Mike Jacobsen

Interview Question: Tell me about a time you worked well as part of a team – Answer Tips

June 6, 2023 by Mike Jacobsen

Question forms part of

Civil Service Question Bank
The MOST Common Interview Questions

What the interviewer is looking for by asking this question

“I don’t want no partner, I don’t need no partner”
Chris Tucker. Rush Hour 1998

Unfortunately for Chris there are very few jobs out there where this is true. Almost every job I can think of comes with colleagues. I suppose maybe a night shift security guard position might not have any.

But outside of some niche jobs you are going to have people you work with. When asking this question the interviewer is trying to find out how you will cope with working with others.

They are trying to see if you worked with them would you be a valuable asset to the team and would you get involved with the team or would you work by yourself.

Part of team working is helping out where you can, do you see a colleague struggling and provide assistance, or do you not bother because it is does not affect your role or function.

This is a behavioural question so the interviewer is not just looking for a hypothetical answer. The interview wants to see whether you have worked in a team before and what your thoughts / feelings were about the team and how you worked together to achieve your goals.

The best approach to answering this question

Teamwork makes the dream work.

That’s what the interviewer wants to hear and what you need to be conveying with your answer.

Start off by stating outright your belief that when you work as a team the value produced is more than it would have been had everyone been working individually (the team is greater than the sum of its parts).

That when you work as a team you can exploit comparative advantages and allocate tasks to individuals based on their skillset.

Of course this is a behavioural ‘Tell me about a time’ question. This means that you will need to back up your thoughts with a strong example.

Pick an example where the subject matter is clear and the benefits of team working are obvious. You don’t want the interviewer to be confused by your story.

In your example you don’t have to take on a leadership role, although if you are applying for a managerial role then it wouldn’t hurt. Regardless of your position in the team it is always a good idea to include how you provided help to junior members of the team, or just any member of the team who was struggling with the task at hand.

You should ensure you focus on your role in the team, how what you did led to a better team result and how this benefited your organisation.

How NOT to answer this question

“I haven’t worked with a team before. My current job is working as a delivery driver for a food delivery app, so I basically spend most of my time on the road on my own. Before that I was in university.”

If you get asked about your experience working in a team do not avoid the question. Fair enough in this example the interviewee does not have any professional experience in working as part of a team. The closest they have to a team mate is the app that gives them jobs.

But that does not mean they have never worked in a team before. The answer states that the interviewee was previously enrolled in university. It’s been a while since I went to Uni but I remember there being a number of group assignments that I had to take part in. The interviewee could have talked about their experience doing that.

Team sports? That is the epitome of teamwork. Sure it doesn’t show the interviewer how you behave in a professional environment but it is the next best thing.

“…unfortunately I had to take on additional steps as my team members were not putting in the required effort to get the job done”

Don’t criticise your team mates. Team work is about helping struggling team mates get better at the job. If there was a problem – such as a perceived lack of effort from certain team members – then a good team member would reach out and try to resolve the issue instead of just picking up the slack.

Tell me about a time you worked well as part of a team

Example answer 1

“I love working in a team, I find the collaboration and task specialisation that group working offers allows for higher quality and more efficient outputs – than what would happen working solo.

In a previous role I actually initiated a shared team approach to our process. At the time the department I was working in was responsible for handling customer complaints for a large retail bank.

The process that we followed had 3 main phases; reviewing the complaint, calculating moneys owed in redress and production/mailing of the payment. Each member of the team would be assigned one case and would work the case through each phase to the end. We were expected to work 2 cases a day which meant 50 cases a day for the department.

I had a knack for the calculation aspect of the work and was able to breeze through them quicker than anyone else in the team. I noticed that other colleagues would struggle with the calculations not only with how long it took them but with the overall quality.

I suggested to my manager that we break the process down and allocate people based on their strengths. I took over calculations for the department while other colleagues were put on review and payments.

Using this team approach to the task we quickly started to hit 80 cases a day and even hit 100 cases a few times, a feat that I attribute to the team work we showed”

Example answer 2

“I find that working as part of a team brings out the best in me and leads to more efficient and higher-quality outcomes. In a previous role, I encountered a disagreement regarding our approach to handling customer complaints in a retail bank.

The existing process involved each team member independently handling the entire complaint process, from review to calculation of redress amounts and payment issuance. However, I noticed that some team members struggled with the calculation aspect, which resulted in delays and compromised accuracy.

To address this challenge, I proposed a collaborative team approach that leveraged our individual strengths. I offered to take over the calculation responsibilities while assigning other team members to focus on review and payment aspects. By breaking down the process and allocating tasks based on our competencies, we aimed to optimize efficiency and accuracy.

The results were remarkable. With this new team approach, we significantly increased our productivity, going from processing 50 cases a day to consistently handling 80 cases, with occasional peaks of 100 cases. The collaborative effort and clear division of tasks played a crucial role in achieving these milestones.

Through this experience, I learned the power of recognizing and leveraging individual strengths within a team. By effectively distributing tasks and allowing team members to excel in their respective areas of expertise, we were able to enhance overall performance and deliver superior outcomes for our customers.

This experience reinforced my belief in the value of teamwork and the importance of fostering an environment where individuals can contribute their unique skills and talents to achieve shared goals.”

Interview Question: How does your current (or previous) role fit into the organisation’s wider goals? – Answer Tips

June 6, 2023 by Mike Jacobsen

Question forms part of

Civil Service Question Bank
The MOST Common Interview Questions

What the interviewer is looking for by asking this question

This question is a “See the big picture” question. The interviewer wants to know whether or not you understand how what you do affects the larger organisation.

If the interviewer is asking this question it generally means the role will have a bit of latitude in how it can be worked. Don’t expect to blindly follow a script or a process, you will need to use your initiative and understanding of wider elements when performing your day to day job.

That is why this is a popular question for the Civil Service interview. The entire point of the Civil Service is for the benefit of the public. When you are answering a question in an interview here the interviewer will be expecting you to know how your function is expected to provide better services to the public.

After you have answered the question you are likely to get a number of follow-up questions about any initiatives you have spearheaded that impacted the wider business.

Essentially the interviewer wants to see that you will care about the organisation as a whole and will be seeking to improve the organisations delivery ability rather than just getting on with your own role and tasks.

The best approach to answering this question

You will want to show the interviewer that you have a brain for business, that you understand the general principles of how your organisation makes money (or fulfills its goals if it is non-profit)

You need to explain to the interviewer what your role is, what your organisations goals are and how your function helps contribute to these goals.

Think about how your role impacts the bottom line.

Do you contribute to revenue?
Do you help to reduce costs?
Do you help the firm with their legal obligations?
Do you help in reducing risk?
Do you increase efficiencies?

Every role in an organisation helps push through its aims (if they didn’t the role wouldn’t last for long), in order to answer this question it is important you understand your role’s impact.

At first glance this question doesn’t lend itself to sharing examples but you still should slide some in if you can. Think of a time were you showed initiative and pushed through a change that helped multiple departments within your organisation and increased your firms operating capabilities.

How NOT to answer this question

“I am a salesman so without me the firm would not have any revenue”

While this answer is perfectly accurate it lacks nuance. Sure a company wants to sell product and therefore need salespeople, that much is obvious. A salesperson is also the company face of the product. The first impression most customers will have of a company is their interaction with the salesperson so they are also brand ambassadors.

