109 Interview
Questions & Sample Excellent Responses
1. How
would you describe yourself?
Sample
excellent response:
My background to date
has been centered around preparing myself to become the very best financial
consultant I can become. Let me tell you specifically how I've prepared myself.
I am an undergraduate student in finance and accounting at _________ University.
My past experiences have been in retail and higher education. Both aspects have
prepared me well for this career.
2. What
specific goals, including those related to your occupation, have you
established for your life?
Sample
excellent response:
I want to be working for an excellent company like
yours in a job in which I am managing information. I plan to contribute my
leadership, interpersonal, and technical skills. My long-range career goal is
to be the best information systems technician I can for the company I work
for.
3. How
has your college experience prepared you for a business career?
Sample
excellent response:
I have prepared myself to transition into the work
force through real-world experience involving travel abroad, internship, and
entrepreneurial opportunities. While interning with a private organization in
Ecuador, I developed a 15-page marketing plan composed in Spanish that
recommended more effective ways the company could promote its services. I also
traveled abroad on two other occasions in which I researched the indigenous
culture of the Mayan Indians in Todos Santos, Guatemala, and participated in a
total language immersion program in Costa Rica. As you can see from my
academic, extracurricular, and experiential background, I have unconditionally
committed myself to success as a marketing professional.
4. Please
describe the ideal job for you following graduation.
Sample
excellent response (equates ideal job with job he's interviewing for):
My ideal job is one that incorporates both my education and practical work
skills to be the best I can be; namely combining my education in finance with
my working knowledge of customer service operations, entrepreneurial abilities,
computer skills and administrative skills. I want to utilize my analytical
expertise to help people meet their financial goals. This is exactly why I am
convinced that I would be a very valuable member of the Merrill Lynch
team.
5. What
influenced you to choose this career?
Sample
excellent response:
My past experiences have
shown me that I enjoy facing and overcoming the challenge of making a sale.
Without a doubt, once I have practiced my presentation and prepared myself for
objections, I feel very confident approaching people I don't know and
convincing them that they need my product. Lastly, I like sales because my
potential for success is limited only by how much of myself I dedicate toward
my goal. If any profession is founded on self-determinism, it surely must be
sales.
6. At
what point did you choose this career?
Sample
excellent response:
I knew that I wanted to
pursue information systems technology about my sophomore year in college. It
was then that I realized that my hobby (computers) was taking up most of my
time. My favorite courses were IT courses. I also realized that I was doing
computer-oriented work-study that I enjoyed so much I would have done it for
free.
7. What
specific goals have you established for your career?
Sample
excellent response:
My goals include becoming a Certified Financial
Advisor so I can obtain a better working knowledge of financial research
analysis, which would allow me contribute to my client base as a better
financial consultant since I would have that extra insight into the companies
they are seeking to invest in. Also this is the foundation block to advancing
my career to portfolio manager or even branch office manager.
8. What
will it take to attain your goals, and what steps have you taken toward
attaining them?
Sample
excellent response:
I've already done some research on other workers at
Merrill Lynch to see how they achieved similar goals. I know that Merrill Lynch
encourages the pursuit and will reimburse for tuition of a graduate degree. I
plan on pursuing a MBA to give me an even more extensive knowledge of business
and financial analysis.
9. What
do you think it takes to be successful in this career?
Sample
excellent response:
I believe successful
salespeople put forth that extra effort that turns potential clients into
first-time customers. Salespeople who attend to the details by doing whatever
it takes to win over a prospective customer distinguish themselves from the
countless others who don't go to any extra effort. Second, I think that if you
label success as an attainable goal, you will never consistently remain
successful. You can only succeed if you learn all there is to learn about your
product, your competitors, and personal selling. Since this learning process is
continuous, it's an unattainable goal. With good reason, salespeople should not
consider success an attainable ending point but an objective that will always
linger slightly beyond their reach.
10. How
do you determine or evaluate success? Give me an example of one of your
successful accomplishments.
Sample
excellent response:
Last semester I was hired by by university's Council
for Student Activities. The group negotiates contracts of entertainers, sets up
sound equipment, markets the entertainers to students, and generally decides
what kind of programming should be done. When I got hired, I didn't know the
first thing about how fill any of those responsibilities. I decided, however,
that I wasn't going to fail. Four months later, I have become the Webmaster for
the group. I also write our campus newsletter and created Game Night, a student
competition of table games. That event yielded the biggest audience ever for a
non-concert event.
11. Do
you have the qualifications and personal characteristics necessary for success
in your chosen career?
