Page 100 - Boost Your Hiring

86 Boost Your Hiring IQ

ANSWERS
The Strongest Answer
(A) This is a good solid example of a step-by-step process of influ-
encing a decision and then being able to implement an idea. It
is also an example of thinking outside the box with a new idea.
This answer shows the candidate’s other qualities such as tak-
ing the initiative with a PowerPoint presentation, and then
using the presentation to influence her boss.There is also a sense
of passion or enthusiasm for what she believed was a good idea.
It was her enthusiasm and energy that swayed her boss,and that
is a positive quality that the candidate can bring to any job.

The Mediocre Answer
(C) This answer is only average because it starts out well and then
changes direction completely. The candidate initially provides
a specific example but then turns to general information in-
stead of telling the details about the project that the boss had
approved. You will have to get the candidate back on track to
find out what he did after the project got the the go-ahead.
This is a person who has a lot of ideas but obviously hasn’t
been encouraged to do this as part of his job.This could be a red
flag because the candidate may be focusing on something that
is not in his job responsibilities.You will have to probe to see if
this is a problem that has come up before or something that
has been encouraged and rewarded.

The Weakest Answer
(B) Although this answer has some good content, there is no ex-
ample given. This person claims to have an “idea a week,” but
fails to talk specifically about the time when an idea was ac-
cepted. She also claims that her success rate is “80 to 85 percent
as far as money-makers go.” Does that mean that her ideas
bring in money? You will have to ask more questions about the
claim regarding her success rate.

RATE YOURSELF
If you chose answer (A), give yourself 5 points.
If you chose answer (C), give yourself 3 points.

If you chose answer (B), give yourself 0 points. _____