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can be either a technical skill or a softskill, such as teamwork or communication. Once you've decided which of your strengths you want to feature, it's time to identify real life examples where you've demonstrated that strength. The best way to approach be- havioral questions is to use the STAR method. This helps you break down a scenario and explain how you successfully navigated it.
Situation:
Offer some background on the task or challenge that you'll be addressing.
Task:
Define what your role and responsibilities were for the particular situation.
Action:
Explain what steps you took or ideas you offered to help solve the problem or tackle that challenge.
Result:
Share how the situation was resolved, highlighting how your actions helped reach that conclusion. Here's an example: If you interview for a posi- ion that requires you to lead or even be part of a team, you might choose to say one of your strengths is leadership.
Situation:
I volunteer as a gardener at a local park and enjoy working with new volunteers.
Task:
The park identified a need to educate new volunteers about native plants.
Action:
I organized a training session to teach my team members about native plants.
Result:
The new volunteers found it so useful that the training is now part of the new volunteer onboarding process. In this scenario, an inter- viewer might recognize your ability to take initiative to address needs and lead a new volunteer training. While this answer may seem simple, it demonstrates your strength in both initiative and leadership, which are valuable traits to all employers. If you find it is hard to iden- ify your strengths, consider your ability to: Collaborate Solve problems Take direction and focus on tasks Use technology Lead or mentor Rehearsing your answers can also help you feel prepared when heading into your next interview. Common interview questions to consider include: Why do you want this job? Tell me about a time when you had to learn something quickly but knew nothing about it before. Tell me about a time you made a mistake. Tell me about a goal you set and how you achieved it. What is one of your weak- nesses? Reflect on your skills and accomplishments. Think about why they qualify you to succeed in the job you're applying for. Think about the strengths of your profession- al role models and whether you have some of those same qualities. Consider a time when a teammate shared something they admired about you. Or think back to any times you received recognition for your work and what skills allowed you to shine.
Source: Ticket to Work
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