Sample
excellent response:
I
believe I have a combination of qualities to be successful in this career.
First, I have a strong interest, backed by a solid, well-rounded,
state-of-the-art education, especially in a career that is technically
oriented. This basic ingredient, backed by love of learning, problem-solving
skills, well-rounded interests, determination to succeed and excel, strong
communication skills, and the ability to work hard, are the most important
qualities that will help me succeed in this career. To succeed, you also need a
natural curiosity about how systems work -- the kind of curiosity I
demonstrated when I upgraded my two computers recently. Technology is
constantly changing, so you must a fast learner just to keep up or you will be
overwhelmed. All of these traits combine to create a solid team member in the
ever-changing field of information systems. I am convinced that I possess these
characteristics and am ready to be a successful team member for your firm.
12. What
has been your most rewarding accomplishment?
Sample
excellent response:
A recent satisfying
accomplishment I was sent to one of our branch banks that was notorious for not
growing their loan base. The branch had logged $75,000 in new loans in an
18-month period prior to my arrival. Having a reputation as a "hired
gun" when it came to loan production I was successful in the solicitation
and booking of $700,000 in my first six months at the branch.
13. If
you could do so, how would you plan your college career differently?
Sample
excellent response:
I wouldn't change
anything. All that I have done was a great learning experience that I will
carry forward throughout the rest of my life.
14. Are
you more energized by working with data or by collaborating with other
individuals?
Sample
excellent response:
I like the validity of
information and also like the energy that comes with working with people. The
best thing about working in a group is combining the great minds from different
perspectives and coming up with something extremely great, compared with when
you're working alone. At the same time, information can generate vitality in
the project you're working on. No matter how many heads you've got together,
without information, you can't go very far. The perfect situation would be a
combination of working with information and people, and I'm confident of my
abilities in both areas.
15. How
would you describe yourself in terms of your ability to work as a member of a
team?
Sample
excellent response:
I have had many
opportunities in both athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. My tenure as a rower with my college's crew team serves as a good
example. I learned a great deal about teamwork while rowing because all the
rowers in the boat must act as one, which meant that we incessantly worked to
keep each movement in the boat synchronized. On an individual basis, we still
worked toward group goals through weightlifting and land-rowing. My experience
as a marketing research team leader also helped me to learn the role of
"team player." I viewed my position as that of group leader and of
group member. I ensured that everyone in the group had equal opportunity to
contribute, maintained excellent communication among group members, and
coordinated their energies toward reaching our team's goal.
16. What
motivates you to put forth you greatest effort?
Sample
excellent response:
You would think that
because I am interested in sales, only financial compensation would motivate me
to achieve. Although monetary rewards are important to me, I am driven to
succeed internally. More than anything, I want to be respected by my friends
and coworkers for being the best at what I do. Whether I am considered to be
the best car detailer in my hometown or the best columnist for my college
newspaper, I want to be recognized as the best.
17. Given
the investment our company will make in hiring and training you, can you give
us a reason to hire you?
Sample
excellent response:
I sincerely believe that I'm the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students who have the ability
to do this job. I also have that ability. But I also bring an additional
quality that makes me the very best person for the job -- my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service to excellence, but putting every part
of myself into achieving it. In college and at my previous jobs, I have
consistently reached for becoming the very best I can become. I think my
leadership awards from my college, and my management positions are the result
of possessing the qualities you're looking for in an employee.
18. Would
you describe yourself as goal-driven?
Sample
excellent response:
Yes, and I demonstrated
my goal orientation as president of the local Jaycees, a community service
organization. I am very proud of the fact that I set a goal of signing 50 new
members by the end of the year, and I accomplished that.
19. Describe
what you've accomplished toward reaching a recent goal for yourself.
Sample
excellent response:
My first few years in banking had me on the fast
track to branch management. I realized at some point along the way that my true
passion was in offering financial advice not limited to checking accounts and
loans. It was at that point that I made the necessary arrangements to go back
to school full-time to pursue my goal, which I am just about to achieve.
20. What
short-term goals and objectives have you established for yourself?
Sample
excellent response:
My short-term objectives
are to graduate from the Professional Development Program before the standard
two years and begin developing a clientele. As an intern, I prepared ahead of
time by studying for the Series 7 and Series 64 exams that constitute a
majority of a beginning financial consultant's time. I'd like to make the
company that hires me wonder what it ever did without me.
21. Can
you describe your long-range goals and objectives?
