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88 COMPETENCY-BASED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Result: Though there was no requirement that I stay working for Steel

once I graduated, I have a strong sense of loyalty and I stayed with the com-
pany to assist in its market growth. I remained employed by the company un-
til the owner passed away, and the business was sold.

Question 42. Tell me about a time when you accepted a position that

you regretted.

Situation: Straight out of college, I was offered two positions—one as

a case manager for a group home that serviced teenagers, and the other as
a patient advocate for a hospital. Owing to student loans, I took the patient
advocate position because the pay was $5,000 more a year. However, within
a month of employment, I realized that I preferred to work with teenagers than
with patients in a hospital.

Action: Since I made a commitment to the hospital, I stayed for a year,

and I managed my caseload with care. I received many letters from patients
and their families that highlighted the compassion and kindness I demon-
strated on a daily basis.

Result: Once the year was up, I searched for a position I could be

passionate about and gave my two weeks’ notice. I have focused my career
on working with adolescents ever since.

Question 43. Give an example of a situation in which you took specific

steps to meet your career goals.

Situation: Right after high school, I went to work for a retail store.

There I moved up the ladder as far as I could without a college degree.

Action: At the age of thirty-nine, while still employed full time at the store,

I enrolled in a four-year business administration program at a local college.

Result: Upon graduating, and based on my work experience, the re-

tail store offered me a position in the accounting department, where I was
charged with account-receivable functions.

Question 44. Describe a time when you asked management for direct

feedback.

Situation: When I was a junior staff member for Scottish Patches, I

petitioned to join the team slated to deliver a high-impact presentation to a

American Management Association
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