer feel that way and doesn't mean I am the cause, so I approach accounts offering value and support that I can deliver and has won me a business where it hasn't for my colleagues based on uncovering a particular need."

Cindy's Feedback

Good! It sounds like you really enjoy a challenge.

Anonymous Answer

"I welcome challenges. I approach them with enthusiasm.

I see a challenge as an opportunity for growth, an opportunity to gain experience as well as an opportunity to express my loyalty and my strong work ethic. My clinical coordinator had to put together 30 binders for site initiation visits. He was clearly concerned that he would not be able to get it done in time. I offered to take on this task for him knowing that I would have to commit my weekend in order to get them done on time. Each binder was approximately 500 pages. It was tedious work but I got it done."

Stephanie's Feedback

Great response! It sounds like you're comfortable challenging yourself and you're willing to go the extra mile to help your team succeed.

Anonymous Answer

"I love challenges. Our COO visited our site once and had a plant overview. In our closing meeting, the COO expressed their happiness with the successful visit and appreciated the site for acquiring stage 3 operational excellence, and also commented that the site looked much better than some of the sites which already were in stage 5. They asked to push forward to qualify for stage 4 operational excellence in six months. As a leader, I accepted the challenge and we achieved stage 4 on time."

Marcie's Feedback

Wow! An excellent example that shows your openness to taking on new challenges. Maybe you can provide some more clarification to the interviewer about the different stages and what they mean? The more details, the better!

Compatibility

25. Do the values of our company align with what you view as important?

The Goal

The interviewer is looking for evidence that you have researched the hiring company before your interview. They also want to see a strong alignment between the company's values and yours. The goal of your response is to show that you have spent time getting to know the company's values then make a clear connection between those values and how you operate in your personal and professional life.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid simply memorizing the hiring company's values and reciting them back to the interviewer. Instead, spend time absorbing what the company's values mean and consider how you emulate those values in your life. This way, your response will feel genuine and thoughtful.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

Most companies will have their core values available on their website. You must know and understand the company's values to make a strong alignment statement. When responding, be sure to include specific examples of how you actively live those values.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I conducted a great deal of research on Company ABC before coming here today. I appreciate that the organization's values include excellence in customer service and transparency in pricing. What stands out most to me is the company's commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts. I was impressed after reading the letter from your CEO, published on the company website. Her words felt genuine. I consider myself a sincere person who welcomes those different from me. I take every new experience and treat it as an opportunity to learn and make meaningful connections."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"I appreciate how proud Company ABC is of its values - to treat everyone with kindness and to deliver above customer expectations every time. These values align closely with those I have set for myself in my professional career. I am mindful to extend kindness to others, even in difficult situations where it might be easier to act selfishly. I am also customer-centric. Without exceptional service standards, a business is purely transactional. Relationships are most important to me in my personal and professional life. As you can see, there is a lot of overlap between the company values and my own, which makes me very excited to work and grow here."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Absolutely, the fact that the company is patient-centric and to deliver quality to them is very important to me. I strive to improve a patient's life by delivering them a quality item and service that will help grow the company further."

Cindy's Feedback

Good! This is a good opportunity to expand on what you know about the company's values. Have you done any research and can you share what you learned?

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"Stryker's mission - Together with our customers, we are driven to make healthcare better.

This ethos aligns with my core values as I will gain the ability to provide a solution that will improve the health and well being of patients and caregivers. The main components of the company are integrity, accountability, people, and performance, all of which I regard highly in my personality."

Rachelle's Feedback

Excellent work, bringing in the company mission and matching this with your own core values. Well done!

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, Stryker's mission is about making people's lives better thru better medical care and devices. They value integrity, accountability, people, and performance. These resonate very strongly with me as an HR professional. My career has been built on doing the right thing, taking ownership of my actions, and that of my team, developing people to be their best every day."

Rachelle's Feedback

Alignment is key! Be sure to draw out specifics as per the company you are interviewing with.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes. Their values align with mine about putting the patient first."

Rachelle's Feedback

In your real-time interview, you will want to mention the company's core values specifically and what you have done in the past to uphold similar values.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes - it is very important for me to be working for a company that has a true mission of improving healthcare and patient outcomes while acting with integrity and providing an inclusive culture that rewards performance."

Rachelle's Feedback

You are very detailed in the values that speak the most to you. Excellent approach!