Sample
excellent response:
My primary objectives are to learn as much as
possible about your company's product offering, organizational structure, and
professional sales techniques so that I may become the most productive member
of your sales team.
22. What
do you expect to be doing in five years?
Sample
excellent response:
Although it is hard to
predict the future, I sincerely believe that I will become a very good
financial consultant. I believe that my abilities will allow me to excel to the
point that I can seek other opportunities as a portfolio manager (the next
step) and possibly even higher. My ultimate goal continues to be -- and will
always be -- to be the best at whatever level I am working at within Merrill
Lynch's corporate structure.
23. What
do you see yourself doing in ten years?
Sample
excellent response:
Ten years from now I see myself as a successful
consultant for a world-class firm like yours. I want to have developed a
wonderful bond with my employer I will have proven myself a highly competent
systems analyst and will represent my company in helping others find solutions
to their informationsystems needs in a professional and timely manner.
24. How
would you evaluate your ability to deal with conflict?
Sample
excellent response:
I believe I am quite
good at handling conflict. Working in retail and in the residence halls
required that I make many unpopular decisions at times, whether it was
terminating an associate or taking judicial action on a resident. Often the
person in conflict with me would be upset and sometimes physically outraged. I
would always make sure that I fully explained the situation, the policies
behind my decision, and why those policies exist. Usually by the end of the
conversation, the person could see the other side of the situation.
25. Have
you ever had difficulty with a supervisor or instructor? How did you resolve
the conflict?
Sample
excellent response:
Yes,
I had an incident with my Spanish professor. I turned in an essay that she said
was too good to be mine. I was honest with her; I told her that I had a native
speaker review the essay, but he made very few corrections. However, I had
broken the Golden Rule of Spanish Composition -- the essay must not even touch
the hands of a native speaker. To prove to her that I was capable of producing
an essay that exceeded her expectations of a non-native speaker, I offered to
re-write another essay in her office. I earned an A-minus.
26. Tell
me about a major problem you recently handled. Were you successful in resolving
it?
Sample
excellent response:
While working at K-mart, I was one of three people
to work in the electronics department. One day upon arriving at work, I was
told the district manager was coming the next day to do a store inspection. The
two other people who worked in electronics were both over 55. Neither could
lift heavy objects, and one refused to work at all. As a result, the
electronics department was usually left to me to keep stocked with product and
kept in order. I had about five hours of work time to get the entire department
in order. Those five hours passed around, and there was still a substantial
amount of work to be done. I asked the store manager if I could stay and work
after hours while the overnight stockers were there. He said that because of
the employment budget, he could not let me. So I was faced with bringing the
entire store's rating down or not getting paid. I worked without pay, and three
hours later, the department was in tip-top shape. The electronics department
got a score of 95 out of 100.
27. Would
you say that you can easily deal with high-pressure situations?
Sample
excellent response:
Yes. My past experience as an Administrative
Coordinator required me to deal with many serious situations since I held
emergency on-call duties as a supervisor. One example was when I was called by
a Resident Assistant to deal with an attempted suicide on her residence hall
floor. The situation required that I think clearly and quickly in this
life-and-death situation. I had to weigh the many tasks that needed to be completed.
I had to assign RAs to call 911, make sure that EMS could get into the locked
building, while at the same time applying first aid, and ensuring that the rest
of the residents on the floor were OK. I also had to make sure the privacy of
the resident in need was respected. I basically prioritized and dealt with each
task by its importance. I delegated responsibility to RAs for things that they
were capable of handling because I could not physically be in many places at
once. Once the resident was taken to the hospital, I was responsible for
paperwork and follow up to make sure the staff members, residents, and the
resident-in-need adjusted back to "normal" life. I know this is an
extreme example not found in the financial consulting field; however, it shows
just how well I can deal with extreme pressure.
28. What
quality or attribute do you feel will most contribute to your career
success?
Sample
excellent response:
My greatest strength is
my flexibility. I have learned that work conditions change from day to day and
throughout the day, as well, no matter where I have worked in the past. I also
have realized that certain projects require individual attention and others
involve a teamwork approach. These are just a few examples of the changes that
happen in the financial consulting field, as you are well aware. My flexibility
to adapt to the different demands of the job has allowed me to surpass my
supervisor's expectations.
29. What
personal weakness has caused you the greatest difficulty in school or on the
job?
