What does it mean to you to have empathy for the people you work with?

Remember to let the interviewer know you are aware that empathy does not always lead to proper understanding. A well-developed sense of professional empathy requires practice, reflection, validation, and an open mind.

"In the purest sense, empathy represents the ability to feel and understand the feelings of others. I think that individuals with a well-developed sense of empathy take this further. They observe others closely and use various methods to step into their perspectives. They try to let go of their judgments to get a clear picture of how someone thinks, feels, or reacts if a certain action were taken.

While empathy is often helpful, it can sometimes confuse or agitate a situation. I think it is important to use it wisely and to view it as one input within many. Careful reflection and analysis to understand how the information you gather from your sense of empathy is required to ascertain a big picture perspective."