Anonymous Answer

"Yes! Your company values align with what I view as important.

I have a strong work ethic - holding myself Accountable for the work that I produce.

It is important to me to make a positive contribution to the healthcare industry.

I have an unwavering commitment to customer service and a passion for improving patient outcomes."

Stephanie's Feedback

Good job in naming specific company values--it's always important to do your research before going into an interview!

Anonymous Answer

"A Big Yes, Company is the market leader in women's health medical devices for diagnostics, surgery, and medical imaging.

I was very impressed after understanding the Hologic 3Ps

"¢ PURPOSE "”to enable healthier lives everywhere, every day

"¢ PASSION to become global champions for women's health.

"¢ PROMISE to bring The Science of Sure® to life"

Marcie's Feedback

Great! It's wonderful that the company's values align with your own. Can you discuss more why these three values - purpose, passion, and promise - are meaningful to you?

Anonymous Answer

"I conducted a great deal of research on your company before today. Stryker is a leader in medical technologies, and its mission to make healthcare better resonates with me. This is an exciting time in medicine, and I can't think of a better company to navigate new challenges and opportunities with than Stryker."

Chad's Feedback

You have taken a great approach to this question. It is clear you have researched the company in preparation for the interview, and you do well to reference Stryker's mission to make healthcare better. To strengthen this response and position yourself as a desirable candidate for the role, I suggest discussing how your personal and professional values align with those of the company (i.e. Integrity, Accountability, People, Performance).

Leadership

26. How do you gain buy-in from your co-workers when it comes to delivering quality work?

The Goal

The interviewer wants to understand the actions you would take if your co-workers were failing to deliver high-quality work. They also want to know if you prioritize getting the job done right, setting an excellent example for others, and encouraging your teammates to deliver their best work. The goal of your response is to showcase your work ethic and your leadership skills.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid providing an answer that makes it seem like you bring minimal persuasion to team-based scenarios. Even if you are new to your career, you can still influence others to do their best in the workplace.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

It's been said that we are only as strong as the weakest members of our team. When responding, show the interviewer that you have the power of persuasion, allowing you to encourage your co-workers to deliver the best possible work. Some ways that you might collect buy-in in a team-based environment include:

- Generating excitement around the project and overall goal
- Showing your co-workers the value of a job well done
- Inspiring your co-workers by connecting their professional desires with the overall vision

Consider the 'golden circle' concept by author Simon Sinek. This concept can help you be a persuasive leader who focuses on the 'why' of what you do, rather than the 'what' and the 'how.'

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"If I encounter an underperforming co-worker, I respectfully approach them and start a conversation to learn more about their professional goals. I like to use the today/tomorrow framework to encourage a conversation around goal-setting and inspiring others. I gain buy-in with questions like, 'Where are we today, and where do we want to be tomorrow?' Sometimes when a co-worker feels unmotivated to deliver quality work, it's because their responsibilities do not play to their greatest strengths and talents. If this is the case, I work to ensure that the individual gets more opportunities to do what they do best, which sets them up for success and motivates them to be a team player and high-performer."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"I ask for feedback on my performance before judging the performance of my co-workers. Perhaps I need to make corrections in my work before my co-worker can deliver their best in return. I will ask my team if there is any need to clarify expectations or re-frame the project mission. By looking internally first, I show a willingness to lead by example. I find that this approach gets people excited to work with me and inspires them to be a self-aware team player."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I allow my coworkers to be involved in the process. That way, everyone will feel included and produce quality work."

Rachelle's Feedback

Can you give an example of a time when you did this? Remember, Gallup interviews are meant to look for personality and skill, so the more examples you can offer, the better your answers will be received.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"On occasion, I notice that there might be an error in a document we are sending out. I will take the time to review it with the entire team, not to point out the specific person, but to highlight the importance of catching the details, reiterate the expectations of what we are doing, and why. I then speak one-on-one with my team members to catch up with what is going on with them, what they need from me to succeed."

Rachelle's Feedback

This is a nice approach - asking them what they need from you to succeed. Your method sounds very team focused.

Anonymous Answer

"I think leading by example is a great way to gain buy-in from your co-workers. If you are delivering quality work yourself and also show that you're willing to assist the rest of the team as much as you can, I think others will follow suit. It is also important to make sure that the expectations are clear and that people are set up for success by tailoring tasks to fit their strengths."

