Page 126 - 101 Dynamite Answers to Interview Questions

Answer Questions I19

Do you consider yourself a risk taker? Could you
give examples of risks taken in previous jobs?

Be careful with this question. It can be a double-edged sword,
especially if the organization does not want risk takers! Analyze
the situation and assess whether risk taking is likely to be
viewed as a positive in this organization. If you believe it is a
plus, try to cite specific examples of what you’ve done. If you are
unsure, you can answer this question by noting you do have
some qualities of the risk taler, but you are also a very rational
and responsible individual who is not reckless.

= Do you consider yourself to be someone who takes
greater initiative than others?

Employers prize employees who tale initiative, since it means
less time needs to be spent on many supervisory tasks. Assuming
you do take initiative, indicate that you are someone who can
be expected to tale initiative on the job, perhaps more so than
others. For example,

Yes, I do. Most of ny jobs have aflorded me a great deal of
decision-making latitude, especially at the production level. In fact,
initiative was literally institutionalized in my last job. I’ve worked
with quality circles where we were expected to take initiative at all
times, both as a team and as individuals. Could you tell me how
initiative is handled here? How is decision-making structured in
this organization? Would you say it’s highly decentralized? Is
initiative actively encouraged anzong employees in dealing with
production issues?

Are you a self-starter? Could you give examples?

Yes, I anz able to take on a new assignment and run it success&lly
witllzout supervision. Wlzeii I was hired by Foremost Printers, they
had just taken over a publication they did not want and did not
know what to do with. They were in the business of printing and
knew nothing about publishing. They gave me the responsibility of