This is part two of my TODAY method of preparing for job interviews–discussing obstacles you’ve Overcome.
This can seem daunting, but don’t be intimidated because you haven’t climbed Mt. Everest with one hand tied behind your back. Employers are looking for day-to-day examples of when you were faced with a challenge and used your street-smarts, book-smarts, or just plain cunning to get you out of a mess.
Again, remember to set the stage to give some background about the situation, talk specifically about what YOU did, and how the situation resolved.
Think of everyday examples of obstacles you worked to overcome. Was there a time when you had to get to the airport but your car wouldn’t start? Do you remember a situation at work when you had to ship many packages but the shipping department had left for the day? Did you ever start a job to find that the person before you had left all of the materials in complete disarray and your new boss wasn’t able to train you on what you should be doing? Maybe it’s even something as simple as quitting smoking.
Some of those were bigger challenges than others, but all of them will demonstrate to a potential employer the following characteristics:
- How you deal with pressure.
- How you approach problems.
- What your thought process is to find the solution.
- How do you react if you have to change your game plan midway through the task.
- How much guidance you require to accomplish a task. Are you a self-starter?
- Maybe in some of those situations you even had to manage others to overcome the obstacle. Can you be an effective leader?
All of these things are vital characteristics to an employer’s search for the perfect employee. Make it easy for them to recognize you as their next star by practicing your soundbites and clearly explaining your greatness.