1. How Would You Describe Yourself?
I would describe myself as a dedicated, hardworking, and highly motivated individual who is always ready to go the extra mile to ensure success in whatever he sets out to do. I would also term myself as punctual, given my track record of getting to work early and completing tasks on time. Additionally, I am an excellent team worker because of my desire and readiness to help my team members succeed and meet all the set goals.
2. Why Are You Interested In This Position?
After seven years working as an XXX, I believe it is time to try something different that will challenge me and allow me to take up new responsibilities. I have gone through this position’s job description, and I believe it has everything I need at this point in my career. I will get the chance to interact with some of the most skilled personnel in the industry, try on new responsibilities, and challenge myself even more, making me confident that I will succeed if given a chance.
3. Why Did You Leave Your Previous Position?
I learned a lot about this career through my former position. However, after 5 years, it is wise to give someone else a chance to learn more and better their career as I look for more challenging roles. I have left my former workplace on good terms with the management and employees. In fact, I am glad that I got to work with such an able team of employees and an understanding and dedicated management.
4. Why Did You Choose Your College Specialization?
I grew up in a marginalized society. We were barely represented in national forums and couldn’t access adequate legal aid even when our rights and freedoms were curtailed. I decided to pursue law to give the voiceless a chance to be heard and to represent those whose rights and freedoms are infringed. I am happy with what I have achieved so far and believe this job will allow me to change even more lives by drawing attention to marginalized people’s issues and helping them seek legal remedies.
5. Why Do You Think You Are The Right Person For This Position?
Even though I can’t talk about the other candidates, this is my tenth year as an XXX [position name], which makes me confident that I have all it takes to succeed in this position. I have obtained skills such as listening, collaboration, organization, multitasking, prioritization, and technical analysis, which are needed to succeed in this job. Additionally, I am dedicated, hardworking, and highly motivated, attributes that will help me to do all it takes to succeed in this job.
6. Have You Ever Had To Manage Competing Deadlines Or Priorities?
My job demands that I manage several competing deadlines and priorities, which I am happy to report that I have been doing exceptionally well. I usually ensure that I deliver the highest quality possible and meet client expectations despite the deadlines and issues to be prioritized. I have learned that the best way to prioritize tasks is to break down words into simple, manageable tasks before listing them in order of urgency and importance, then start with the first task on the list. Other strategies for managing competing deadlines and priorities include effective time management, regular communication with stakeholders, and ensuring everyone knows potential issues or conflicts and the project’s status. My experience regarding this subject has helped me sharpen my organizational, communication, and time management skills.
7. Where Do You See Yourself In The Future?
Even though I fancy living in the moment and doing my best wherever I am, I have always thought of trying a management position. I, therefore, see myself in higher-level management at some point in my career once I have acquired all the necessary skills and experience. I believe such positions will allow me to handle more responsibilities and take on new challenges, which I have always wanted to do in my career. I may also settle for private practice if I don’t get the chance to manage people and operations, as it also has its fair share of challenges that I would love to tackle.
8. Have You Ever Had To Make A Difficult Decision In Your Career?
I have had to make difficult decisions throughout my career, which have sharpened my decision-making skills. As a human resource manager in my former job, I had to decide who to let go of as the company was downsizing. All our employees were valuable to us, making it challenging to come up with a justifiable list. After much deliberation, I decided to let go of a few new employees who had been with us for less than one year but not before talking to some of the managers in my network who decided to take them in. I even ensured they got the best recommendation letters from the senior manager in the office.
9. How Do You Normally Adapt To Changes?
I have witnessed several organizational changes in this field, which have helped me improve how I handle issues such as restructuring or role adjustment. I usually maintain an open mind, allowing me to embrace any alterations in the workplace. I also learn new skills and brace for new challenges to avoid being caught off-guard. I also maintain regular communication with my team members to ensure they understand and are prepared for the change impacts. Lastly, staying resilient in the face of change or adversity is equally essential.
10. What Strategies Do You Normally Use To Make Huge Decisions?
This job requires me to make huge decisions, some of which can backfire on me. Whenever I find myself in such a situation, I first ask myself the right questions, such as the available options, pros and cons, how to handle each outcome, how the decision will impact me psychologically, and the chances of success or failure before making time for quiet reflection, allowing me to connect with my thoughts and feelings. Other strategies include listing down the pros and cons of every option and picking the one with the most pros, giving myself a deadline, trusting my gut, and asking for support where necessary.
11. How Did You Hear About This Position?
I follow your social media accounts to stay updated on new occurrences and job postings, given that I have always wanted to work here. I, therefore, came across this position’s advert while casually scrolling through my Twitter account and decided to apply immediately. I later saw the posting on Linkedin when I had long applied. I was happy when I was shortlisted for this interview, and, like with the application, I began my preparation instantly.
12. What Motivates You To Be At Your Best?
There are several reasons why I always strive to be at my best. However, my biggest motivation is ensuring that all our customers are satisfied. I usually ascertain that all the products are of the highest possible quality to give our customers an unbeatable experience, allowing the company to maintain its customer base and attract new clients. I am happy that I usually receive excellent customer feedback from our clients, which is an additional motivator. Other motivators include meeting goals, helping my team succeed, and finding innovative solutions to problems.