The interviewee could have talked about how as a salesperson they are the first line in market research as they speak to customers regularly so they know exactly what customers want and need when it comes to their product.

The interviewee could then talk about how they collaborated with marketing or with the design teams to help boost sales.

“I only work in the accounts department. It is my responsibility to make sure our bills get paid so I don’t really have much of an opportunity to help the firm achieve its goals”

Every role in an organisation provides real value to the business. Sure sometimes it might be hard to see when your role doesn’t directly impact profits but rest assured your role provides value (or should on paper) to the business otherwise it would not exist.

In this example the interviewee works in accounts payable by the look of it. Their responsibility is to pay suppliers to ensure the business can continue to operate. Have you ever forgot to pay your internet bill? Imagine trying to run a business without internet.

Phone, water, electricity, wages, raw materials, contractors. The list goes on.

This person ensures the smooth running of the company without interruption. That is the core value of the role.

Plus also in that type of role I am sure they have managed to save costs for the business by negotiating better payment terms.

How does your current job fit into the overall business?

Example Answer 1

“My company specialises in making bespoke furniture for business and domestic properties.

My primary role is as a domestic designer, meaning that I work with the customer to create their dream home and relay the proposals to the build team.

Even though I am not a sales person, I am the person who maintains contact with the customer the longest. I therefore understand and appreciate how my interactions with the customer leave a lasting impression and directly impacts how likely the customer is to recommend our company to others.

This is extremely important as referrals accounts for over 60% of our domestic clients and while domestic revenue falls behind business I know that it is one of the owner’s goals to increase our domestic market share.

Trying to increase customer satisfaction (and therefore chance of referral) I began looking at the customer journey and trying to improve it.

I realised that customers did not like having to deal with multiple people. In our old workflow the customer would have to deal with the sales person, the designer (me), the build team, the delivery team and the after sales support team.

I proposed – and gained approval – to modify this so that the designer (me) would be the sole contact point from the design phase all the way through to post sales. This meant the customer would only speak to 2 departments which most customers preferred.

There was also a side benefit realised. Because I was interacting with the other teams on the customers behalf errors dropped significantly as I fully understood the customer’s vision and could explain that to the teams.

Overall this initiative was a great success. Our customer satisfaction scores increased across the board, complaints dropped significantly and we saw an increase in referrals. All of these things directly helped the organisation with its sales goals and to get closer to its target market share.”

Example Answer 2

“In my role as a customer service representative for a software company, I understand the importance of customer satisfaction and its impact on the company’s growth. Although my primary responsibility is not sales-related, I recognize that every customer interaction leaves a lasting impression and directly influences their likelihood of recommending our services to others.

To enhance customer satisfaction and increase the chances of referrals, I focused on improving the customer journey within our software implementation process.

Upon analyzing the existing workflow, I identified a common pain point: customers had to interact with multiple departments, including sales, implementation, technical support, and customer service. This fragmented experience often led to miscommunications and delays, which negatively affected customer satisfaction.

To address this issue, I proposed a solution: consolidating customer interactions by becoming the primary point of contact throughout the entire implementation process. By taking ownership and ensuring seamless communication between departments, I aimed to streamline the experience and provide a smoother journey for our customers.

Upon receiving approval for this change, I began serving as the single contact person for customers from the initial sales discussions to the post-implementation support. This allowed me to gain an in-depth understanding of their requirements, communicate their vision effectively to our technical teams, and promptly address any issues or concerns that arose.

The results were overwhelmingly positive. Customer satisfaction scores significantly improved, and we observed a substantial decrease in customer complaints. Moreover, our referral rates notably increased, contributing directly to the organization’s sales goals and market share expansion.

By taking the initiative to optimize the customer journey and improve the overall experience, we were able to deliver enhanced customer satisfaction, foster positive word-of-mouth recommendations, and solidify our position in the market.

This experience taught me the importance of understanding the customer’s journey and actively seeking opportunities to improve it. By aligning internal processes and focusing on providing a seamless experience, we can cultivate strong customer relationships, boost satisfaction, and drive business growth.”

Interview Question: How Do You Respond To Customer Feedback, Both Positive And Negative – Answer Tips

June 6, 2023 by Mike Jacobsen

Question forms part of

Civil Service Question Bank
The MOST Common Interview Questions

What the interviewer is looking for by asking this question

This is a popular question within customer service facing and customer service managerial interviews.

For customer facing roles the interviewer is looking to see how you handle interactions with the customer with regard to your performance. If it is negative are you able to resolve the issue satisfactorily to leave a happy customer and prevent future mistakes from occurring.

For managerial roles the interviewer is looking to see how you use feedback to create a better team and better overall customer experience. If the feedback is negative do you rectify the situation with the customer and provide training and support to your team members to prevent re-occurrence? If the feedback is positive do you praise your team and try to expand on the things that were done right, that the customer was pleased with?

As this is a behavioural question the interviewer is looking for both how you would respond to customer feedback if you were to get the position but also how you have responded to customer feedback in the past.

The best approach to answering this question

The best way to come at this question is to have 2 examples: one where the customer provided negative feedback and one where the customer provided positive feedback.

In your answer you should start by talking about how you always welcome customer feedback, both good and bad, as feedback allows the company to know where it is going right and more importantly where it is falling down and needs to change.

This question is not looking at how you do your job it is looking at how you handle feedback and how you deal with customers. The best answers therefore are when you received feedback for something that was not your doing.

For negative feedback you can talk about how you took responsibility for the negative experience and apologised to the customer on behalf of the company. This shows good character and leadership as it shows that you took ownership of the fault without resorting to blaming others (throwing your colleagues under the bus as they say). If possible discuss how you took steps to fix the underlying cause of the problem either through changes to process or training of staff members.

For positive feedback it is important that you ensure the correct party receives the accolades (shows humility on your part). Talk about how you praised the colleague and shared the success with others in order to inspire further good work. And again if possible talk about how you took this positive feedback and used it to improve processes elsewhere.

See how, even though you were not responsible for why the customer was providing feedback, the way you handled the feedback shows professionalism and the makings of a great colleague.

How NOT to answer this question

“A customer was upset as we were late in delivering an important report. I told them that it was due to a new employee who was still fresh on the job and that I will personally ensure the report is on time until the colleague is completely up to speed”

This is a partially good answer. The part where the interviewee stepped up to the plate to ensure the issue would no longer occur was a nice touch. However nobody likes it when you blame new colleagues for mistakes. If the colleague is new why were they solely responsible for the report in the first place?

“One of our clients at the end of an engagement provided a pretty mixed feedback report, however it highlighted me and my status updates as one of the more positive elements of the work. I made a note that my status reports were well received and to carry this over to other engagements. The client was so happy that they provided me with tickets to a local sporting event. Me and 3 friends had a great time”

While it is good that the interviewee was called out specifically as being one of the better parts of the engagement, the answer also states that the report was pretty mixed. Meaning that there was some negative aspects to the feedback that were not mentioned. This screams out that the interviewee is only interested in how they were perceived and not that the client had a good relationship with the business as a whole.

It doesn’t matter if the client liked you personally if they still don’t continue working with your firm.

Also taking client gifts and sharing them with your friends is a bit of a dick move. At least say you offered them to your colleagues first!

