Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure you have been faced with those situations, just not on such a grand scale as you perceive they're asking about. You've NEVER experienced conflict in a prior position? It doesn't have to be the type of conflict that you cower in a corner or storm out the door and leave forever - have you ever made a suggestion to a coworker that they disagreed with and you talked it out to reach the logical conclusion? Have you ever felt stifled by a boss or micromanaged and figured out a way to mitigate those situations? While you probably haven't experienced an ethical dilemma on the scale of seeing your boss steal petty cash or similar, have you ever worked with an employee who slacked off? Have you ever had a boss that fibbed to a client or something?

Those can be framed as any of the situations you listed, it's simply that - how you frame it. There's not a "right" answer to those questions.

I personally like to find typical questions and literally do a practice interview out loud. It helps you to remember your answers later if you hear them once or more times before the actual interview. Good luck!

To be honest, I am thinking and nothing really, nothing comes to mind. I work as an analyst and I have always worked in great environments with great people. I don’t remember a conflicting situation, we probably discuss disagreements and come to a consensus but the disagreements are not that great that they are even worth mentioning. It could be something like “ I think you should write down the word Million as supposed to MM in your report”. Always had great bosses who were friendly, open door policies and amazing mentors, never had a micromanager as a boss. I have a very easygoing personality, anti-confrontational at best!

Give me your résumé and an hour of your time and I bet you a case of beer I can find answers to everything.

Practice reframing. Here's how:
Make a list of six or seven stories
Identify and categorize them - each story can be spun three or four different ways
Practice transitional sentences:
"For me the biggest challenge I've had is working with a team that ..."
Or "I've never had particularly difficult bosses, or perhaps I have and I just adjust naturally, but in general that's my approach to challenging situations such as what described or when a team member isn't carrying their weight. For instance...."

Etc

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HR Bitch here: Firstly, I can suss out if someone is just a nervous interviewer but will be a great employee.

Secondly, practice, practice, practice. Write out each question you have a hard time with, come up with answers, and rehearse giving them. Then practice with other people.

Unfortunately, the company I will be interviewing for is very cut-throat and competitive, I think having a bad interview because of nervousness will totally cost me the job. I will practice, thank you

OP, have you been happy in past jobs with great bosses, easy-going co-workers, little conflict, etc? I am asking because if that is the kind of environment where you thrive, I wonder if you will be happy in a place that is very cut-throat and competitive. I much prefer to work in places that are not at all competitive and have not lasted long at jobs where cut-throat was the environment.

You’re right , I am a very easing going person and would definitely prefer an environment that is not cut –throat, however I have realized that in my field if I want to grow and be challenged, I have to get out of my comfort zone. For ex, don’t have any issues at my current job, I could probably stay here for the next 10 years, but I am not challenged, I know everything the job entails, and I have zero motivation. I feel like I need to get out of my comfort zone, and find something more challenging, otherwise I will never grow as a person or will have a stalled career, but you’re right it is a risk and I might end up hating it

Or you might end up quitting your new job, like I did once. I also thought that I wasn't 'challenged' enough and needed to 'get out of my comfort zone', but once I did, I just couldn't hack it. The place was hell, and most employees didn't stick around for long.

So do you think I should just stay at my current job even though I don't feel challenged at all? What do you advise me to do? ( staying at my current job would be deadly )

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HR Bitch here: Firstly, I can suss out if someone is just a nervous interviewer but will be a great employee.

Secondly, practice, practice, practice. Write out each question you have a hard time with, come up with answers, and rehearse giving them. Then practice with other people.

Unfortunately, the company I will be interviewing for is very cut-throat and competitive, I think having a bad interview because of nervousness will totally cost me the job. I will practice, thank you

OP, have you been happy in past jobs with great bosses, easy-going co-workers, little conflict, etc? I am asking because if that is the kind of environment where you thrive, I wonder if you will be happy in a place that is very cut-throat and competitive. I much prefer to work in places that are not at all competitive and have not lasted long at jobs where cut-throat was the environment.

You’re right , I am a very easing going person and would definitely prefer an environment that is not cut –throat, however I have realized that in my field if I want to grow and be challenged, I have to get out of my comfort zone. For ex, don’t have any issues at my current job, I could probably stay here for the next 10 years, but I am not challenged, I know everything the job entails, and I have zero motivation. I feel like I need to get out of my comfort zone, and find something more challenging, otherwise I will never grow as a person or will have a stalled career, but you’re right it is a risk and I might end up hating it

Or you might end up quitting your new job, like I did once. I also thought that I wasn't 'challenged' enough and needed to 'get out of my comfort zone', but once I did, I just couldn't hack it. The place was hell, and most employees didn't stick around for long.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HR Bitch here: Firstly, I can suss out if someone is just a nervous interviewer but will be a great employee.

