How Should I Prepare For This
Job Interview?

  Dear Doctor,

I will be interviewing for a supervisor position in my office. Below are the questions I will have to address. I am having a difficult time putting my answers down on paper.

• What do you think are your strengths that make you a candidate for the Supervisor position?
• How do you rate your people management skills?
• How do you rate your technical strengths?
• What suggestions do you have to improve the group?
• If you are selected as the Supervisor of the area what can the do to assist you in succeeding in your new role?
• If you are not selected how will you handle it?

Can you help me get started? I wrote you earlier in the year. My question was titled "Career Dead Ends at 40." Do you think I should have notes when I am interviewed or just talk? 

Thank you in advance,

Signed,

On The Hot Seat

  Dear On The Hot Seat:

Congratulations! You are shaping your own career path. That is a task that even when pledged upon hiring only rarely will others do for us.

Looking back at how forcefully you stated your value in your previous question, "I was a top producer. . . my reputation spoke for itself," persuades me that you should have little hesitations in putting your best foot forward in the upcoming interview. I don't think you will need notes. I assume you have an updated resume listing the projects you have completed, job history, educational credentials, etc. Two copies of that (one for the interviewer and one for you) should be all you need. Sensing when to answer briefly and how much to amplify should come intuitively--based on cues from the interviewer and monitoring yourself to avoid being too reticent or over-talkative.

You are wise to jot down how you might answer the questions. List two or three answers you might give; however, don't try to memorize them. Remember the way people talk is circular--often with incomplete sentences. You don't have to speak in complete paragraphs. You can always circle back to add something later. Whatever notes you prepare should be phrased in active, positive verbs such as achieved, completed, made, planned, etc.

Most of all put your friendly face forward. Working in a supervisory position requires that above all. Being purposeful, professional and business-minded of course are expected.. But being considerate and approachable are signaled by a friendly demeanor.

It would be good to think though ways management might assist you should you be named to the position.

If you don't get the position? Answering this question gives you another opportunity to state where you want to be in the next year or so. It is a real chance to identify what you want to do career-wise--so be focused and yet flexible.

Do let me know how it goes..

WEGO  is concerned about career paths.

--Bill Gorden

Back To The Workplace Doctors Homepage