“How Do You Respond To Customer Feedback”

Example Answer 1

“I love receiving feedback from customers. That’s why in all of our after-sale communications there is a big link asking customers for their feedback. I believe that understanding how a customer feels about our business and process is fundamental to our growth.

When I receive feedback the first thing that I do is thank the customer, regardless of whether the feedback is good or bad. If the feedback is negative I quickly look to rectify the issue and fix the underlying problem, if the feedback is positive I share it with my team to provide encouragement to continue the good work

For example, quite recently we were tasked to provide a market research report for a new client. When we issued the report we received both good and bad feedback.

The client was more than pleased with the work and output from our focus groups and stressed how they thought we went above and beyond in this regard. Upon hearing this I sent the feedback to our Senior Management team to highlight how one of my colleagues who led the session could enhance our focus group processes so that the same level of service can be deployed to all of our clients.

On the other hand the client was displeased with how long the report took to produce and be issued. I immediately apologised to the client and assured them that in the future we will ensure they are given a more robust timeline so they know exactly when to expect our reports. I also discussed with our management team how we could potentially deliver our reports in stages as some areas of the report take longer to complete than others. This was discussed and agreed by the execs and is now part of our offerings to each client”

Example Answer 2

“In my role as a customer service representative for a software company, I highly value customer feedback. We actively encourage customers to share their thoughts and experiences through our various feedback channels.

When I receive feedback, my first step is to express gratitude to the customer, regardless of whether it is positive or negative. If the feedback highlights an issue or concern, I immediately focus on resolving the problem and addressing the underlying cause. Conversely, if the feedback is positive, I share it with my team to acknowledge their efforts and motivate them to maintain their excellent work.

Recently, we had a customer who provided feedback on our software’s user interface. They expressed their appreciation for the intuitive design and user-friendly features. I promptly shared this feedback with our development team, emphasizing the importance of their attention to usability and their success in delivering a positive user experience.

However, the same customer also expressed frustration with the speed of our software’s response time during peak usage. Recognizing the significance of their concern, I personally reached out to the customer to apologize for any inconvenience caused. I assured them that we would prioritize addressing this issue to enhance performance during high-demand periods. Subsequently, I engaged with our development and infrastructure teams to explore optimization measures and improve response times. As a result, we implemented several enhancements to ensure smoother operation, and I informed the customer of the steps we had taken to address their feedback.

Furthermore, I initiated discussions within our company about the possibility of scaling our infrastructure during peak usage periods to better accommodate increased demand. These discussions involved our management team, technical experts, and infrastructure providers, and we established a plan to allocate additional resources during peak times to maintain optimal system performance.

By actively listening to customer feedback and taking prompt action, we continuously strive to improve our software and meet customer expectations. It is essential for us to value customer insights and implement necessary changes to enhance their overall experience.”

Interview Question: Tell me about a time when you have had to make a decision using only limited information? – Answer Tips

June 6, 2023 by Mike Jacobsen

Watch the video or read the text article below

Question forms part of

Civil Service Question Bank
The MOST Common Interview Questions

What the interviewer is looking for by asking this question

The interviewer wants to understand your decision making process and how that process works under less than ideal situations.

It is easy to say what you would do when the ‘correct’ answer is obvious, but the interviewer is looking to see how you cope when the ‘correct’ answer isn’t obvious.

And of course with questions like this the interviewer is not only looking for how you WOULD handle the situation they are also looking at how you HAVE PREVIOUSLY handled similar situations.

The interviewer wants to see that you have faced difficult decisions before and they want to see how you fared.

The best approach to answering this question

As with all scenario based questions it is best to use the Situation Task Action Result method. Come up with a time that you needed to make a decision and then talk it through with the interviewer.

It is important that you recognise that making decisions without all the facts is not an ideal scenario.

The first thing you should mention therefore is how this differed from your normal decision making process. Talk about how you tried to follow your usual process (in order to make an informed decision) but something caused you to be unable to.

It is best – in an interview setting – to lay the blame on an external party or force. A random shift in the weather might have caused your timescales to change and an immediate decision was required. Or even a vendor going bankrupt unexpectedly causing a disruption in the supply chain.

Something that you could not have seen coming and forces you into a bind.

Then use some time to discuss how you went about making your decision, using your experience and expertise to make the best possible decision given the hindrance.

Finally wrap up your answer by talking about how after you made your decision you went back and looked at why you were put in that spot in the first place, i.e. why wasn’t the information available, and how you took steps to prevent a re occurrence in the future.

How NOT to answer this question

“I do not make decisions until I have all of the necessary information, I always prepare in advance so that nothing can surprise me”

You might think this is a good approach to this question. You show the interviewer that you prepare for all eventualities and as such are never caught off guard. Thereby being able to make rational informed decisions every time.

But that is not feasible.

In the real world there are a lot of unknowns. You will often have occasions where the info you require is unobtainable.

If you answer this question like above the interviewer will not be impressed with your thoroughness and level of preparedness. No, the interviewer will think you are inexperienced and naive. Probably cocky as well.

Which is not good

“In the end I just went with my gut and it ended up being the correct decision”

If you say this in the interview the interviewer will just think you got lucky, not that you have some special heightened instincts for decision making in business.

Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision without all the information you needed – Example answers

Example Answer 1

“When I worked as a store manager for X I was there on Day 1 of a new store opening and it was my job to make the staff schedule.

Now if you’ve ever been responsible for creating the shift rota you know that the number of colleagues you need is based on forecasts. Forecasts that are largely driven from past data.

But this was a new store so I needed to decide how many staff we should have in without knowing how many staff we were going to need!

I had to think about things tactically. While it would not be ideal to have too many staff in it would be worse if we had too few; so any judgements I were to make would have to err on the side of over staffing.

Through my experience I knew how many staff members were needed to manage a store when empty and when at peak. Now I just needed to make an informed estimate of how many customers to expect.

I reached out to similar sized stores in the organisation and started to speak to the store owners within the area to get an idea of what to face.

Eventually using the information I had gathered I completed the schedule. Day of opening rolled around and luckily we had enough staff to motor through, toward the end of the shift we probably had too many colleagues on the shop floor but that just meant we were able to provide even better customer service. Gotta make a great first impression after all!

After things had settled down I reported to my senior management team that in the future it would be wise to provide the store manager with the analysis that was used when deciding to open the store in this location as it would have had a lot of the necessary information for me to make my decision”

Let’s dive into this answer and see what was done right:

The scene was set quickly and in an easy to understand manner
The interviewee quickly realised what information was missing
The interviewee made educated and rational judgements in formulating the decision
The answer shows that the interviewee was correct in her judgement without coming off as boastful or cocky
The whole thing is wrapped up with suggestions on how to improve for the next time around

To make the answer even better the interviewee could have talked about how they usually make a rota but given that the answer is already quite detailed I would say any interviewer would be impressed with the above.

Example Answer 2

“In my previous role as a project manager for a construction company, I encountered a significant disagreement among the team regarding the selection of subcontractors for a new project. We needed to choose the right subcontractors based on their expertise, availability, and cost-effectiveness, but we didn’t have access to all the relevant information.

To address this disagreement, I initiated a meeting with the project stakeholders and team members involved in the subcontractor selection process. We discussed the available options and the limited information we had at hand. It became clear that the team was divided between two subcontractors, each with their strengths and weaknesses.