Rachelle's Feedback

You make some excellent points here, and your answer shows that you are a strong and conscious leader.

Anonymous Answer

"I do my best to analyze situations so that I can fully understand the importance of the outcome. It allows me to clearly explain the importance of completing the work we are doing effectively and efficiently. I also understand that everyone learns and works at different speeds. If a coworker is struggling to pull their weight, I do not attack them; I will offer help so that the team can still get the job done and later work to train them where they are lacking."

Rachelle's Feedback

You sound like a very patient and understanding person. It also seems you are analytical, which is a great asset in the types of roles you are aiming for.

Anonymous Answer

"I gain buy-in from my coworkers by having face-to-face meetings with them and showing them the bigger picture of what impact the work they aren't doing will have on the business and their career.

I had it where a colleague kept canceling the training they had booked with customers in the community. A couple of them complained to our customer service team. I was the one who would hear about it and so I wanted to eradicate this from happening again.

I sat down with my colleague whose role was to train and assist me in my tasks and said that they can not cancel meetings that they booked, it's bad for business and the customer would very easily go with a competitor. If this continues then your role will become in jeopardy. Not as a threat but I made them realize that they were on a contract and their role was a new one the company were seeing if it was of value to the business. So if they kept canceling meetings, then your role and your 5 other colleagues may not have a job in 6 months time.

so for me its putting it into perspective the knock on effect of their actions."

Cindy's Feedback

Good use of example, here! How did your discussions change behaviors on the team?

Anonymous Answer

"It is important to me to get the job done and get it done right.

In order to do so, you have to communicate with teammates regularly

Requesting feedback which in turn allows you to also give feedback.

Offering help or resources your co-workers may need"

Stephanie's Feedback

I suggest shifting the wording of this response to "I" statements (example: "In order to do so, I have to communicate with team mates, etc")

Anonymous Answer

"My approach to gain buy-in from coworkers is based on the simple principle of "PRIDE"

Purposeful vision

Role model

Inspire

Develop

Empower

I always ask for feedback from my coworkers which creates a bond, trust, and a solid relationship that inspire my coworkers to do their best and deliver quality work."

Marcie's Feedback

PRIDE seems like a great concept that would help you to gain buy-in from your coworkers when you need quality work from them. Can you give an example of a time when you used this concept to successfully obtain buy-ins? This will make your answer more meaningful to the interviewer.

Anonymous Answer

"I think you always need to set a positive example, show that you are dedicated to the work at hand. Have a good attitude even if the task is something that you aren't particularly excited about. This should demonstrate to your colleagues what is expected of them, build trust but also mean that no one is taking the bulk of the work and some aren't doing enough. If a coworker wasn't delivering quality work, I would approach them privately with empathy so as not to embarrass them. I would raise the issue, lack of effort, etc and see if there was any reason for this behavior. People may be struggling with something at home you may not be aware of, so it's important to find this out so you are able to provide them with more support. They may be struggling with the tasks, maybe their strengths lie somewhere else. You can help them, or allocate them new tasks they are more comfortable with or play to their strengths. You want to motivate people to work harder in a positive way, not in a smack on the wrist, degrading way."

Marcie's Feedback

Your answer is very thorough and shows that you are a good leader. It sounds like you try to be a good role model, dedicated, positive, trustworthy, and empathetic. Excellent response!

Teamwork

27. Do you have a best friend at work? Is it important for you to have close friendships within the workplace?

The Goal

The interviewer wants to learn more about your connections in the workplace. The goal of your response is to show the interviewer that you will add to the company culture and that you understand the benefits of mutual trust and friendship in a business environment.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid responding in a way that sounds like you do not require any workplace camaraderie. Even if you are a highly independent individual who prefers to work solo, it's still helpful to have social connections in the workplace. Show a balance by expressing your independence along with your understanding of the importance of workplace relationships.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

Studies show that having friends at work is critical to an employee's overall success. Having a friend at work can significantly reduce stress and increase feelings of happiness, which, in turn, boosts employee tenure. Reportedly, more than half of all men and women have workplace friendships.

If you do not see the need for this type of close connection at work, be sure to have a compelling reason why you feel this way. Remember - it's still important to express your ability to be friendly with your coworkers.

