I Have Been Uncomfortable Working With Ambiguity
Many jobs require candidates who are comfortable individually defining tasks and working towards goals. This means they should be experienced, thoughtful and responsible with ambiguity in the workplace. While it is certainly a beneficial skill to closely follow detailed instruction, it is also necessary to be able to determine what it takes to achieve the desired outcome.
If this is the weakness you are presenting in an interview, explain the success you have found following instructions but also your career potential when finding comfort with ambiguity. You should also explain the steps you are taking to define your workday when given ambiguous tasks or goals.
Example:In my last position as a marketing intern, I found that my supervisor gave very specific instructions regarding my responsibilities. Because I became familiar with having a strong direction, I tend to be unsure when approaching an ambiguous assignment or goal.
It is a goal of mine to become not only comfortable but successful working with ambiguity. To do so, I have created a personal framework for times when I feel overwhelmed or confused by an ambiguous task including conducting structured research and asking subject matter experts for advice. Doing so has helped me thrive when working on ambiguous tasks or when working towards less specific or defined goals.
The Night Before Your Interview
- Read through your notes, resume, cover letter, job description, company or industry summaries one last time.
- Know the route you will take to the location and how much travel time you will need.
- Build in additional time to ensure you are not late.
Youre ready! Get a good nights sleep to ensure that youre at your best on the day of the interview.
Questions To Ask Interviewers At The Start Of The Interview
At the start of the interview, understanding the people who are interviewing you will help you provide answers appropriate to the persons role in your work life. You will also become a bit more comfortable talking with the interviewer, hopefully turning the interview into a discussion rather than a series of questions and answers.
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Example Strength : Interpersonal Skills
Im an empathetic person whos skilled at relating to people and making them feel heard. In one memorable instance from earlier this year, I was on a support call with a customer whose contract we had terminated. Reinstating the service agreement would have increased her rates dramatically. She was understandably upset and felt trapped because she couldnt be without car insurance for her and her family. It became clear very quickly that we couldnt meet her needs but I wanted her to walk away with a favorable impression of the service we had provided. I talked her through some of her other options, even letting her know of other providers who might be able to offer her a lower rate so she could avoid a lapse in coverage. In the feedback survey from that interaction, she specifically mentioned that she would still be recommending our services to others. In my career in customer support, Ive had many interactions like thisthey are complex but end with the customer still feeling positive.
What Is Your Biggest Weakness
The problem with this question is that youâre being asked about your shortcomings, when your instinct, in an interview situation, is to keep your flaws as well hidden as possible. What you need to do is to frame your answer to as to give it a positive spin.
Strengths and weaknesses can be different sides of the same coin, so another way to approach this question is to think about how you overcome the potential downside of your greatest strength. For example, if youâre a natural teamworker, is it difficult for you to cope with conflict or assume leadership abilities? How do you cope with this?
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Analyze The Job Posting
Reread the job posting and analyze it to determine what the employer is looking for in a candidate. Then make a list of the skills, knowledge, professional, and personal qualities that are required by the employer and are most important for success in the job. Be ready to describe the attributes that make you the perfect match for the job. The closer your qualifications match the job requirements, the better chance you’ll have of getting a second-round interview and a job offer.
Do You Have Any Interests Outside Of Work
If the interviewer asks you this question, take it as a good sign!
It means that they liked your professional background, and now theyre just trying to get to know you and see if youre a good fit for the company culture.
Its pretty hard to go wrong here, unless youre going to answer something like:
I have literally no hobbies.
or…
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How Did You Find Out About The Job
This is a simple question that can be answered in a short sentence, although you can also use it to get your foot in your door by stating that you keep up to date with company activity or that youve had your eye on a position in the IT Department for a long time etc.
If youve been genuinely following the company for a while, you might want to mention here what specific activities of the company really appeal to you or if youve spoken to some employees of the company and heard great things about working for them, you can comment on that here, too.
What Would Your First 30 60 Or 90 Days Look Like In This Job
How to Answer: This may seem like an unreasonable question, but if you think about it from the employers perspective, they are trying to hire someone to fill a gap or hole in their team. They have real, usually time-pressing needs and they want to see at least improvements in the issues theyre facing when they hire you.