To make an informed decision, I suggested conducting thorough background research on both subcontractors, including their past performance on similar projects, client feedback, and their financial stability. I assigned team members to gather as much information as possible within the given time frame.

In addition to the research, I reached out to industry contacts and colleagues who had worked with these subcontractors before. Their insights and experiences provided valuable perspectives that helped fill the knowledge gaps.

Once we had compiled the available information, I organized a follow-up meeting to present the findings and recommendations to the team. During the meeting, I encouraged open and constructive discussion, allowing team members to voice their concerns and preferences based on the gathered data.

To ensure fairness and transparency, I proposed a voting process in which each team member could express their preference and provide justification for their choice. However, I emphasized that the final decision would consider the overall project requirements and objectives, rather than solely relying on individual opinions.

After the discussion and voting process, we reached a consensus on the subcontractor selection. Although we couldn’t obtain all the facts, we made the best decision possible based on the information we had gathered. Throughout the project, we closely monitored the subcontractors’ performance and adjusted our approach if necessary.

Looking back, I believe that despite the limited information, our collective effort and thorough research allowed us to make an informed decision. It highlighted the importance of leveraging available resources, industry connections, and collaborative decision-making processes to mitigate risks associated with incomplete information.”

Interview Question: How do you handle disagreements within your team? – Answer Tips

June 6, 2023 by Mike Jacobsen

Question forms part of

Civil Service Question Bank
The MOST Common Interview Questions

What the interviewer is looking for by asking this question

This is a leadership style question. If you are going for any sort of managerial based role you should expect some variation of this question, it is an extremely popular question.

And popular for good reason. One of the main responsibilities of a manager is to resolve any issues that their team members face and this could mean resolving issues between team members.

The interviewer is asking this question for 2 reasons. Firstly to understand how well you handle conflict and how successful you are in mediating issues between colleagues and coming up with the best solution for the business.

Secondly the interviewer is looking to hear what experience you have in conflict resolution. It is all well and good describing what you would do in a theoretical example, but the interviewer wants to know how you have reacted in a similar situation in the past.

Past behaviour is a better predictor of future behaviour after all

The best approach to answering this question

The best way to answer this question is to provide an example of when two of your direct reports were at odds over a business decision.

It is best if your example remains strictly professional – I’m sure we’ve all seen personal issues spill over into the workplace and as a manager you need to be able to handle those situations but unless specifically asked about a personal conflict keep it about business matters.

The example you provide should have both colleagues taking opposing views on the matter where it is your job to make a final decision. The most simple example to show what I mean is: colleague A wants to go with supplier A while colleague B wants to go with supplier B.

John wants to use Microsoft Excel, Jane wants to use Google Sheets

Obviously there are a multitude of other conflict types that you could talk about, but this hard and fast, either option A or option B. Putting the situation in black and white like this is a lot easier to explain in an interview. You want the interviewer to be crystal clear on what the disagreement was, what each side’s position was and you want to be able to show how your resolution was clearly the best for the business.

Talk about how you came in and used a calm, reasoned and deliberate approach when deciding which option to go with and talk about how you considered the feelings and effort input from your team members when communicating your decision.

Ultimately you need to talk about how you resolved the conflict and make sure you highlight that both parties were ultimately content with how things played out.

How NOT to answer this question

“My team has always worked well together and as such we do not have any conflicts”

Terrible answer. Every one who has managed a team will at some point have faced a conflict between team members.

The person who answers the question like this might think that they are showing the interviewer their great management skills; “my team never disagrees because I lead them so well”, but in actuality the interviewer will come away thinking that the interviewee has little or no experience with management.

Conflict happens in all businesses and it will not behoove you to pretend it doesn’t when being interviewed.

“When my team members have disagreements I leave them to sort it out amongst themselves, everyone is a grown adult and should be able to handle their own affars”

Another example of a poor answer. The whole idea of being a leader is to help your team through struggles. While sometimes it is best to allow team members the opportunity to collaborate it is not a good example to use when being interviewed.

How do you handle disagreements within your team? – Example answer

Example 1

“As Product Owner at X company it was my responsibility to prioritise the backlog of tasks. The way things worked in our organisation was that any stakeholder could raise an item to add to the backlog, then as a team we would discuss in which order it would be best that they were worked and deployed.

Ultimately however the final decision on priority lay with myself.

As you can imagine with so many different areas of the business raises items, each with their own agendas and goals the backlog meetings would often end with a lot of disagreement

One such occasion we had two business areas both asking us to deploy a change to our product and both were asking for the change to be deployed in the next sprint. Unfortunately we only had the dev resource to implement the one change in this cycle.

The backlog call became heated between the two representing colleagues and I was forced to cut the meeting short to let cooler heads prevail.

After the meeting I sat with both colleagues to further understand the urgency behind both changes. Asking them to describe the benefits of the change and also the drawbacks of waiting until the next cycle.

Once I had this information in hand it was clear to me which change would be most beneficial to the business. I invited both colleagues into a meeting where I had compiled the information into a presentation deck with a few charts showing the resources available within the product team and the relative benefits of each change.

Explaining it this way allowed both colleagues to fully appreciate the restrictions that were on my team and also the comparative benefits of each change.

Both colleagues left the meeting happy with the outcome and both changes were pushed into production in the next 2 sprints”

Example 2

“As a Team Lead at Y company, I encountered a significant disagreement among two team members regarding the implementation of a new project management tool. One team member strongly advocated for using a popular tool that had gained traction in the industry, while the other team member believed that a lesser-known tool would better suit our specific needs.

To address this disagreement, I initiated a meeting with both team members to understand their perspectives in more detail. I encouraged an open and constructive discussion where each team member had the opportunity to express their views and provide supporting arguments for their preferred tool.

After carefully listening to both sides, it became evident that the disagreement stemmed from a difference in understanding the project requirements and how each tool aligned with those requirements. To facilitate a resolution, I proposed a compromise. I suggested conducting a thorough evaluation of both tools, including their features, scalability, integration capabilities, and user feedback. This evaluation process would involve representatives from different departments, such as IT, operations, and finance, to gather a well-rounded perspective.

By involving a diverse group of stakeholders in the evaluation process, we aimed to ensure that the final decision aligned with the needs and objectives of the entire organization. I assigned a neutral team member to lead the evaluation, gathering feedback from each department and conducting hands-on testing of both tools.

Once the evaluation was complete, I organized a follow-up meeting to present the findings and recommendations to the team members who initially had differing opinions. This presentation included a detailed comparison of the two tools, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and alignment with our specific project requirements.

During the meeting, I emphasized the importance of considering not only individual preferences but also the overall benefit to the team and the organization. I encouraged an open dialogue and asked both team members to share their thoughts on the evaluation results and their potential impact on our project success.

Ultimately, the team members agreed to adopt the tool that had received the highest ratings and demonstrated the greatest compatibility with our project requirements. This decision was reached through a collaborative process that considered objective data and the input of various stakeholders.

By effectively managing the disagreement and involving the team in the decision-making process, we not only resolved the conflict but also strengthened the team’s cohesion and commitment to the project’s success.”

More examples…

Check out “INTERVIEW SUCCESS: How to answer 20 of the Most Popular Interview Questions (with over 100 sample answers

Interview Question: Learn Something New – Answer Tips

June 6, 2023 by Mike Jacobsen

Tell me about a new skill or qualification you have learned over the last 6 months?

