Describe a situation when working with a team produced more successful results than if you had completed the project on your own.  

 

What was your role in your department's most recent success? 

 

Share an example of how you were able to motivate employees or co-workers.  

 

Give an example of how you set goals.  

 

Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it.  

Give an example of how you worked on a team. 

 

Describe a situation when working with a team produced more successful results than if you had completed the project on your own.  

 

This is a "Behavioural interviewing" style of question.   The interviewer wants to learn more about your thought process, and how well you can form examples to answer this teamwork related question.   You will want to show your ability to solicit ideas from others, listen carefully, and persuade people to your point of view.

 

"Well, I have worked both independently and as a member of team, throughout my career. I enjoy both, and I can do both equally well. I will have to say, though, that working with others has often yielded great results for projects I have worked on — specifically when it comes to brainstorming.  

 

I try to get everyone involved in coming up with new solutions by making time for sessions where "there are no wrong ideas or answers." The creativity of a group of people is always going to be greater than that of one person, and thus the results will be more successful. I did that a lot a Job "Y".  

FOR EXAMPLE ..." 

 

"Working with others allows you data-mine other people's skills and experiences, get perspectives and ideas that you would not have on your own, and check the quality of your own work before it goes out the door.  

FOR EXAMPLE, at Job "X" I worked with many great people. I was able to "pick their brains" — so to speak — about the effectiveness of various techniques, estimates on how long it would take to get various things done, etc. — I would not have been able to do my job as effectively without them ... Will there be the opportunity to work in team situations at this job?" 

 

What was your role in your department's most 

recent success? 

 

You'll want to be very specific here and frame your answer in terms of how you saved time and money. The interviewer is looking for a pattern of success, and you need to describe recent successes in detail.  

 

Use the S.T.A.R. Statement formula for your examples. Be prepared with at least three examples concerning your recent successes, and make sure at least one of them relates to teamwork and something you accomplished as part of a group. Make sure you address how your work made other people FEEL, as well as the time you saved and the revenue or cost-savings you generated. 

 

"I guess that would be a recent project for client "X." I handled all of the communication with the client for our last project. It was a three-month long project where my team had to build a custom package based on the needs of client. I was instrumental in translating the client's business needs into detailed product features. I had to make sure that my team understood what the client wanted, and then check the quality to make sure that we were delivering a quality product with the features that the client was expecting."  

 

"Well, it was an ongoing process that required a lot of communication and teamwork with my team as well as the client. I think my role really was to clarify the scope of the project, and then "manage the client's expectations."  

 

We were able to deliver on time, and the client was thrilled! I was able to make sure no time was wasted on adding unnecessary features, and since we were working on a fixed bid price, we saved my company time and money. My manager and everybody on my team felt great because the project went so smoothly ...  

 

Is that the kind of experience that would help me be successful here?" 

 

 

Share an example of how you were able to motivate employees or co-workers.  

 

I was in a situation once where the management of our department was taken over by employees with experience in a totally different industry, in an effort to maximize profits over service. Many of my co-workers were resistant to the sweeping changes that were being made, but I recognised some of the benefits right off the bat and was able to motivate my colleagues to give the new process a chance to succeed.

 

Give an example of how you set goals.

Within a few weeks of beginning my first job as a sales associate in a small company, I knew that I wanted to be in the technology industry. I decided that I would work my way up to a BDM role, and from that point I would have gather enough runs on the board to be able to ask for an account managers role. I did just that, and I landed my first major account just one month after starting the role.

 

Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it.

 

When I started working for XYZ Company, I wanted to achieve the Salesperson of the Month title. It was a motivational challenge, and not all the team took it that seriously, but I really wanted that parking spot, and my name on the board. 

 

I went out of my way to fill my sales pipeline with new business prospects - which I would have done anyway, I liked the job and the people I worked with. The third month I was there, I got the top spot. 

It was good to achieve my goal, and I actually ended up moving into a more senior role there pretty quickly, I think because of my positive attitude and perseverance. 

 

Give an example of how you worked on a team.
(new recruit example)

 

During my last term in college, I worked as part of a research team in the History department. The professor leading the project was writing a book on the development of language in Europe in the Middle Ages. We were each assigned different sectors to focus on, and I suggested that we meet independently before our weekly meeting with the professor to discuss our progress and help each other out if we were having any difficulties.

The professor really appreciated the way we worked together, and it helped to streamline his research as well.

She was ready to start on his final copy months ahead of schedule because of the work we helped her with.

 

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