Therefore, be prepared to talk about what you think you will accomplish in a 13-month horizon. Ideally, this is based on a clear understanding of what the job entails and what the companys challenges are.
Example: In the first month, Id like to . By two months in, I plan to already tackle . And at the three-month mark, I look forward to having done .
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What Do You Think Are The Most Important Skills A Paralegal Should Have
Answering this question recognizes that you understand the many technical and soft skills required of paralegals and gives you the opportunity to talk about a time when you demonstrated some of these skills.
The skills of a paralegal exist mainly in three areas:
- Administrative and research skills
- Skills developed personally
- Confidentiality
Administrative and research skills are the technical skills that enable you to be successful in operational tasks such as technical acuity and knowledge of databases. Personally developed skills are general skills that are developed independently, such as strong moral or ethical beliefs. Respect for confidentiality is vital for paralegals who have access to inside information and case data.
Example:Paralegals must demonstrate administrative, technical, organizational and research skills. They must also be discreet and respect confidentiality. In my role as legal assistant at Burke & Dudley, I wanted to ensure my ability to grow in the position. As a result, I took it upon myself to acquire new skills each term. I learned how to administer the database, which has become a useful asset for the team. Ultimately, they promoted me from paralegal to paralegal because of my desire to learn new skills and grow.
How Do You Work Under Pressure
Many jobs involve moments when, for varied reasons, there are unexpected situations that require swift action. The ability to stay calm, think logically and act correctly in such a scenario is a major asset.
This is another good instance of when to use the STAR method to talk about a specific time you were faced with a challenge, might have succumbed to stress but managed to calmly find a solution.
Example answer:Throughout my career, Ive discovered how to embrace working under pressure. I find that routine can make us complacent, so I try to look for challenges that push me to grow.
One time, I was supposed to deliver a project to a client in five days. A colleague who was working with another client had the same deadline, but he had to take a leave of absence due to personal reasons. I was forced to take up both projects at the same time. While I felt an initial sense of panic, I tried to reframe it as an opportunity to see what I might be capable of. Instead of letting the stress get to me, I came up with a very detailed time management plan and found new ways to boost my efficiency that enabled me to deliver both projects on time.
Read more: Interview Question: “How Do You Work Under Pressure?”
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What Are You Expecting In Terms Of Salary
How to Answer: We believe that anchoring your salary expectations to your prior salary is the surest way to get very incremental pay raises. Ideally, youve done your compensation research and understand the salary possibilities for the role. If not, and you must anchor your salary expectations to what you have previously earned, dont frame the expectations that way.
Simply state the number you believe you should receive for the role .
Example: Understanding the market and given my experience, I believe that is fair.
Give An Example Of A Time When You Showed Initiative
If an interviewer asks you to describe a situation in which you showed initiative, avoid giving an example of an idea you had but never put into action. Itâs much better to talk about a time when you not only came up with a solution to a problem but also acted on it. Then you can explain the effect your decision had when you put it into practice.
- How to show your interviewer you can take the initiative and turn inspiration into success
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Things To Always Say In An Interview
In your lifetime, you will probably have to prepare for lots and lots of job interviews. Every interview is different because every job and every interviewer is different. That being said, there are a few things that rarely change when it comes to job interviews.
Here are eight things you should always say in an interview:
1. You know the company really well.
Show the interviewer youve done your research by talking about your knowledge of the company. Before the interview, view their website, social media, recent articles, and whatever else you can find. Know the scope of the company and current events related to it. Weave this knowledge throughout your responses, and the interviewer will see your true interest company.
2. You have the experience to do the job.
Every interviewer is going to ask about your experience. Use this question as your opportunity to prove you have the ability to do the job. Talk about relevant things youve done and the results of your work. Explain that your success with a previous project will allow you to successfully do something else for this company. Prove your worth.
3. You work well with others.
4. You are constantly seeking to learn.
5. You are motivated.
6. You are excited about this job.
7. You have a plan.
8. You want to build a career in the company.
What are some other things you should always say in job interviews?
