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COMPETENCY #1—INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY 91

have to close down my company if I were to receive and accept the job of-
fer, I applied for the position nonetheless because it would afford me access
to high-end affairs with celebrities and politicians, where budget would be
unimportant.

Action: After three rounds of interviews, the position was offered and

I accepted. Without skipping a beat, I immersed myself in the kitchen, mak-
ing recommendations for menus.

Result: Within a year I was charged with directing some of the com-

pany’s major events. Through word-of-mouth, I was sought after by both new
and existing clients. The referrals brought in a great deal of revenue for De-
lectable Catering, and as I suspected, the large-scale events were challeng-
ing, leaving me satisfied that I made the right move.

Question 50. Give me an example of how your first job prepared you

for this one.

Situation: When I worked as a product demonstrator in a retail envi-

ronment, I became accustomed to talking to complete strangers about prod-
uct offerings.

Action: By engaging consumers and answering product-specific

questions, I developed a strong ability to hold the customer’s attention.

Result: Owing to that experience, I learned how to connect with cus-

tomers instantly. This led to my success in securing profitable and sustainable
relationships with clients.

Question 51. Tell me about the most competitive situation you have

experienced and how you handled it.

Situation: When I was employed at Stone Imaging, I was in the run-

ning for a promotion; the other candidate was a colleague who was well liked
and admired by many people in the company, myself included.

Action: I put together a proposal that highlighted the company’s most

important objectives for the first three months. Though this step was not re-
quired, or requested by management, I felt my initiative would give me a com-
petitive edge.

Result: In the end, my colleague was awarded the promotion. How-

ever, a new position was created for me based on the proposal I had sub-
mitted. The outcome was a win-win situation for everyone involved.

American Management Association
www.amanet.org