Are you a detail oriented person? If so, provide an example to support your response.

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Focus Your Answer On
What to Avoid
Entry Level Example
Answer Example

The interviewer wants to know that you understand the importance of paying keen attention to detail on the job as a Security Manager. Perhaps you see details that your coworkers often overlook. Maybe you recognize patterns or when things are out of place. Give an example of a time you noticed a situation because of your added sense of awareness and detail. Share how your attention to detail helped to solve a problem.

Focus on giving a detailed example of how your attention to detail was beneficial to you in the security field. You want the interviewer to remember you by how aware you are of your surroundings and how your keen attention to detail will benefit the company if hired.

Avoid saying that you do not pay much attention to detail. If you are working in the security industry, you must be hyper-aware of what is happening around you and remember even the most minor details.

"I pay attention to the smallest details. Not long ago, I was assigned to patrol a residential property. We'd received a notice from the police department about burglaries in the area. During my patrol, I observed and logged a few wood splinters on a window sill. Upon examining the window frame, it appeared that someone had attempted to open the window using some kind of tool. I reported these observations to my supervisor, and she increased the frequency of patrols in that area. Three days later, I observed two males who matched the description of the burglars. They were loitering near the adjacent property and appeared to be looking at the windows. I immediately called the situation in, and they were apprehended. If I hadn't paid such close attention to detail, I might not have been so hyper-aware of my surroundings when I first noticed the two men."

"As a security professional, I believe I must pay attention to the smallest details at all times. One evening, when I was a Security Officer for a ferry company, we experienced an issue with our camera system. With the recording system on the fritz, I needed to watch even more closely for potential issues. I had to rely on my instinct and attention to detail even more than usual. During this shift, I noticed a child who appeared to be lost. It seemed that he had walked off from his parents. As I noticed this child acting unusual, I received a call over my radio that a mother was in the office reporting her child missing. I carefully approached the child so as not to scare him and asked him if he was lost. I showed him my ID so that he knew I was a Security Officer who was there to help him. I guided the child to the office, reuniting him with his mom. I was relieved to have noticed him that evening because, had the child been picked up only by the cameras, it could have taken much longer to reunite him with his mother. Should I be hired for this Security Manager role, I will pay close attention to even the smallest details while on the job."