Question forms part of

Civil Service Question Bank

What the interviewer is looking for when asking this question

This is an extremely popular question – particularly in public service roles like the Civil Service – so you should make sure you have a good answer ready. And make sure you are ready to answer any questions about what it is you were learning or upskilling in (which you will have no trouble with I’m sure since you recently)

When asking this question the interviewer is keen to understand if you are someone who will go out of their way to learn something new if it will help you perform your role.

The interviewer is also trying to gauge how well you can learn something new. It’s not enough to just be willing to learn something new but you need to be able to show that you can learn new skills and new technologies quickly.

This is especially important when you are moving into a new organisation. There are a number of technologies that are ubiquitous (Microsoft Office) but every organisation will have its own software suite that you will be expected to learn very quickly.

The best approach to answering this question

Obviously the best approach is to tell the interviewer what you have learned recently!

Always have a few things in your mind for this question as there are a number of different ways it could be asked:

Tell me about something you have learned in the past 6 months
Tell me about something you have learned in a previous role
Tell me about something you are learning now
Tell me about something you think you will need to learn for this role

See how each question is fundamentally the same but over different timelines. If you go in with how you learned SQL for a previous role and the question actually asks about what you are learning now then you will be stuck.

A good thing to do is to say you enhanced your knowledge on something that is in the job description/advert. Mention how you had been using the software/tool/skill for a while in your current role but you felt that you were not getting the most out of it so took on formal learning to round out your knowledge.

The interviewer will always have follow-up questions. So prepare yourself for questions in relation to the thing you learned. For example if you learned new project management techniques the interviewer might ask you which one you use the most. Or if you learned a new programming language the interviewer may ask which language is your favourite to code in and why.

Things like that. So whatever new skill or technology or process you learn make sure you can, and are ready to, answer detailed follow-up questions.

How NOT to answer this question

“I haven’t learned anything new recently, my current role doesn’t allow me any extra time to take on new skills and there is no real need to as my job doesn’t change”

Don’t say this. Even if it is true that you have no free time at all the interviewer will not look favorably on an answer like that.

If you are in a job that ‘doesn’t change’ you could talk about how you learned a new skill that would make the job faster.

“A new IT system was deployed in work and all of us in the office were required to get certified in how to use it. We went to a training seminar and there was a test at the end. I am good with computers so it was no problem for me”

This is another example of a pretty poor answer. While yes, technically, the interviewee has shown that they are capable of learning new things the answer doesn’t show much enthusiasm for development. The scenario in question was thrust upon the interviewee and they didn’t really have much choice in whether to take part.

The final remark about being good with computers comes across as flippant. It also is pretty vague. What part of computers is the interviewee good at?

“Tell me about a new skill or qualification you have learned over the last 6 months?” – Example Answer

Example 1

“In my current role I use Microsoft Projects extensively for scheduling tasks when working with certain clients. A few months ago I learned that one of our newer clients used Primavera as their preferred PM tool.

Even though the new firm were content that we continue to use Microsoft Projects I thought it would be best to upskill myself on Primavera so that I at least could understand what the client was used to versus what we would be providing.

I started by following some courses on LinkedIn and eventually I asked my employer if they would support me in attaining the certification – which they did.

I passed the qualification on the first go and was able to successfully amend our MS Project reports so that they more closely resembled what the client was used to”

This is a decent answer for a few reasons:

1 – The interviewee was proactive in seeking out opportunities to learn. They seen that there might be a gap in the service quality they could provide their new client and immediately looked at ways to fill it.

2 – The interviewee embarked on the learning on their own and only came to their employer once they were ready to be certified.

3 – They managed to slip in how they passed on their first go without sounding too big headed (it’s ok to be a little big headed during an interview though)

Example 2

“During the past six months, I have actively focused on expanding my skill set and acquiring new qualifications. One significant skill I have developed is project management. I pursued this skill because I recognized the increasing importance of effective project management in today’s fast-paced and dynamic work environment. I observed that projects often encountered challenges related to scope, timelines, and resource allocation, leading to inefficiencies and delays. To address this, I decided to invest my time and effort in learning project management principles and techniques. I believed that by gaining proficiency in project management, I would be better equipped to lead and contribute to successful projects, ensuring timely delivery, efficient resource utilization, and optimal outcomes. Additionally, I knew that possessing project management skills would enhance my career prospects and make me a valuable asset to any organization.”

More examples…

Check out “INTERVIEW SUCCESS: How to answer 20 of the Most Popular Interview Questions (with over 100 sample answers!)”

Are Business Analysts and Data Analysts the same?

June 6, 2023 by Mike Jacobsen

The terms ‘Business Analyst’ and ‘Data Analyst’ are often used interchangeably by many different companies. This can cause a great deal of confusion.

Superficially, the responsibilities and tasks of these roles may look similar, but there are also differences between these two occupations. This article aims to provide a clearer idea about each of these individual roles.

Data Analyst:

What are the duties of a Data Analyst?

Data Analysts predominantly work with data. Data in this instance means rough numeric information, statistics, and facts.

All companies run their businesses based on all available quantitative and qualitative data. If the data is considered ‘rough’ and has not been collated, progression within the business would be difficult as the relevant departments and staff would be unable to understand the information provided.

Therefore, Data Analysts gather and measure the data provided in order to analyze and present said data to the appropriate areas of the business so that an informed decision for the betterment of the company can be made.

In order to become a Data Analyst, a successful candidate must have excellent presentation and communication skills, extensive experience with Microsoft Excel and SQL (Structured Query Language), as well as a background with Python programming language.

Responsibilities:

Gathering relevant data needed for a particular project
Removing or cleaning the unnecessary data
Measuring the quantitative data
Identifying patterns in qualitative data
Analyzing each round of data for tracking trends
Segregating data into appropriate groups
Visualize and present it to the stakeholders of the companies and/or relevant departments
Maintaining entire database
Troubleshooting the problematic data

Business Analyst:

What are the duties of a Business Analyst?

Business Analysts are generally considered as problem solvers and critical thinkers. Strong analytical skills and interpersonal expertise are essential to effectively perform their role within a business.

People who are Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in their fields often can become Business Analysts. A competent Business Analyst will work across different departments in identifying problems and issues to enable companies to progress further by defining the needs and then recommending suitable solutions.

The solutions that are devised are based on the data available. There are different types of Business Analysts such as: Operations Research Analyst, Market Research Analyst, Management Analyst and Financial Analyst.

Responsibilities:

Identify the existing problems in companies business and technical sides
Evaluating the possibilities to bring appropriate solutions
Researching available data and market trends
Communicating with different team members and departments to share their insights
Identifying opportunities to make improvements
Presenting the findings to the company’s stakeholders
Introduce strategic operations and recommendations to enhance the efficiency of the company

Conclusion:

Data Analysts and Business Analysts both perform their duties using the data available.

A Data Analyst works predominantly with raw data in order to present it in a suitable manner and they are considered as responsible for maintaining the entire database. From collecting data to presenting it to the relevant department and/or stakeholders, a Data Analysts’ responsibilities stop there.

However, a Business Analyst uses the provided data to identify the needs of the business and provide correct solutions based on the analysis.

To be precise, a Business Analyst uses the collated data as means to identify issues and present solutions whereas Data Analysts visualize the data to interpret the business performance.

