Understanding Yourself – What’s important to convey to your audience?

Research what competencies are important for your desired career—what’s likely to be assessed during the interview. Anticipate and organize your most
relevant and salient experiences. Using some type of framework may help you illustrate how different aspects of your candidacy may be revealed through
a single experience. The following format will help you to organize key information for responding to general, behavioral and fit types of questions.

Experience Competency, Skill or Demonstrated Action

Summarize what you did by
describing concrete events,
projects, programs or
activities.
Designed and built new
circuit system
Characteristic you
seek to demonstrate
(see “About Your Target Fx”:
What’s required to support it)
Influence & Initiative
Research & Analysis
Interpersonal - Cultivated
Partnerships
** Establish a connection between your previous experience and future role:
How will this skill/experience help you perform in the desired role?
What need does this address for the organization?
 Identified a need & took it upon myself to improve the situation
 Built consensus among constituents
 Created & presented compelling recommendation
 Secured relevant data
 Identified alternative courses of action
 Developed solution based on research, analysis of data and creativity
 Established shared goals
 Showed sensitivity and appreciation of others’ needs
 Expressed a willingness to compromise

Question: Describe a time when you took the initiative to improve something? (Interview for Brand Mgt)

Response: The circuit system in my plant was adequate, but I thought that if it were reconfigured, we could improve production. I knew that in order
to suggest a project involving such large-scale change I’d better have a complete plan of action ready to present to my manager. I analyzed the system
and researched the latest developments in design in this area. Part of my needs assessment included conducting small focus groups with others at the
plant to determine how their productivity could be enhanced by changing the system. To build further support for the project, I involved those who
would be the most effected by the changes and together we used this feedback along with my research on technology and cost-benefit analysis to
develop a compelling case for why we should undertake this project.
When my proposal was complete, I presented it to the plant manager. She was pleasantly surprised yet confident in my recommendations, so she
presented it to senior management for consideration. They subsequently approved the project with minor budgetary changes and the plant circuit
system was redesigned—yielding an average productivity gain of 15% in the first year.
** I see this type of experience being very useful in a role where you continually work with others to address opportunities or solve problems that span
functional or departmental boundaries. This experience enabled me to develop the ability to present an idea, build consensus around a common goal
and then influence others to take action—all of which are integral to the role of a marketing manager (or analyst).
Experience
Summarize what you did by
describing concrete events,
projects, programs or
activities.
Competency, Skill or Demonstrated Action
Characteristic you How will this experience help you perform in your desired role?
seek to demonstrate
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