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No matter how many you go on, job interviews can always be nerve-wracking. You put on your nicest clothes, print out your resume, and remind yourself to smile real bigand just when you think everything is going well, the interviewer hits you with a curveball question you arent prepared for.
Luckily, youre not going to let that happen again and youre planning ahead to ace this months interview. The best way to for anything is to do your research ahead of timewhich is why were here to help.
If youre preparing for a big interview during COVID-19, prepping beforehand with these 15 interview questions will help you get one step closer to that dream job.
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Why Are You Looking To Leave Your Current Company
If youre job searching while employed, this is one of the most important interview questions and answers to know.
Otherwise, the most important thing to do when they ask why you are looking to leave your current job is to stay positive and never badmouth your current employer, boss, or even team members.
Rather than complaining or talking badly about your situation, say that youre looking for more of something positive. What are you hoping to gain from a job change?
Is your current boss a jerk? Say that youre looking for an environment with more leadership you can learn from.
- Sound positive and focus on what you want to gain by making a move
- Show gratitude for your current job
- Sound like youre ambitious, motivated, and eager to find the next challenge in your career.
Dont:
- Badmouth your current employer in any way
- Sound like youre trying to escape a bad situation, or youre failing or not fitting in at your current job
- Say youre struggling or failing to perform the work
- Say its too difficult or stressful
- Say youre not sure
Good sample answer:
Im looking for more leadership opportunities. Ive been at my company for three years and have really enjoyed the experience but I feel in order to take the next step in my career, itd be helpful to join a larger organization and use what Ive learned in the past to lead more projects. Thats why this Project Manager role excited me.
Question: How Do People Describe You
Heres another opportunity to differentiate yourself. Everyone claims to be: a hard worker, good communicator, and team player.
But how many are a: problem-solver, game-changer, leader in the industry?
Be creative, and have stories to back it up. The interviewer will want to know why someone thinks you are one of these things.
Focus on them: You want to present attributes that make you sound like the go-to guy or gal wherever you work. Even the standard answers can be taken a step further to be more valuable:
- Yes, they want hard workers, but most likely thats commonplace at their office. Maybe you work hard, but also help others work fewer hours .
- Good communicators are everywhere. But this does not mean just speaking well. It includes active listening. Do you hear things that others dont? Do you understand things quickly? Can you figure out what people are trying to tell you through other clues ?
- Being a good team player is expected, too. But what does this really mean? Getting along with everyone? Thats not hard to do if youre a nice person. Pulling your weight in the office? Again, expected. What have you done, beyond your job description, that saved the team from a disaster or helped them make an impossible deadline? Have you won an award for this?
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Example Weakness : Self
I can be too critical of myself. A pattern Ive noticed throughout my career is that I often feel I could have done more, even if objectively, Ive done well. Earlier in my career, this led to burnout and negative self-talk. One solution Ive implemented over the last three years is to actively pause and celebrate my achievements. Not only has this helped my own self-esteem, but it has also helped me genuinely appreciate and recognize my team and other support systems.
What Is Your Ideal Company Size
The hiring manager wants to make sure that you can fit into this company culture. They may have plans to expand in the future or may already be a massive company. Either way, they want to know that their size works for you.
How to Answer: If the company is smaller and plans to stay that way, tailor your response around that. If the company is smaller and plans to expand, or is already a bigger company, tailor your response around that. Youll have to do your homework beforehand to know either way.
Example: I love working in small, intimate teams because I think we can really get to know each others strengths more and leverage them. That said, growth is exciting because its evidence that our efforts are working, and it also means getting to work with new, knowledgeable people who can bring even more to the table.
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Basic Interview Questions And Answers
Basic interview questions and answers that get you noticed. Be ready for these 14 common job interview questions, prepare excellent interview answers using our winning sample answers and make sure you progress to the next stage in the hiring process.
From the opening interview question “Tell me about yourself” to “What salary are you looking for”, we provide excellent example answers that will help you develop your own impressive interview answers.
You can be sure that a number of these questions will come up during the interview. Be ready with your answers and come across as a confident and well prepared candidate for the job opportunity.