We can see from the above points that both Business Analyst and Data Analyst have a lot of differences. Whilst there are differences, both the positions are required in many industries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between a Data Analyst and a Business Analyst?

Data Analysts primarily work with data, analyzing and presenting it to stakeholders, while Business Analysts focus on identifying problems and providing solutions based on data analysis.

What are the key responsibilities of a Data Analyst?

Gathering relevant data, cleaning and organizing data, analyzing trends, presenting insights to stakeholders, troubleshooting problematic data, and maintaining databases.

What technical skills are important for a Data Analyst?

Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and SQL (Structured Query Language), as well as experience with programming languages such as Python.

Is experience with programming languages necessary for a Data Analyst?

Yes, experience with programming languages like Python is often required for data analysis tasks.

What are the primary responsibilities of a Business Analyst?

Identifying problems and opportunities within a company, conducting research and analysis, collaborating with team members and departments, presenting findings to stakeholders, and making recommendations for improvements.

What skills are essential for a Business Analyst?

Strong analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with different teams and departments.

Can a person transition from being a Data Analyst to a Business Analyst or vice versa?

Yes, it is possible to transition between the roles of Data Analyst and Business Analyst, as they share certain analytical and problem-solving skills. However, additional training or experience may be required.

Do Data Analysts and Business Analysts work in the same departments within a company?

The specific departmental placement may vary depending on the organization. Data Analysts may work within the data or analytics department, while Business Analysts can work across different departments, depending on the nature of the business.

What is the career growth potential for Data Analysts and Business Analysts?

Both roles offer potential for career growth. Data Analysts can progress to senior analyst positions or specialize in specific areas like data science. Business Analysts can advance to roles like senior business analyst, project manager, or management consultant.

How do Data Analysts and Business Analysts contribute to decision-making processes in a company?

Data Analysts provide insights and visualizations based on data analysis, helping stakeholders make informed decisions. Business Analysts identify problems and provide solutions based on data analysis, contributing to the decision-making process.

Interview Question: Being Late / Missing a Deadline – Answer Tips

June 5, 2023 by Mike Jacobsen

Tell me about a time when you were late delivering a piece of work?

Question forms part of

Civil Service Question Bank

What the interviewer is looking for by asking this question

This is a very popular question in interviews so don’t be worried that in asking this question the interviewer is implying the workplace will be full of tight deadlines (but also don’t rule it out!).

With this question the interviewer is trying to see how you cope under pressure.

Are you able to prioritise actions and manage expectations adequately? Or do you fold like a wet paper bag and cry ‘woe is me’ at the first obstacle?

Do you actively seek out colleagues to inform them of the situation? Or do you bury your head in the sand and hope that things work out for the best?

Are you proactive? or reactive?

It is these things, and your experience with them, that the interviewer is looking for when asking this question.

The best approach to answering this question

As with any behavioural style question the best way to answer this question is with an example.

When choosing your example try not to go with one where you play the hero and rescue everyone by overcoming a huge hurdle and actually meeting the deadline.

That’s not what the interviewer wants to hear and to be honest it always comes off might disingenuous.

The correct way to approach this is to:

Set the scene – why was the deadline going to be missed? Try not to lay the blame for the lateness at your own doorstep, and if you do make sure you talk about what you learned from the experience.

Talk about how you prioritised certain elements of the work so that the important objectives were still met with the remaining coming in later as a fast follower

Mention how you made sure to keep in communication with all of the relevant stakeholders letting them know what was happening and when they could expect you to deliver what it was you were late for.

Finally wrap the whole thing up with a nice bow by talking about how you eventually delivered, everyone was happy because you kept them up to date and discuss the steps you took to ensure deadlines would be met in the future.

How NOT to answer this question

“I have never been late, all of my work/projects are delivered on time and within budget. No exceptions”

If someone came into an interview and told me this I would immediately disqualify them from contention for the role.

Either they are a liar – which I do not want, or they have no experience in the workplace – which again I do not want (unless specifically looking for entry level candidates, but even then I expect a better answer).

It is a fact of life that at some point something will be delayed and a deadline will either need to slip or be completely missed.

It doesn’t even need to be your fault for lateness to occur. “My flight was delayed due to a hurricane”. That’s not your fault.

The whole idea behind asking this question is to show how you handle these situations WHEN they arise. Hand waving the question away by saying it never happens to you will not endear you to the interviewer.

Tell me about a time you were late delivering a piece of work – Example Answer

The example provided below can serve as a foundation for creating your unique answers. For additional inspiration, our new guide includes five sample responses to this question and over 100 answers to all of the most common interview queries.

Check out “INTERVIEW SUCCESS: How to answer 20 of the Most Popular Interview Questions (with over 100 sample answers!)”

“I was given the task of producing a SEO report for a very important potential client. This was on top of my regular workload but I was happy to pick it up as the client would bring a lot of business to our firm if we were able to secure the contract.

During the week that I had to complete the report a number of unforeseen events happened; my work laptop died, the office I worked in flooded and someone stole my car. It really was one of those weeks!

I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to meet the deadline so I looked at the piece of work that I had been given and the reasons why the firm wanted it. From my conversation with the firm I knew they were more interested in the On-site critiques rather than any Off-site SEO analysis.

So I focused my efforts so that I was working only on the On-site portion of the report. I communicated this with the client and with my colleagues. Everyone seemed largely happy with this and I delivered the report in 2 stages, the first at the agreed upon date and the full report just 2 business days later.

Luckily this delay did not upset the clients and we did bring them onboard. After this fiasco I petitioned the firm to provision VPN access on personal devices (with the relevant security software added) so that if this confluence of events were to repeat I would suffer no downtime…except for the time spent wondering where my car was.”

Let’s look at some of the key positives from this answer:

1 – It opens with the interviewee showing how they are happy to pick up extra work – this shows commitment

2 – The interviewee pro-actively engages with the client’s needs to understand which areas of the report are most beneficial (the On-site / Off-site prioritisation)

3 – The interviewee maintains contact with all parties to make them aware of the issues faced and how that impacts delivery

4 – The interviewee takes steps to ensure that the incident does not repeat (VPN access for remote working)

5 – The whole answer is told in a light-hearted tone with a couple of jokes made, this makes the interviewee more personable and will result in a more relaxed and friendly interview.

Remember interviewers go through tons of applicants. The whole thing can get pretty dry and boring, if you lighten up the mood a little it makes you will be remembered and people will want you on their team.

The MOST Common Civil Service Interview Questions (And Sample Answers)

June 5, 2023 by Mike Jacobsen

Are you gearing up for a civil service job interview and feeling like a fish out of water? Don’t sweat it. We’re here to spill the beans on the most common interview questions you might face. Not just that, we’ll also hand you some sample answers to help you nail that interview. So, what are you waiting for? Kick back, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s dive into the world of civil service interviews – without all the jargon and stuffy language, we promise. No need for a suit and tie here, just good, practical advice. Get ready to go from puzzled applicant to confident candidate in no time! Buckle up, it’s time to conquer those questions!

Contents

1 Looking for More Questions / Answers…?
2 Civil Service Interview Tips
3 How Best To Structure Civil Service Interview Questions
4 What You Should Not Do When Answering Questions
5 Civil Service Interview Question & Answers

Looking for More Questions / Answers…?