If you see the need for close connections in the workplace, take a moment to paint a picture for the interviewer by telling them about your most valued workplace friendships.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I have a handful of wonderful friendships at work. I believe in the importance of making meaningful connections in the workplace because this can boost morale and reduce stress. When I experience an event in the workplace, be it a challenge, a promotion, or a notable win, I love that I can share the news with someone else who understands what I am going through."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"Although I have not made a best-friend connection at work, I would love to experience that level of camaraderie in the workplace. I can see how workplace friendships significantly benefit employees and the company. I am always very friendly with my co-workers and love sharing ideas and celebrating wins. It is important to me that I make connections to build mutual trust and boost morale."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"In the role of HR - it is not easy to have a best friend, as you need to appear neutral. That said, I do form close relationships with my peers, my supervisor, and my leaders. I also form connections with as many associates as possible, so when I see them, I call them by name, I can ask them about their family, their vacation and their hobbies. I like to establish camaraderie with an assortment of associates."

Rachelle's Feedback

You show a good professional balance in your answer. Very wise to remain neutral in an HR role :)

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I think friendship at work is important. We need people we can support and reason things out with. It is important to sound out plans, ideas, and solutions with someone. Thinking out loud presents information differently. Also, a partner that can do an open house for you. Or show a property for you is important. Sometimes we cannot be in two places at one time."

Rachelle's Feedback

You bring up many good reasons to have some strong connections in the workplace. Well said!

Anonymous Answer

"I feel it's important to have friends at work, not a best friend in particular. I like to get along with all my colleagues as best as possible and build meaningful connections. Friends at work understand your experiences and situations better and can relate."

Rachelle's Feedback

Meaningful connections are very important, for sure - good response!

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I do, I find it crucial to have someone you can trust, relate to, share positive or negative work experiences with. Having someone there who is technically a safe environment to practice eg certain calls with, preparing for a big meeting."

Cindy's Feedback

Good! I like the way you put this in the context of contributing back to the company. Good work!

Anonymous Answer

"I have many friends at work. It is very important for me to form a connection and have close friendships at work. I get a lot of satisfaction from working with my teammates because we have a shared goal of making the team a success. Sharing ideas, success, and failures. The ultimate goal is the improve patient outcomes."

Stephanie's Feedback

It sounds like you get along well with others, which is wonderful. However, I suggest adding a sentence or two about your ability to collaborate successfully at work with teammates who don't become close friends. How are you able to successfully navigate working with all different types of personality types? After all, work friendships are great, but these may not happen naturally in every workplace setting.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, it is very important for me to connect with people. I believe that you can win people by winning their feelings. As a leader, I always try to make a strong bond with people and have a transparent, genuine relationship. Always align and motivate people for a purposeful common vision"

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! It's great that you enjoy connecting with others. Don't forget to clearly and directly answer the question, however. In other words, do you have a best friend at work? If so, talk a bit about this person and how their friendship motivates you to be a better employee.

Anonymous Answer

"My work best friend left, but yes I think it's very important. You spend so much time at work, you have to get on with people, you become one big family. And I think that is the best way. You want people you can trust, rely on, lean on if needed for support with work, and also personal issues. I am still close friends with people I have worked with since I was 17 in my different jobs. The closer you are, you know where you can best support each other."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! Your response indicates that you recognize the importance of getting along with and even befriending your colleagues, which is great. The interviewer will likely be struck by your sincerity as well. Good job!

Anonymous Answer

"I do feel workplace friendships are important. You are spending 8+hrs a day with the same people and have shared goals for the company. A strong team only works when everyone works together well for a shared goal."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! It's great that you value workplace friendships. Can you talk about a close friendship that you currently have at work and how it benefits you and the company? Does this friendship keep your morale up at work, which helps to keep you motivated and productive? Is there a healthy competition there that encourages you to be more efficient and faster? You might also mention that while you value friendships at work, you're also adaptable and don't need deep friendships to get your work done.

Adaptability

28. When you think about joining a new company, are you nervous about meeting new people, or is this an exciting thought for you?