Secondly, practice, practice, practice. Write out each question you have a hard time with, come up with answers, and rehearse giving them. Then practice with other people.

Unfortunately, the company I will be interviewing for is very cut-throat and competitive, I think having a bad interview because of nervousness will totally cost me the job. I will practice, thank you

OP, have you been happy in past jobs with great bosses, easy-going co-workers, little conflict, etc? I am asking because if that is the kind of environment where you thrive, I wonder if you will be happy in a place that is very cut-throat and competitive. I much prefer to work in places that are not at all competitive and have not lasted long at jobs where cut-throat was the environment.

You’re right , I am a very easing going person and would definitely prefer an environment that is not cut –throat, however I have realized that in my field if I want to grow and be challenged, I have to get out of my comfort zone. For ex, don’t have any issues at my current job, I could probably stay here for the next 10 years, but I am not challenged, I know everything the job entails, and I have zero motivation. I feel like I need to get out of my comfort zone, and find something more challenging, otherwise I will never grow as a person or will have a stalled career, but you’re right it is a risk and I might end up hating it

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HR Bitch here: Firstly, I can suss out if someone is just a nervous interviewer but will be a great employee.

Secondly, practice, practice, practice. Write out each question you have a hard time with, come up with answers, and rehearse giving them. Then practice with other people.

Unfortunately, the company I will be interviewing for is very cut-throat and competitive, I think having a bad interview because of nervousness will totally cost me the job. I will practice, thank you

OP, have you been happy in past jobs with great bosses, easy-going co-workers, little conflict, etc? I am asking because if that is the kind of environment where you thrive, I wonder if you will be happy in a place that is very cut-throat and competitive. I much prefer to work in places that are not at all competitive and have not lasted long at jobs where cut-throat was the environment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To be honest, I am thinking and nothing really, nothing comes to mind. I work as an analyst and I have always worked in great environments with great people. I don’t remember a conflicting situation, we probably discuss disagreements and come to a consensus but the disagreements are not that great that they are even worth mentioning. It could be something like “ I think you should write down the word Million as supposed to MM in your report”. Always had great bosses who were friendly, open door policies and amazing mentors, never had a micromanager as a boss. I have a very easygoing personality, anti-confrontational at best!

PP here that you quoted. I am a data analyst myself. I have had some great bosses too (though my current situation stinks, admittedly), but I can still think of those things. If I were you I would sit down and consciously think of things, even that seem small to you like you just described, and just make a list. You could describe the million vs MM as a "conflict" of styles when it comes to the report aspect of your position, which you have resolved by XX (explaining why your audience would better understand "million", suggesting it looks better, finding whatever the compromise was [M on charts and million in text]). Even if you can't ultimately define them as "conflicts" or what have you, it's about general problem-solving as a skill, and NO ONE does not have to solve problems in their jobs.

Thank you, that's some great advice. I think i just need to sit down, think about these situations and write down examples and practice tons....

Anonymous wrote:I have what could be the interview of my career coming up and I don’t interview well. One of my biggest weaknesses are behavioral questions, usually the interviewer will ask me situations I have never confronted and I really don’t have an answer so I start making something up and the reason is, if I don’t, I will end up saying NO to mostly all of their questions. For some reason, there are lots of situations I just have never been a part of like a conflicting situation, ethical dilemma, bad boss, bad coworker, bad team environment, ect. You get the gist. So, how do I get better at interviewing, especially for behavioral questions . Do you have any tips as to what made you confident at interviews and how you were able to improve your interviewing skills? Thanks

Practice.

Anonymous wrote:To be honest, I am thinking and nothing really, nothing comes to mind. I work as an analyst and I have always worked in great environments with great people. I don’t remember a conflicting situation, we probably discuss disagreements and come to a consensus but the disagreements are not that great that they are even worth mentioning. It could be something like “ I think you should write down the word Million as supposed to MM in your report”. Always had great bosses who were friendly, open door policies and amazing mentors, never had a micromanager as a boss. I have a very easygoing personality, anti-confrontational at best!