Sample
excellent response (shows how he recognized his weakness and worked to
improve):
My greatest weakness had been delegation. I would
take it upon myself to do many small projects throughout my shift as a manager
that could have been done by others in an attempt to improve my workers'
efficiency. Once I realized that I was doing more work than the other assistant
managers, and they were achieving better results, I reevaluated what I was
doing. I quickly realized that if I assigned each person just one small project
at the beginning of their shift, clearly state expectations for the project,
and then follow up that everything would get done, and I could manage much more
efficiently and actually accomplish much more.
30. What
were your reasons for selecting your college or university?
Sample
excellent response (tells how education specifically will benefit the
employer):
My college has always
had a reputation as having an excellent accounting department, so I knew that
if I enrolled there, I would achieve first-class preparation for my chosen
career field. It is also a highly accredited school known for satisfying
employers with the preparation of its graduates -- that's why companies like
yours recruit at my school -- the school produces top graduates. The school
offers an excellent liberal-arts background, which research shows equips
graduates with numerous qualities, such as versatility and strong
critical-thinking skills. Finally, having visited the campus before enrolling,
I knew that the business school emphasized group projects. During my four years
in the school, I participated in more than 35 group projects, which taught me
invaluable teamwork, communication, and interpersonal skills.
31. If
you could change or improve anything about your college, what would it be?
Sample
excellent response:
My major department had
a wonderful internship program, and I was able to complete three valuable
internships with my department's guidance. Some other departments in the
business school don't have internship programs that are as strong as my
departments. I'd like to see all the departments have strong internship
programs so all my school's business grads would have the same opportunities
that I had.
32. How
will the academic program and coursework you've taken benefit your career?
Sample
excellent response:
As you will note on my resume, I've taken not only
the required core classes for the finance field, I've also gone above and
beyond by double majoring in accounting. I doubled majored since I knew that
the financial consulting field requires much knowledge of portfolio analysis
and understanding of the tax laws. I believe that my success in both areas of
study have specifically prepared me for this area. But it's not just taking the
classes in these two areas that allow me to offer Merrill Lynch clients more. I
minored in Spanish to understand the growing Hispanic clientele in the Central
Florida area, which, as you are well aware, is a growing source of revenue for
the industry. If you like, I can elaborate on other aspects of my education
further.
33. Which
college classes or subjects did you like best? Why?
Sample
excellent response:
My favorite classes have been the ones pertaining to
my major, which is marketing. These classes have laid the groundwork for my
career in marketing. They have also taught me skills that I can bring to my
employer, ranging from communication skills to interacting with others.
34. Are
you the type of student for whom conducting independent research has been a
positive experience?
Sample
excellent response:
Yes, I love it. I thoroughly enjoyed my senior
research in college while many others in my class were miserable. I was never
tired of learning more about my topic and found it exhilarating to be
researching something that had not been studied before.
35. Describe
the type of professor that has created the most beneficial learning experience
for you.
Sample
excellent response:
My favorite professors
were the ones who gave me hands-on learning experiences that I can apply to my
career. Any person can make you memorize the quadratic equation, but someone
who can show you how to use it, and why, were the professors I liked. I liked
teachers who realized that sometimes there is more than one answer and everyone
thinks differently.
36. Do
you think that your grades are a indication of your academic achievement?
Sample
excellent response:
I
have focused much of my energy on work and obtaining real-world experience. I
commend my classmates who have earned high GPAs, but I also feel it's important
to be well-rounded. In addition to work experience, I participated in sports
and extracurricular activities in school. These activities taught me
leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. Sometimes my heavy load has not
allowed me to keep up with some of my studies, but I have learned an enormous
amount that I can apply in my future industry. As you will discover if you talk
to my supervisors, my ability to work effectively is much more reflective of my
future potential than is my GPA.
37. What
plans do you have for continued study? An advanced degree?
Sample
excellent response:
I plan to continue my education for the rest of my
life. In any technologyrelated field, keeping up to date through continuing
education is of the utmost importance. Continuing education can include
on-the-job training, courses sponsored by the employer, and courses taken in
new technologies as they emerge. I plan to be not only a career employee but a
career student so that I can be the best information systems analyst I can be.
I will ensure, however, that any education I pursue not only doesn't interfere
with my job or the company's policies, but will enhance my value as an
employee.
38. Before
you can make a productive contribution to the company, what degree of training
do you feel you will require?
Sample
excellent response:
My background has been
focused on preparing me for the financial consulting industry, so I can be
productive right away. I already have obtained the educational credentials and
skills to allow me to become an immediate asset to Merrill Lynch. After
interning for a semester, I am well aware of the shared beliefs of the
organization and its corporate values. I already have a very good working
knowledge of the financial consulting business. I am confident of my ability to
get up to speed quickly in any assignment with which I'm not familiar.