The Goal

The interviewer wants you to reflect on your personality and share your feelings about joining a new organization. The goal of your response is to show your confidence in making a career change and express what you will need to feel comfortable during the transition.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid giving an unbalanced response. If you respond in a way that seems far too apprehensive, the interviewer might feel that you are not ready for this career transition. On the other hand, if you respond in a way that shows zero trepidation, the interviewer might feel that you are being careless about your career change. Strike a balance in your response by showing thoughtfulness about your first day, explaining what excites you, and expressing any questions you may have about the transition.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

Joining a new company can be scary. Some of the biggest hesitations or fears can stem from giving notice to your current employer, potentially failing at your new job, or feeling alone and uncomfortable among a sea of strangers. If you are highly outgoing, you may not feel these hesitations as strongly as someone shy or more introverted.

When you answer this question, the interviewer should gain a solid understanding of your willingness to make a career change. Your answer should help the company understand the best way to approach your onboarding. For instance, if you are somewhat nervous about meeting new people, the hiring company might consider onboarding you in a more 1:1 environment versus introducing you to the entire team during a company-wide meeting.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I am an outgoing natural leader who embraces change. Although I am not nervous when I think about joining a new company, I am realistic in my belief that the anticipation of change can impact me at first. Initial nerves aside, I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people, hearing about their passions, and learning how we can collaborate to make the greatest impact. Joining Company ABC will be an exciting transition, and I am eager to get to know your talented team members."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"I have had similar experiences in the past, like joining a new high school, attending my first day of university, and even walking into a large office on the first day of my internship. I tend to be a touch shy at first but can quickly push through the nerves and make meaningful connections. I know that Company ABC would ensure I feel comfortable on my first day. You have taken a friendly and relaxed approach throughout the interview process, and I thank you for being so accommodating and easy to speak with."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Both. I'm nervous because I do not know anyone. However, I'm excited to learn; I am excited to be involved. I am excited to participate. I am very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to getting to know the team."

Rachelle's Feedback

It seems you are highly personable, enthusiastic, and also confident. This answer has a nice balance and allows the interviewer to know your personality a bit further.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"Meeting new people is thrilling to me. I enjoy getting to know new individuals."

Kevin's Feedback

That's great! What is your approach to building new relationships? What is your approach when entering a new company? How do you set yourself up for success and overcome any trepidation or fears?

"“I am a people person for sure, so I am always excited to meet new people. But, coming into a new work environment, as exciting as it is, is also a bit scary. Everyone else has already been there and knows how everything works and understands why the systems there work the way they do and why they are in place. So I would do my best to be friendly, build relationships, and ask everyone for their insights and knowledge. I’d tap everyone as a resource, anyone who is willing to share, that is. So, to answer your questions, beginning a new chapter is exciting, as is stepping outside of one’s comfort zone. But it makes me reasonably nervous as well, in a positive way.”"

Anonymous Answer

"I am outgoing, a natural leader who is willing to embrace change. For this reason, I am not nervous about joining a new company; rather I am excited to meet new people, learn new things, and embrace how we can begin to perform and collaborate together."

Rachelle's Feedback

Wonderful edit! You show confidence and enthusiasm in your response.

Anonymous Answer

"I am very outgoing and sociable; meeting new people excites me, and I love change. I'm a confident individual and happy to introduce myself to people, get to know them on my own accord, and start building connections."

Rachelle's Feedback

Nicely said! It's apparent that you are friendly and eager to collaborate well with others.

Anonymous Answer

"Very exciting!!!

Starting a new company for me is an opportunity to demonstrate the skills that you have and can bring to a new company. Really excited to see and hopefully work with my new colleagues at HillRom. The manager has already made me aware of the great team that I would be working with, but even if I didn't know this, it's a great opportunity to show my colleagues to be, who I am and how I work. Building on trust etc."

Cindy's Feedback

Good! You could enhance your answer by discussing the sense of satisfaction that comes with building something new as part of a team.

Anonymous Answer

"I am very social and enthusiastic. I truly enjoy meeting new people.

Especially people that share the same goals as I do, which is to better healthcare and improve patient outcomes.

I am enthusiastic to put our unique experiences together to make a project successful!"

Stephanie's Feedback

Wonderful! It sounds like you're genuinely friendly and you truly enjoy building relationships with others.

Anonymous Answer

"Joining a new company or new site or new assignment was always very exciting for me, It energise me with new challenges, a new team, a new job, a new city, new culture, and lots of learning.

I have gone through this process many times and feel this is the best opportunity to learn and grow."

