Page 163 - You're Hired! Interview Answers

non-ComPetenCY-BaSed QueStionS knowLedge-BaSed QueStionS Self-evaluation, self-disclosure and
motivation questions

Sometimes you will be asked to self-asses or to self-disclose as a means for the
interviewer to discover how objective or how thoughtful you are about your own
performance. They are often trying to assess your honesty with such questions,
so an answer that is too glib or immodest risks leaving the wrong impression.
Examples of these questions are given below, with poor and better answers.

Self-evaluation questions

n What do you see as your main strengths and weaknesses as far as
leadership is concerned?

n Given what you know about this job, where do you see you have most to
learn?

n Tell me what you are like at your worst.

7 Poor answer:

“Well I don’t really think I have any ‘worst days’, my performance is pretty
consistent! ”

At best, this answer sounds arrogant; at worst, it risks sounding as if you have
little self-insight.

3 Better answer:

“Well, I try to make sure it doesn’t happen often but when I am under a lot of

pressure I do tend to be a bit less accessible to my team, it doesn’t usually last

for long and they know they have permission to tell me when I’m doing it! ”

This answer admits to a human failing that the interviewer will recognise (and
probably share), that is forgivable and that shows you have self-awareness.

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