| At the age of fifty-something, I lost my job. My | | | | including some examples. |
| company, here in Oklahoma City, was very pleasant | | | | 1) The first question she asked was, "Give me an |
| when they notified me that I was not being fired, | | | | example of a job you had where quality and/or |
| just laid off. But, you know what? The end result is | | | | accuracy was very important". |
| the same. The bottom line is I am jobless, | | | | · A possible answer from me should have |
| unemployed, out of work, unwaged and oh, yeah, I | | | | been (t), "Each month, at my previous job with a |
| forgot, seeking work. | | | | furniture store, I calculated the commissions for all of |
| I began my journey to a new job by updating my | | | | the sales people". Here I had placed myself squarely |
| resume (there was some dusting off involved but I | | | | in the middle of a task. |
| finally got it ready to go). Next, I got the resume out | | | | · I would then add, (a) "I created an excel |
| to as many potential employers as possible. But, | | | | work sheet, on the Great Plains software I worked |
| guess what follows getting your quality resume out? | | | | with, that allowed me to input their commissions on a |
| That's right! You're called in for an interview. Another | | | | daily basis and have their totals calculated for me by |
| journey I hadn't taken in 36 years. | | | | month end". All right, that's a strong action, this |
| I arrived on time for my first interview (I would hope | | | | doesn't seem so hard. |
| so!). I sat down with a smiling Human Resources | | | | · And finally, I would finish with, (r) "This |
| woman who said that she had a few questions for | | | | saved me time but, most of all it provided a precise |
| me and she would be taking some notes as I was | | | | accounting of their work and they could be |
| answering them. | | | | accurately paid". Great finish with a result that |
| And so we began. She was asking questions that, at | | | | impacted people's paychecks. Always a reason to be |
| first blush, seemed relatively easy to answer. I | | | | ultra accurate. |
| noticed quickly, however, that she would often | | | | 2) Let's try one more example. Another question I |
| re-package the question and toss it back to me, | | | | was asked, "Tell me about a time you dealt with a |
| even though I felt I had already answered it. The | | | | frustrated/upset customer". |
| questions dragged on forever. In fact, a lot of the | | | | · (s) "A woman came into the furniture |
| time the "question" didn't seem like a question at all | | | | company I worked at screaming and complaining that |
| but rather it was phrased like this, "Give me an | | | | the side lever on the Lazy Boy chair she had just |
| example of a time when you ...". I left the interview | | | | been sold had broken off. The chair had cost her a |
| feeling frustrated and a little unnerved. I was | | | | fortune and she had been assured it was top quality." |
| prepared to answer questions like, "Why did you | | | | · (a) "I remained calm while I apologized for |
| leave your last position?", "Do you have a strong | | | | this inconvenience and assured her I would do |
| sales background" or "How often did you figure the | | | | everything I could to help get this resolved. I found |
| sales commissions at your last job?" No such luck! | | | | the number for the Lazy Boy rep and we gave them |
| These questions never came up. What were these | | | | a call. These kinds of warranty issues have to go |
| people looking for anyway? Couldn't they trust that I | | | | through the manufacturer. Arrangements were made |
| would give them 110% if they would just give me a | | | | to have the part shipped to us and our Service |
| chance? The answer: I guess not! | | | | Department would do the repair. I told her that we |
| I went home and, as I had with my resume writing, I | | | | would be by to pick up the chair that afternoon but |
| looked for information on what makes a good (might | | | | the delivery of the part and subsequent repair would |
| I say great?) interview. I want to share with you | | | | take about 3-4 days. Again, I apologized for any |
| what I found out. Information that would have been | | | | inconvenience this would cause her. |
| good one short interview ago. Here goes: | | | | · (r) "The woman had composed herself by |
| Employers want you to answer questions in the | | | | now and told me that, although it truly was an |
| STAR format. They will ask you a "question" and | | | | inconvenience (she had purchased the chair in time |
| they want you to answer it by sharing either a | | | | for her son's graduation), she appreciated how |
| situation or a task that you were involved in (either in | | | | quickly and calmly I handled the situation and she |
| a personal situation or at your workplace), then | | | | would continue coming back to shop at our store in |
| include the actions you took and the results you | | | | the future. |
| achieved. Thus the star. So, let's break it down by | | | | |