Marcie's Feedback

Excellent! You come across as eager and excited for new opportunities, which is great, and something the interviewer will appreciate. They are likely looking for someone who isn't easily intimidated and it sounds like you aren't. Good job!

Anonymous Answer

"I get excited about meeting new people in all aspects of my life. At a new company yes, and as you are likely to meet people that you wouldn't have encountered before that may become a big part of your life. You can learn new skills from coworkers that you may have different experiences with you that could help in your personal development within a role."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! You sound excited to meet new people, and you clearly recognize the benefits of adding new people to your life in terms of learning from them, etc. Can you talk briefly as well about a time when you started a new job and how you successfully managed the experience of meeting lots of new people?

Discovery

29. On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the happiest, how happy are you as a person?

The Goal

The interviewer wants to know more about what makes you happy in your personal and professional life. The goal of your response is to discuss what makes you feel most satisfied right now while making a connection between your happiness and the fulfillment you'd like to experience in this new job opportunity.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid responding with a primarily negative tone or providing too much information. This question is not an opportunity for you to dive into the details of what you dislike about your current job or the hardships of your situation. If there is room for improvement in your happiness level, you can be honest. However, be sure to take the time to outline the actions you are taking to ensure your life becomes happier and more fulfilling.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

It may seem odd for a potential employer to ask about your happiness. However, mindful hiring companies understand that happy people adjust to their work better and are more productive. Happy people also stay in their jobs longer. This tenure is because they feel connected and fulfilled inside and outside the work environment. When responding, be sure to describe the factors that fulfill you and explain why you find these factors so crucial to your overall happiness.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"There is always room for improvement; however, I do consider myself as fulfilled. This fulfillment is why I would rank myself as a 4 out of 5 on the happiness scale. I make sure to look at the positive side of a situation as often as possible. I take the time to give back to myself through exercise and good nutrition. I also have close, meaningful relationships outside and inside work, which is an important contributor to my happiness."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"I would rank my level of happiness as a 4 out of 5 right now. I love life; however, I have a healthy level of discontent as I find a fulfilling career path since graduating from university. I have plenty of things to be thankful for and make a habit of practicing gratitude daily."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I would say I am a 4 in general. I love feeling like I have accomplished or finished a task, helped someone, and answered a needed question. It is why I stay late or work weekends. I also love coming home to my dogs and seeing how happy they are to see me."

Rachelle's Feedback

Great answer! It's nice how you dove into various things that are making you happy right now.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"4. I generally enjoy life, I like my job and find a lot of self-fulfillment out of doing my work, and I also have a lot of hobbies and positive things going on outside of work. My family, friends, and my dog make me very happy as well as activities like hiking & working out. There is always some room for improvement, which is why I assigned a four instead of a five."

Rachelle's Feedback

It's always good to leave something as an aspirational measure. You do an excellent job outlining what fulfills you, giving the interviewer a nice glimpse into what drives you daily.

Anonymous Answer

"5. I have learned to pause and appreciate everything life hands me. I have been through enough hard times to realize that they only make me better."

Stephanie's Feedback

Your response clearly illustrates positivity and your enthusiasm for life, but your response could be deepened by sharing specific examples of what brings you joy or why you believe that maintaining happiness is important.

Anonymous Answer

"On a scale of 1-5, I rate myself a 4.5. I am very happy with the professional experiences I have had. I have a passion for the healthcare industry, and I have found a career that provides fulfillment to my passion. And I look forward to the future experiences and growth development that my career has to offer. I feel like the best is yet to come."

Stephanie's Feedback

You do a good job of quantifying your feelings of happiness (which can be tricky to do with questions like this) while still relating those feelings of happiness back to your work. Good job!

Anonymous Answer

"I am a very happy person. On a scale of 1-5, I would describe myself as a 4. I believe in small celebrations, recognitions, am eager to win, take ownership, and teaming up with others to excel. In turn, I receive the same efforts which help me in crafting a winning team.

At home also, I stay the same with my friends and family which help in building a strong relationship."

Marcie's Feedback

Great! The interviewer will undoubtedly be glad to hear that you're generally a happy and positive person. You also do a great job in connecting this trait to how you are able to build winning teams. It's okay to state that like everyone else there are times when you feel down but that you're balanced and quick to bounce back. You could also mention that you always strive to be upbeat and optimistic.