13. Can You Learn A New Skill Or Technology Quickly?
Yes. I have had to learn new skills and technologies quickly as a result of and in preparation for workplace changes. I usually use online tutorials, obtain support resources from different vendors, and attend training sessions whenever I have to learn a skill or get equipped with new technology. I also ask for guidance and feedback from any colleague more experienced with a program. Additionally, I dedicate extra effort and time whenever I have to learn something quickly, which goes hand in hand with my resourcefulness and proactivity.
14. Have You Ever Had To Take Initiative To Solve A Problem?
Yes. I have had to take the initiative in response to a problem several times. At one point in my former role, our supervisor failed to show up for work, leaving us stranded as he had not delegated work the day before. Since I was the longest-serving team member and had been close to him, I knew what needed to be done to make the day successful. I volunteered to delegate tasks and supervise work the entire day while attending to my duties, making the day a resounding success.
15. Can You Lead A Project From Start To Finish?
Yes. I am confident I can lead a project or initiative from beginning to end. Every project manager knows that the first thing to do is develop a detailed project plan that clearly outlines the project’s budget, timeline, and scope before identifying a team of experts or qualified individuals and delegating responsibilities. While leading the project, I would hold regular meetings with the team to ensure everyone was at par and inform the stakeholders of our progress. All in all, I would engage my planning, communication, delegation, and collaboration skills to ensure the success of different projects.
16. Walk Us Through How You Would Provide Constructive Feedback To A Team Member?
Constructive feedback is vital in team settings as it helps team members correct some of their flaws and prevent certain occurrences. I have provided constructive feedback to several colleagues and team members, which I am confident has helped them improve at their job. I usually call them privately, point out their performance and explain the impact of their actions on team goals. I also offer suggestions to help them improve and may even train or mentor them to allow them to grow. All in all, I usually ensure that they don’t feel belittled by offering feedback in a supportive and constructive manner. My end goal is to support the team.
17. In Your Opinion, What’s The Best Way To Work With Someone With Different Approaches Or Opinions?
I have had to work with team members or stakeholders with differing opinions and approaches. I usually allow them to share their perspectives try as much as possible to understand them before sharing mine, and then work collaboratively with them to find common ground or solution that considers both perspectives. It’s important to stay respectful, open-minded, respectful, and collaborative to work with people with different approaches or opinions.
18. Have You Ever Had To Think Out Of The Box To Solve A Certain Problem?
Yes. I have had to think outside the box severally to solve issues. We once encountered a product design flaw in one of our projects. Instead of waiting for someone to come up with or suggest a solution, I extensively researched the issues and conducted experiments to identify potential solutions. I also obtained expert opinions and brainstormed with colleagues to obtain fresh ideas. After a few days, we devised a unique solution that remedied our problem. I discovered that most of the problems we face at work could be remedied through collaboration, creativity, and persistence.
19. How Would You Communicate A Complex Idea Or Concept To Someone With Limited Understanding?
I understand that this job may require me to work with people with a limited understanding of different concepts. To successfully communicate complex ideas to them, I would break them down into smaller and easy-to-understand pieces before using real-life examples and analogies to foster their understanding. I would also encourage them to ask questions and offer additional resources, such as articles, to better their understanding. I would ensure the language is clear and concise for faster and better understanding.
20. Walk Us Through How You Would Handle A Crisis Or Emergency?
I am always prepared for a crisis or emergency, owing to the nature of my job. Depending on the type of emergency or crisis, I would work with my colleagues to assess how bad the damage is before coming up with a detailed plan for risk mitigation. I would also regularly communicate with clients and stakeholders to update them on the situation and our actions while remaining calm throughout the process.
21. How Would You Motivate Your Team Members To Achieve Their Goals?
Motivation plays a vital role in helping team members achieve challenging business goals. I would regularly meet the team members to ensure that everyone was at par before motivating them to work towards the intended business goals. I would also provide regular feedback and recognize the team members’ progress toward meeting business goals. Other strategies I would use include offering incentives and celebrating successes during the project.
22. Give An Experience When You Had To Adapt To A New Environment Or Team?
I was transferred to a different department in my former workplace and had to adapt quickly to a new environment and team. I decided to fasten the process by taking the first few days to know my colleagues and understand their preferred communication means and work styles. I then gave my all, including skills and expertise, to contribute to the team’s goals and asked for feedback and support. I strived to remain flexible, open, and adaptable, which made the process even easier.
23. What Do You Normally Do In Your Free Time?
I usually strive to maintain an excellent work-life balance, which means engaging in what I love doing during my free time. I usually paint, skate or read a book whenever I am free since I understand the importance of sparing time to pursue hobbies for optimal work performance. I also hang out and catch up with friends and family on weekends. Lastly, I work out occasionally and get enough sleep every day to stay rejuvenated.
24. What Makes You Who You Are?
I believe that my morals, values, and the parenting I received make me who I am. I was taught to always go for what I want, which explains my never-ending motivation and dedication to courses I feel aligned with. My parents also instilled in me values such as honesty, responsibility, integrity, accountability, reliability, and self-motivation, which have helped me reach where I am today.
25. How Do You Normally Navigate Life Challenges?
I usually have five rules that help me navigate life and overcome related challenges. They include being true to myself, changing perspective, confronting challenges, admitting and learning from mistakes, and being thankful, apologetic, and gracious. I also ask for feedback and listen to elders and my seniors. I am glad that I have come this far.
Conclusion
Above are some of the most common open-ended questions in interviews. Ensure you have the answers at your fingertips to increase your chances of succeeding in your upcoming job interview. We hope that you will take the time to prepare adequately ahead of your interview.