Then, let me introduce you to a fantastic resource: “Civil Service Interview Question & Answers Guide“. Penned by the experienced career coach, Mike Jacobsen, this guide is packed full of interview tips. This 117-page guide is packed with over 100 sample answers to the most common and challenging interview questions. It goes beyond simply giving you answers – it guides you on how to structure your responses, what interviewers are seeking, and even things to avoid during interviews. Best of all, it’s available for instant download! Dive in and give yourself the competitive edge you deserve.

Click here to learn more and get your copy today

Civil Service Interview Tips

1. Understand the Civil Service Competency Framework:

The Civil Service uses a competency framework that outlines the skills, knowledge, and behaviors that it expects from its employees. Familiarize yourself with this framework and be prepared to demonstrate how you meet these competencies in your answers.

2. Use the B-STAR Method:

When answering competency-based questions, use the B-STAR method (Belief – Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response. This method allows you to present your experiences in a way that clearly demonstrates your skills and abilities.

3. Research the Department:

Each department within the Civil Service has its own specific remit and responsibilities. Research the department you’re applying to so you can tailor your responses to show how your skills and experiences align with their particular needs.

4. Be Prepared for Situational Judgement Questions:

In addition to asking about your past experiences, Civil Service interviews often include situational judgement questions. These questions present hypothetical scenarios to see how you would handle specific situations.

5. Be Concise and Clear:

Ensure your answers are well-structured and easy to understand. Avoid unnecessary jargon or overly complex explanations.

6. Show Your Commitment to Public Service:

Civil Service jobs are about serving the public. Make sure you convey your commitment to public service throughout the interview.

7. Prepare Questions to Ask:

Having questions to ask shows that you’re engaged and interested in the role. Prepare a few thoughtful questions about the role, the team, or the department.

8. Practice:

Practice answering common Civil Service interview questions. This will help you feel more comfortable and confident during the actual interview.

How Best To Structure Civil Service Interview Questions

B – Belief:

Your beliefs often drive your actions and decisions. For a Civil Service interview, consider your core values and beliefs about public service. What do you believe is the role of government? How do you feel about serving the public? Reflect on these beliefs and consider how they’ve influenced your career decisions, actions, and approaches to work.

S – Situation:

In the Civil Service interview, you will likely be asked competency-based and situational questions. When responding, start by setting the scene. Describe the context or situation in which you were operating. Was it a high-pressure situation? Were you dealing with a complex project, or perhaps resolving a conflict within your team? By painting a clear picture of the situation, you help the interviewers understand the challenges and constraints you faced.

T – Task:

Now, clarify your specific role in the situation. What were you responsible for? Were you leading a team, managing a project, or tasked with resolving an issue? In the Civil Service, individual accountability and initiative are important, so it’s crucial to emphasize the tasks where you had an active, rather than passive, role.

A – Activity (or Action):

Next, describe the actions you took in response to the situation. This is your chance to show your problem-solving skills and your ability to take decisive action. What steps did you take? Why did you choose that course of action? Were there any policies, regulations, or public service principles that guided your decision? For the Civil Service, it’s especially important to demonstrate that your actions were ethical, inclusive, and in line with public service values.

R – Results:

Finally, explain the results or outcomes of your actions. Did your actions lead to a successful project, improved team morale, or better service to the public? If possible, use quantifiable results (e.g., “As a result of the new policy we implemented, we increased efficiency by 20%”). Even if the results weren’t entirely positive, reflect on what you learned and how you could apply those lessons in the future. This shows resilience and a commitment to continuous learning, both of which are valued in the Civil Service.

What You Should Not Do When Answering Questions

Do not avoid the question.

Do not describe a failure (unless specifically asked).

Do not downplay the situation.

Do not overhype the situation.

Do not say you have no experience with the subject matter.

Do not reject the premise of the question.

Do not have a passive role in the situation.

Do not give a one-sentence answer.

Do not overly describe the scenario and miss the action.

Civil Service Interview Question & Answers

Question 1: Tell me about yourself.

Well, first of all, thank you for providing me with this opportunity to introduce myself. I’m Jane Doe, a dedicated professional with a passion for public service. I’ve been fortunate to work for the last six years in roles that have allowed me to contribute to society and learn how to operate effectively within the framework of government regulations and policies.

I started my career as an administrative assistant in a local government agency. This role gave me a strong understanding of the importance of organization, effective communication, and accuracy in a public service setting. I was often the first point of contact for the public and quickly learned the importance of being approachable, patient, and detail-oriented.

After two years, I advanced to a project management role where I was responsible for coordinating various community development initiatives. I’ve successfully managed teams, built partnerships, and ensured our projects were completed on time and within budget. This role allowed me to further develop my skills in strategic planning, problem-solving, and leadership.

In terms of my education, I hold a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from XYZ University. During my studies, I had the opportunity to intern with the Department of Health, which solidified my desire to pursue a career in civil service.

To continue growing professionally, I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Policy part-time, with a focus on sustainable urban development.

What truly drives me in my career is knowing that the work I do can make a real difference in people’s lives. I’m eager to bring my experience, skills, and passion for public service to this role, and I believe I have the background and perspective necessary to make a positive impact.

Again, I’m delighted to be here today, and I’m looking forward to the possibility of contributing to your team.

Question 2: Tell me about a situation where you had to adapt quickly to changing priorities or unexpected obstacles while working on a project. How did you handle the situation, and what steps did you take to ensure that the project stayed on track?

From my experience as a logistics coordinator, I firmly believe that resilience and adaptability are essential for any successful project. During my tenure at AlphaLogistics, I was involved in coordinating a large scale delivery of materials for a construction project. Unexpectedly, the delivery was delayed due to a strike at the supplier’s end.

In this scenario, I was responsible for ensuring that the delay did not hamper the construction timeline. Therefore, I quickly contacted alternate suppliers and negotiated expedited delivery terms. I also updated the construction team about the situation and helped them rearrange their schedule to accommodate this change.

Despite the unforeseen strike, our actions helped maintain the construction timeline without any additional costs. This incident fortified my belief in the importance of being flexible, proactive, and maintaining open lines of communication when dealing with changing circumstances.

Question 3: Tell me about a project or initiative where you had to weigh the short-term and long-term implications of a decision. How did you ensure that your decision aligned with the broader organisational goals and had positive impacts in the long run?

As a Sustainability Consultant at GammaGreen, I firmly believe in balancing short-term demands with long-term sustainability. I was advising a manufacturing client who was keen on upgrading their machinery to boost immediate production capacity.

However, recognizing the long-term environmental impact and potential regulatory changes, I recommended that they consider more energy-efficient machinery, even though it was more expensive and would not boost capacity as much in the short term.

To persuade the client, I provided a detailed cost-benefit analysis, highlighting potential energy cost savings, positive environmental impact, and improved brand reputation. The client agreed, and in the long run, they not only benefited financially but also substantially reduced their carbon footprint.

This project underscored my belief in making decisions that may seem tough in the short term but align better with long-term organisational goals and broader societal responsibilities.

Question 4: Share an example of a situation where you had to adjust your plans or strategies based on changes in the external environment or emerging trends. How did your ability to see the big picture help you navigate these changes and make informed decisions?

As the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at OmicronInc, monitoring external trends and adjusting strategies accordingly is a crucial part of my role. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, our traditional business model of in-person sales presentations was severely disrupted.