Anonymous Answer

"A 4 out of 5. I am happy, I have a great group of friends and I have an exciting time ahead of me. I do work hard on my mental wellbeing by ensuring I exercise every day, even if this is just walking. I have taken up meditation and yoga this year to help me get the best out of life."

Marcie's Feedback

Excellent. It sounds like you take charge of your happiness by making sure to exercise and meditate, which is great. Can you also tie this into the role and talk about how your positivity will help you to excel within it? Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"I am definitely a 4 - I am a very driven and outgoing person and I strive to leave everything I touch better than I found it. I love meeting new people and helping the people in my life, it makes me feel like I can make a difference."

Marcie's Feedback

It's great that you consider yourself a happy person. Consider mentioning that you also try to be optimistic and positive. You might also talk about how nobody is happy all the time and that you are always real and honest too. While you want to appear to be a positive person, no one is perfectly positive at all times and the interviewer knows this. You want to show that you are balanced, mentally healthy, and generally optimistic.

Anonymous Answer

"I'm in a good place in life right now but I did somewhat recently get divorced so I'd call it a 4. I love getting up in the morning and looking for an opportunity to make a difference, even if that is just getting someone to smile."

Stephanie's Feedback

While you do a great job of answering the question and providing specific examples as to why you ranked yourself a 4, I suggest leaving personal details (such as a divorce) out of your interview process. While this likely feels very authentic on your end, sharing these personal details can cause an interviewer's unconscious bias, and you don't want to risk oversharing any information that could unintentionally paint you in a bad light. I suggest keeping these personal details to yourself until you are hired. (Just so you know, by law, employers cannot ask about your marital status or parenting status as part of the interview process.)

Discovery

30. Do you consider yourself an overachiever? Why or why not?

The Goal

The interviewer wants to know if you resonate with being an overachiever. Overachieving can lead to fast-tracked success in your personal and professional life; however, it's also a fast way to experience burnout. The goal of your response is to assure the interviewer that you are a focused professional, ready to make an impact while also maintaining a healthy balance between work and rest.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

What to Avoid

Avoid giving a response that makes you look like an invincible workaholic. Being an overachiever can sound great at first. However, many hiring companies now know that overachieving can lead to burnout. Instead of attaching your entire self-worth to your successes, be ready to show the interviewer that you understand the importance of healthy achievement and realistic goal-setting.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Pro Tip

First, define what you believe to be overachieving. By definition, overachievers 'perform better or achieve more success than expected.' There are a variety of indicators that you are an overachiever. These include:

- You judge your worthiness on how well you perform a task or complete a goal
- You are hyper-focused on avoiding failure
- You often overcommit and stay late to achieve more at work
- You struggle with taking feedback or criticism because it feels like a failure
- You are always focusing on what's next
- Your friends and family often refer to you as a perfectionist

It may seem now that it isn't a great thing to be considered an overachiever. If you do resonate with being an overachiever, this is entirely okay! It's essential, however, that you express to the interviewer that the rewards of your overachieving nature outweigh the sacrifice.

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I like to take my goals and targets and achieve more than expected. With that said, I do not struggle with feelings of perfectionism. I like to gain feedback from my managers so that I can improve. It's important that I achieve and not fail; however, I still understand that failure is a part of life. When I do not achieve a goal, I pick myself back up and try again rather than internalize the failure."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"I was most certainly an overachiever when attending university. I was the first in my family to attend post-secondary schooling, and thus, I put a great deal of pressure on myself to achieve perfect grades. This overachieving led to burnout quickly. Although I am proud of my GPA, I placed a lot of energy, after graduation, into securing a better balance between achieving my goals and making myself happy. Now, in my personal and professional life, I can maintain a high output of performance without exhausting myself."

Written by Rachelle Enns on March 16th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I set my own goals and targets and always attempt to achieve more than expected. I always push myself and try to exceed my last goal/success. Winning is important to me, but I also understand this may not always happen, and I am happy to stop, re-evaluate, and try again and/or ask for constructive criticism."

Rachelle's Feedback

Exceptional! It will be very obvious to the interviewer that you are driven, enthusiastic, and ready to learn/grow.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I do have overachieving tendencies, such as liking to execute things better than they have been done before. I look for areas where I might improve processes or programs to be more efficient and serve people better. This may mean putting in additional hours to get things done for a successful and seamless rollout. However, never to the point where I get to a breaking point."