39. Describe
the characteristics of a successful manager.
Sample
excellent response:
A successful manager should have the vision and
capabilities to formulate strategies to reach his or her objectives and
communicate these ideas to his or her team members. In addition to serving as a
positive role model for coworkers, successful managers must also be capable of
inspiring others to recognize, develop, and apply their talents to their utmost
potential to reach a common goal. These are the traits I hope to demonstrate
when I'm a manager.
40. Why
did you decide to seek a position in this field?
Sample
excellent response:
I want to work in the
marketing and PR industry because ever since I took my first marketing course
in college, I have felt very passionate toward the industry and cannot imagine
myself doing anything else.
41. Tell
me what you know about our company.
Sample
excellent response:
You're large and respected worldwide.
You're both a clinical and teaching hospital. Over the last 60 to 70 years
you've produced award-winning research. In reviewing your Web site, I've
familiarized myself with many of your corporate goals and objectives.
42. Why
did you decide to seek a position in this company?
Sample
excellent response:
I am convinced that there would be no better place
to work than Accenture. You are the top consulting firm in the United States.
You provide your employees with the tools they need to stay competitive and
sharpen their skills while working in an open, team-based environment. I am
also aware that you provide a mentor for all new employees, and I would embrace
any opportunity to work with a mentor and eventually become one myself.
43. Do
you have a geographic preference?
Sample
excellent response:
Although I would prefer
to stay in the Mid-Atlantic area, I would not rule out other
possibilities.
44. Why
do you think you might like to live in the community in which our company is
located?
Sample
excellent response:
Just a few weeks ago, I
had the opportunity to spend several days in your community, and I fell in love
with it. I love the fact that you have a thriving riverfront. I'm impressed
with the many cultural opportunities here -- opera, theater, art, and independent
films. I've also already become a fan of the Saints and the other sports teams
based here. I have conducted significant Internet research on this city, so I
am quite comfortable with your location.
45. Would
it be a problem for you to relocate?
Sample
excellent response:
I'm open to
opportunities within the company; if those opportunities involve relocation, I
would certainly consider it.
46. To
what extent would you be willing to travel for the job?
Sample
excellent response:
I am more than willing
to travel. I understand the importance of going above and beyond the call of
duty to satisfy customer requests is sometimes required and that Merrill
Lynch's customer focus belief means that travel is expected in some
circumstances. I am willing to make this commitment to do whatever it takes to
develop that long-term relationship with a small business or client. It is only
through this relationship that loyalty can be maintained and financial gains
and growth can occur for both the client and Merrill Lynch. It is my
understanding from other financial consultants that I have interviewed at
Merrill Lynch that this occurs maybe one or two times a month.
47. Which
is more important to you, the job itself or your salary?
Sample
excellent response:
A salary commensurate with my experience and skills
is important, but it's only one piece of the package. Many other elements go
into making up a compensation package, but more importantly, it's critical to
me to enjoy what I'm doing, fit into the corporate culture, and feel I'm making
a genuine contribution.
48. What
level of compensation would it take to make you happy?
Sample
excellent response:
I am not depending on
money to make me happy. What makes me happy is having a satisfying job that
provides challenge and new situations daily.
49. Tell
me about the salary range you're seeking.
Sample
excellent response:
I am sure that I am the candidate you are looking
for. If you feel the same, the I'm sure your offer will be fair and
commensurate with the value I can bring the company.
50. Describe
a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince
someone to see things your way?
Sample
excellent response:
Recently my company asked for bids on a phone system
for our new college campus. Two companies came in very close with their bids,
and most of my department wanted to go with a vendor that we have used in the
past. After I looked over the proposals, it was clear that this was the wrong
decision. So, I talked individually with each member of our staff and was able
to change their minds and get the best product that would save money and
provide the highest quality.
51. Describe
an instance when you had to think on your feet to extricate yourself from a
difficult situation.
Sample
excellent response:
When I was a resident
assistant at my college, a student I did not know asked me if he could use my
phone to call another room. Although I did not know the student, I allowed him
into my room. He used the phone and in the course of his conversation, he
stated that he had just come from a fraternity party and was high from taking
some drugs. Well after his conversation, I had to enforce the student conduct
code by writing him up. He became very hostile towards me and would not give me
any identification or information. I stood in the doorway to prevent him from
leaving. I noted the serial numbers on his keys, so when the situation got to
the point where I felt unsafe, I allowed the him to leave. I still preformed my
job without jeopardizing my or his physical welfare.