PP here that you quoted. I am a data analyst myself. I have had some great bosses too (though my current situation stinks, admittedly), but I can still think of those things. If I were you I would sit down and consciously think of things, even that seem small to you like you just described, and just make a list. You could describe the million vs MM as a "conflict" of styles when it comes to the report aspect of your position, which you have resolved by XX (explaining why your audience would better understand "million", suggesting it looks better, finding whatever the compromise was [M on charts and million in text]). Even if you can't ultimately define them as "conflicts" or what have you, it's about general problem-solving as a skill, and NO ONE does not have to solve problems in their jobs.

Anonymous wrote:HR Bitch here: Firstly, I can suss out if someone is just a nervous interviewer but will be a great employee.

Secondly, practice, practice, practice. Write out each question you have a hard time with, come up with answers, and rehearse giving them. Then practice with other people.

Unfortunately, the company I will be interviewing for is very cut-throat and competitive, I think having a bad interview because of nervousness will totally cost me the job. I will practice, thank you

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure you have been faced with those situations, just not on such a grand scale as you perceive they're asking about. You've NEVER experienced conflict in a prior position? It doesn't have to be the type of conflict that you cower in a corner or storm out the door and leave forever - have you ever made a suggestion to a coworker that they disagreed with and you talked it out to reach the logical conclusion? Have you ever felt stifled by a boss or micromanaged and figured out a way to mitigate those situations? While you probably haven't experienced an ethical dilemma on the scale of seeing your boss steal petty cash or similar, have you ever worked with an employee who slacked off? Have you ever had a boss that fibbed to a client or something?

Those can be framed as any of the situations you listed, it's simply that - how you frame it. There's not a "right" answer to those questions.

I personally like to find typical questions and literally do a practice interview out loud. It helps you to remember your answers later if you hear them once or more times before the actual interview. Good luck!

To be honest, I am thinking and nothing really, nothing comes to mind. I work as an analyst and I have always worked in great environments with great people. I don’t remember a conflicting situation, we probably discuss disagreements and come to a consensus but the disagreements are not that great that they are even worth mentioning. It could be something like “ I think you should write down the word Million as supposed to MM in your report”. Always had great bosses who were friendly, open door policies and amazing mentors, never had a micromanager as a boss. I have a very easygoing personality, anti-confrontational at best!

HR Bitch here: Firstly, I can suss out if someone is just a nervous interviewer but will be a great employee.

Secondly, practice, practice, practice. Write out each question you have a hard time with, come up with answers, and rehearse giving them. Then practice with other people.

I'm sure you have been faced with those situations, just not on such a grand scale as you perceive they're asking about. You've NEVER experienced conflict in a prior position? It doesn't have to be the type of conflict that you cower in a corner or storm out the door and leave forever - have you ever made a suggestion to a coworker that they disagreed with and you talked it out to reach the logical conclusion? Have you ever felt stifled by a boss or micromanaged and figured out a way to mitigate those situations? While you probably haven't experienced an ethical dilemma on the scale of seeing your boss steal petty cash or similar, have you ever worked with an employee who slacked off? Have you ever had a boss that fibbed to a client or something?

Those can be framed as any of the situations you listed, it's simply that - how you frame it. There's not a "right" answer to those questions.

I personally like to find typical questions and literally do a practice interview out loud. It helps you to remember your answers later if you hear them once or more times before the actual interview. Good luck!

Thank you, I will try that. I think i have been passed on so many jobs, just because I don't interview well. On paper, I look great, I have all the skills needed but then at the interview I can't really sell myself or those skills and I end up losing to someone with less technical skills but better selling skills

Search interview questions online, and come up with answers.
Then, get a camcorder/phone, and record yourself answering these questions.
Watch yourself, and make improvements.
Lather, rinse, repeat.

Practice makes perfect (or at least better).

I have what could be the interview of my career coming up and I don’t interview well. One of my biggest weaknesses are behavioral questions, usually the interviewer will ask me situations I have never confronted and I really don’t have an answer so I start making something up and the reason is, if I don’t, I will end up saying NO to mostly all of their questions. For some reason, there are lots of situations I just have never been a part of like a conflicting situation, ethical dilemma, bad boss, bad coworker, bad team environment, ect. You get the gist. So, how do I get better at interviewing, especially for behavioral questions . Do you have any tips as to what made you confident at interviews and how you were able to improve your interviewing skills? Thanks