Dated May 19, 2004
I am often asked a question like: "Define success and explain how would you implement it in your organisation." How do I answer this?
TEENA
Kerala
This is one of those make-or-break questions, which determine your employability. Based on the response, you'll be pushed up on the interview ladder, or eliminated.
Begin with your definition of success, such as: "I learned early in my career, it's passion
that drives me toward my goals but I `ve discovered that it's the hard work that yields success. I constantly strive to improve my performance by questioning how I could have accomplished more the previous day. This way, I'll always feel my next achievement will be greater than my last."
As for the second part of the question, cite brief examples of your achievements that are in consonance with the needs of the open position. This enables the interviewer to judge how your talents, skills and accomplishments match the qualifications they're looking for.
Remember not to talk longer than two minutes at a time. State key points briefly, yet thoroughly. If the interviewer needs more information, he will ask.
The interviewer wants to see if the candidates have placed the company's interests before their own. For example, he would like to assess whether the candidate has adequately researched the company to determine how they can help solve a problem, increase profits, or reduce costs? What value-added benefit would this candidate contribute to the organisation? Are the candidate's prior achievements indicative of how successful he would be in the position he has applied for?
The interviewer will also try to assess your enthusiasm, confidence and ambition to determine whether you'll fit in their organisation's culture and work environment.
What are the career prospects in the field of e-commerce?
SHEELA
Chennai
Graduates can take up roles as technical and business professionals in companies with
an e-commerce focus. Candidates can aspire to take up senior managerial positions within this specialisation.
They will be especially suitable for medium and large size enterprises. An e-commerce professional will frequently have to cover a wide range of e-commerce related activities, all the way from business development management and marketing to technical implementation.
KARTHIK
Pune
A good way to answer this question is to narrate a criticism directed at you that is not of much significance and which is not directly related to the position you're applying for. Telling the interviewer that you were constantly criticised for coming to work an hour late is not a good idea.
But revealing a minor criticism and telling the interviewer what steps you took to improve yourself on that front would be appropriate. In fact, it would be better if you can state that you have already overcome the problem and received a higher mark on a subsequent performance review. The criticisms you are going to speak out about will work in your favour if you work on them with a little effort. One thing you could say that your supervisor used to criticise you for delivery always before schedule, assuming you had not done a thorough job, despite being proved wrong time and again. You could add that you overcame this criticism by delivering on schedule and appending a comment that you are sorry for not delivering before schedule as usual, because you used the time to make a detailed check before submission. In this way you will have said something positive about yourself though you were asked for something negative, and demonstrated your presence of mind and resourcefulness.
I am always confused by the question: "Tell me about a situation where you had a problem with decisiveness and how you solved it?" How can I get an appropriate answer, especially since this will be my first job ad I cannot cite job-related examples?
RAMYA
Chennai
Decisiveness is the ability to make a proper decision quickly and take action based on available information; make commitments and not change decisions when challenged; and deal with emergencies as necessary. This holds good at work, at home and in school.
Describe a situation where you had to make a decisive move; like when you were under pressure to initiate an immediate action, perhaps without the support of a parent or a teacher or any supervisor.
Many situations at the workplace require fast thinking and speedy decision- making. Give an example of a situation in which you were especially skilful in making a quick decision to see that a college or family event went off smoothly.
Also recall a time you took an unpopular stand regarding a particular instructional issue. Why was your stance so unpopular; what strategies did you use to gain support for your side, etc. Explain a situation that illustrates your collaborative consultation skills when contemplating a particular decision.<137>
I was asked a back-to-the-wall question that was a total googly: "Would you choose the same career if you have to start all over again?" I know I flubbed the answer, but what should I have said?
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Opportunities
