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94                                              Boost Your Hiring IQ


          ANSWERS
          The Strongest Answer

              (A) This is the strongest example and therefore the strongest an-
                  swer to the question. The answer is specific and provides the
                  steps this candidate took to help another person with a prob-
                  lem. It also shows that this candidate is willing to go above and
                  beyond her regular duties by giving up lunch hours to help a
                  coworker.This is an indicator of a real team player.The fact that
                  she initiated the help and then volunteered to do something
                  about the problem is an indicator of caring as well as of her hav-
                  ing the ability to be patient in teaching new things. More ques-
                  tions and probing will reveal whether there is a pattern of this
                  type of behavior or if this was an isolated incident.


          The Mediocre Answer
              (B) This is an okay answer because it tells you something about
                  the candidate; nevertheless, it does not answer the question.
                  The candidate has learned through experience what worked
                  well. In other words, he did it before, and he can do it again at
                  your company in this position. In order to get a specific answer
                  and the details of how the competition worked, you will need
                  to probe for more information, with questions like, “What
                  types of rewards were offered to the high achievers?”

          The Weakest Answer
              (C) This answer lack specifics. On the surface it sounds very good.
                  This candidate sounds like she has a real gift for seeking out and
                  helping people with problems. Yet there is a potential red flag.
                  You don’t know if helping people is a part of this person’s job re-
                  sponsibilities and, if not, how capable she is of handling her own
                  job responsibilities. In addition, if she is coaching people outside
                  her department, has this candidate overstepped the boundaries?
                  If the job you are recruiting for includes a need for coaching
                  skills, then you should probe further for specific information.



          RATE YOURSELF
            If you chose answer (A), give yourself 5 points.
            If you chose answer (B), give yourself 3 points.
            If you chose answer (C), give yourself 0 points. _____
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