By recognizing the broader societal shift towards remote working and digital solutions, I led the swift transition of our sales strategy to a virtual format. We implemented digital tools for online presentations, sales tracking, and customer relationship management.

This adaptation allowed us not only to survive but to thrive during the pandemic, reaching a wider customer base and increasing sales. This reinforced my belief in the importance of seeing the big picture and being adaptive to external changes for strategic success.

Question 5: Describe a time when you actively sought feedback from others to identify areas of improvement in your own performance. How did you use that feedback to develop yourself, and what impact did it have on your professional growth?

In my role as a Product Manager at IotaIndustries, after the launch of a new product, I actively sought feedback from my team about my performance during the project. I’ve always believed that feedback, whether positive or negative, is a crucial component of professional growth.

The feedback highlighted that while my technical skills were strong, my presentation skills needed improvement. I took this feedback positively and enrolled in a public speaking course. I also sought opportunities to present in team meetings to hone my skills.

This active response to feedback significantly improved my presentation skills, making me a more effective communicator. This experience further emphasised the importance of seeking feedback and acting on it for personal and professional growth.

See more questions and learn from over 100 sample answers…

“Tell me about yourself” – Project Manager Interview Question & Answers

June 4, 2023 by Mike Jacobsen

What the interviewer is looking for by asking this question

There are probably an infinite number of questions that the interviewer could ask you on the day. Some questions are incredibly common appearing in almost every interview you will have, while other questions you might hear once and never again regardless of how many jobs you apply for.

Fundamentally though all interview questions are really trying to find out one of 3 things:

1 – Can you do the job? (Do you have the skills/experience needed?)
2 – Will you do the job? (Do you have the drive/motivation to get the job done?)
3 – Will you fit in? (Does your personality match the workplace culture? Are you likeable?)

That’s it. Those are the 3 things that the interviewer is trying to ascertain. Every question that is asked of you will fundamentally be trying to resolve one (or more) of these 3 things.

When the interviewer starts the conversation with the classic question, “Tell me about yourself,” it can seem vague and daunting. However, they are likely probing one or more of those three crucial inquiries: Can you do the job? Will you do the job? Will you fit in?

Let’s relate the question back to those three areas of interest:

1 – Can you do the job? (Do you have the skills/experience needed?): When asked, “Tell me about yourself,” this is an opportunity to share your skills and experiences relevant to the job. Speak about your academic qualifications, your previous work experiences, and the skills you developed from them that make you an ideal candidate for this role. For example, if you’re applying for a product management role, you can mention your experiences in managing cross-functional teams, your understanding of the market and customer needs, and your success in product delivery.

2 – Will you do the job? (Do you have the drive/motivation to get the job done?): In the same vein, you can demonstrate your motivation through discussing your career growth and aspirations, why you chose this career path, and why you’re interested in this particular role at their company. Make sure to include specific examples that showcase your tenacity, dedication, and the drive you have to achieve results. For instance, talking about a project you led from ideation to completion despite setbacks would highlight your determination and ability to follow through.

3 – Will you fit in? (Does your personality match the workplace culture? Are you likeable?): Here, you can discuss your working style, core values, and interpersonal skills. You can also discuss times you have successfully worked within a team, or how you’ve adjusted to different workplace cultures in the past. Express your enthusiasm for the company culture and values, but ensure to remain authentic in your portrayal.

While “Tell me about yourself” seems like a simple icebreaker, it is indeed a multi-faceted question. Your answer should reassure the interviewer that you have the right skills and experience, the motivation to do the job, and the personality to fit in with the team and the company culture.

How Best To Answer “Tell me about yourself”

When practicing your response to this question consider employing a three-part structure: Past, Present, Future. This approach allows you to chronologically walk the interviewer through your professional journey, all while answering those three key questions implicitly.

Past: Begin with a brief overview of where you started professionally, and provide a summary of your experience that is relevant to the project management role. Highlight specific roles you’ve held, projects you’ve completed, and skills you’ve developed that make you well-suited for the position. For example, you might discuss your experience leading diverse teams, managing budgets, or overseeing large-scale projects.
Present: Transition into your current situation. If you’re employed, describe your current role, major projects or achievements, and what you’ve learned. If you’re in transition, focus on what you’re looking to do next and why. Showcase your motivation through demonstrating a continuous pursuit of growth and results. Perhaps discuss how you are continually striving to improve, by, for example, gaining new project management certifications or mastering new project management software.
Future: Finally, express why you’re interested in this project management role and how it aligns with your career aspirations. Discuss what you know about the company and its culture, why you’re excited about the opportunity, and how you believe you can bring value to the team. This allows you to demonstrate a potential culture fit and a genuine interest in the role.

Remember to keep your response concise and engaging, and practice it several times to ensure it sounds natural. Tailor it to the role and company, always highlighting how your past, present, and future align with the requirements of the role.

What You Should NOT Do When Answering Questions

Do not avoid the question.

Do not describe a failure (unless specifically asked).

Do not downplay the situation.

Do not overhype the situation.

Do not say you have no experience with the subject matter.

Do not reject the premise of the question.

Do not have a passive role in the situation.

Do not give a one-sentence answer.

Do not overly describe the scenario and miss the action

“Tell me about yourself” – Project Manager Example Answers

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Project Manager Example 1

“Starting off, I began my career with a degree in Computer Science and soon realized that my strengths lay in coordinating teams and managing complex tasks, which led me to pursue project management. Over the last 8 years, I have worked with several tech companies, managing a variety of projects from software development to infrastructure upgrades. In one of my major accomplishments, I led a cross-functional team to develop a new software product, delivering it within budget and 20% ahead of the deadline.

Currently, I’m the Project Manager at XYZ Tech, where I manage a portfolio of projects aimed at optimizing internal processes for our clients. I’m particularly proud of a recent project where we automated a significant portion of a client’s manual data processing, increasing their efficiency by 30%.

Looking ahead, I’m excited about the opportunity to work with your organization. I’ve always admired your company’s innovative approach to technology and your strong commitment to team collaboration. I’m particularly interested in your upcoming initiatives in AI, as I’ve been studying and getting certifications in this area. I believe my skill set and my drive to stay at the forefront of tech advancements will allow me to make a significant contribution to your team and the projects we’ll deliver together.”

Project Manager Example 2

“I started my career in the construction industry as an on-site engineer. While I enjoyed the hands-on technical aspects, I quickly found myself drawn towards the strategic and organizational elements of project delivery. That’s when I decided to shift my career towards project management. I honed my skills in scheduling, risk management, and team leadership across several high-profile projects, including a major hospital construction where I oversaw a team of over 50 individuals and managed a budget exceeding $20 million.

At present, I am serving as a Senior Project Manager for ABC Construction, where I am responsible for handling our most complex and high-stake projects. My recent project involved coordinating the construction of a multi-story commercial building in the city center. Despite several unforeseen hurdles, including a city-wide lockdown due to a health crisis, we managed to deliver the project on time while adhering to the stringent safety standards and maintaining the set budget.

Moving forward, what attracted me to this role in your company is your commitment to sustainability and green building practices, which is a direction I am keen on taking my career towards. I recently completed a certification in Sustainable Building Design, and I believe that this focus, combined with my solid project management background, would bring a unique perspective to your team. I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to projects that are not only successful in terms of time, scope, and cost, but also make a positive impact on the environment and the community.”

Mike Jacobsen

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Question 1: Tell me about yourself.