52. Give
me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in
solving a problem.
Sample
excellent response:
I had a client come into
the bank where I worked and request a $5,000 personal loan to "pay off
some bills." In the customary review process, I determined that what was
really needed was a $25,000 debt-consolidation loan. Rather than giving the
customer a "quick-fix" to the problem, I logically solved the problem
in a way that was in the best interest of both the bank and the client.
53. By
providing examples, convince me that you can adapt to a wide variety of people,
situations and environments.
Sample
excellent response:
I've shown my ability to adapt by successfully
working in several very different jobs. For example, I lived with a native
family in Costa Rica. I worked as a nanny for a famous writer in Cape Cod. I
was responsible for dealing with Drug Court participants. And I catered to
elite country-club clientele. I did it all well and had no trouble
adapting.
54. Describe
a time when you were faced with problems or stresses that tested your coping
skills.
Sample
excellent response:
Arriving at the language
school I was attending in Costa Rica in the middle of the night with very
minimal Spanish-language skills, I found my way to a very small town with no
street addresses or names and found my temporary residence. I was scared, but I
handled the situation very well, very calmly. In very stressful situations, I
am always the one in the group to stay calm and focused. My friends, family,
and professors have always said that I am an oasis of calm in a storm.
55. Give
an example of a time in which you had to be relatively quick in coming to a
decision.
Sample
excellent response:
This happens often in the IT industry, but one
recent example was when we had a core backbone switch die. It died at the worst
possible time -- during exams -- as they always seem to do, and I needed to get
it back up and running quickly. I analyzed the logs and system status, and
using my previous experience to make some quick decisions that rectified
problem and got the equipment back up only minutes later.
56. Describe
a time when you had to use your written communication skills to get an
important point across.
Sample
excellent response:
As an Administrative
Coordinator, I had a staff of 27 students. Having such a
large student staff, all
working different shifts and having varying class schedules, meant that
meetings could not be held with everyone at one time. I needed to communicate
with everyone about important policies and information often, so I came up with
the idea of designing a Web page for my staff with written announcements. Each
Desk Assistant was required to check the Web page daily at the beginning of his/her
shift. I also sent email communications by a distribution list that allowed
each Desk Assistant to keep informed about anything. The one situation that
stands out in my mind is a last-minute summer camp that decided to come in a
day early with only one day's notice. I had no staff scheduled to check in the
camps or to organize the keys. I posted an update to the Web page and sent an
email. Within four hours, I had the following day completely staffed and desk
assistants there to organize
57. Give
me a specific occasion in which you conformed to a policy with which you did
not agree.
Sample
excellent response:
When I worked at Home Depot as an assistant manager,
I was always looking for way to boost my employees' morale. Unloading trucks is
a very routine and physical job and can become very boring and exhausting, so
to improve the unloaders' attitude toward their duties and make the best of the
situation, I put a radio in the receiving dock. It worked; however, the
district manager did not approve of the radio in the workplace even though it
did not interfere with any set policy of company objectives. The radio was also
out of any areas where customers would hear the music. I did not agree with my
DMs decision to remove the radio; however, I understood his point of view once
he explained it to me and promptly complied to his request. The employees were
not happy that their radio was gone, so I found an alternative method of reward
and morale boosting by implementing a program in which we provided lunch for
the unloaders from any restaurant of their choice if they unloaded the trucks
faster than normal. This program succeeded by increasing their unloading time
from 2 1/2 hours to only 1 1/2, a savings in payroll of 8 percent of sales for
that shift.
58. Give
me an example of an important goal which you had set in the past and tell me
about your success in reaching it.
Sample
excellent response:
As a senior in high
school, my goal was to attend college and play college golf. But I was nowhere
near the player I needed to be to play or even get on the team. So over that
summer I worked on my golf game to the point where I won almost every
tournament I entered. I spent every hour I had during the day to make myself a
better all-around player. I eventually walked on my freshmen year and was
exempted from qualifying because I played so well in my first outing.
59. Describe
the most significant or creative presentation that you have had to
complete.
Sample
excellent response:
The most significant presentation I have ever had to
present was at a national research symposium. I was presenting research I had
completed on digital analysis of mammograms and had to present to a panel of
more than 100 judges who were at the top of their field. I focused on the
research, which could sell itself, and just let the information flow. It went
over very well, and I received many more invitations to present the research,
including on national television.
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