Kevin's Feedback

You give some great examples of ways that you give your best without sounding like an overachiever with disruptive habits. I've revised your messaging slightly for clarity and flow.

"I consider myself an overachiever. I try to consistently go above and beyond in my work, whether I am raising the bar for the work standard for any given task, or where I am simply trying to beat my own previous best. I’m always on the lookout for kaizen opportunities to increase efficiencies and enhance our experience. Whether I put in additional hours, or hustle and bustle, I’m known for managing my time as efficiently as possible. I have a strong track record for getting things done for a successful and seamless rollout. However, I never push myself to the limit where I’m nearing a breaking point. I’ve known some who take this too far, and this strength for them is also a weakness. I’ve no problem striking balance and never burn out on the work at hand. Efficient and sustainable is the name of the game."

Anonymous Answer

"I am an overachiever in the sense that I exceed expectations and constantly want to keep growing and improving. However, I don't identify with the side that implies that I am a perfectionist. While I value quality work, there is a lot of learning to be done in failure, and I understand that it's hard to achieve perfection every time."

Stephanie's Feedback

This response shows a great deal of self-awareness! You could strengthen your response by weaving in a specific example (for example, you mention the desire to continue growing and improving; you could provide a specific example to illustrate how this shows up in your life.)

Anonymous Answer

"Yes. Because of everything I do, I want to add the extra value which is me. I want the customer not only to feel they have got what they want but let them know I am there as an advocate supporting their work and needs constantly and not just on the call with them."

Cindy's Feedback

Ok, great start. I would recommend expanding don't the point you make about adding the "extra value which is me." You might sharpen up this excellent point by explaining your particular skills or talents so the interviewer can envision them in action, in his or her workplace. This will go a long way to demonstrating fit for the position.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I consider myself an overachiever. I aim to exceed expectations. I make it a point to offer or volunteer to help on a variety of projects. I don't want to fail, and to avoid failing, I am consistently looking for ways to improve whatever project I am working on. I am a great listener because It is important for me to make a positive contribution to my team."

Stephanie's Feedback

That's great that you always aim to go the extra mile! To strengthen this response, I suggest providing a specific example of a time when you exceeded expectations at work.

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I am always an achiever in my career. I always like to achieve and exceed my goals and targets. I led big impactful projects, set up green field sites worth $500M in Baxter, and led 6 major global industrial transfer projects in my last job.

I strongly believe to do everything right the first time and to always involve my team. I seek feedback and always want to do my best. I have received many awards and recognitions. I received company excellence awards in 2017 and 2018 and CEO awards for the best-performing unit in 2013 and 2017."

Marcie's Feedback

Excellent! It definitely sounds as though you are an overachiever and that you work hard to accomplish your goals. Mentioning the awards and recognitions you've earned is a nice touch, too.

Anonymous Answer

"I always strive to perform as best I can in whatever situation that I am in. Like working hard to achieve my KPIs and hitting my sales targets, or while in the gym. At university, I worked very hard to achieve my first class degree, because this is what I wanted. But if I had got a 2:1 instead, it would have been ok, as long as I knew that I had always done my best. That is what is most important to me, knowing that I tried as hard as I could. I like to get things right the first time, but understand that I won't always be perfect, and neither will anybody be! and you can definitely learn from these mistakes. I welcome feedback from managers to work on areas that can be improved."

Marcie's Feedback

Great! You appear to be very balanced. You strive to achieve your goals but also understand that you won't always be perfect. You've also done a great job in this answer of mentioning specific examples, which makes your answer even more meaningful. Good job!

Anonymous Answer

"On the outside, I'd say some say I am because I've done well for myself. Where I would differ from an overachiever is I seek out feedback so I can get better. If I make a mistake, I do not beat myself up, I make it right and do my best not to make the same mistake again. Failure is only failure if you do not learn something and feedback is only feedback. It has nothing to do with who I am."

Stephanie's Feedback

You provide some great details about yourself, but unfortunately, you don't really answer the question itself. I suggest answering directly. For example, "I do consider myself an overachiever, although maybe not in the most traditional sense of that word." Then provide 1-2 specific reasons why you could be considered an overachiever. When have you gone above and beyond? Why has this characteristic been important to you?