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92 COMPETENCY-BASED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question 52. Provide an example of a real-life experience that prepared

you for this position.

Situation: Sixteen years ago my son was born with autism.
Action: Since I knew nothing about the syndrome, I immersed myself

in researching autism, so as to learn all I could about the condition. The in-
formation I gathered helped me in my development as a mother, and also in
my dealings with the doctor.

Result: As part of that experience, I learned where to go and how to

research a subject, quickly and thoroughly. My ability to research subjects
quickly cuts down on preparation time for completing assignments. In addi-
tion, as my son’s condition made his behavior unpredictable, I honed an abil-
ity to adapt my communication style to meet his varying needs. This flexible
communication skill is useful when dealing with co-workers and clients.

American Management Association
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