Behavioural Flashcards

1
Q

Can you describe a time when you took action at work that had a positive impact on your team or the wider community?

A

Kespresso took the initiative to schedule a meeting with everyone about an API design as we were all pretty new to web development

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How have you promoted diversity and inclusion in your previous roles?

A

S: Publicity Director at CISSA - increasing diversity was one of the priority, gender ratio was about 1:3 (women and non-binary + other undisclosed)
T: Recruitment for publicity team looked for experience and first years - very balance and among 7 students in a tech club other than cs majors we had people from commerce, design, maths and ranging 1st year to masters.
A: Club wide we still had an issue - although the committee headcount gender ratio was 50-50. our subcommittee was very male dominant, I think the figure was around 1:3 as well. So throughout the year we collaborated with many women in tech student societies promoting and making the entry to join more friendly and approachable.
R: Next recruiting process, it improved significantly to around 60-40, one team that was all male because only males applied when to 1:1 male-female ratio.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Can you tell me about a time when you had to deliver difficult feedback? How did you ensure it was constructive?

A

S: Mid-point of summer internship, manager checked in with the interns about our progress and feedback to work
T: As an intern, manager asked for constructive feedback (I’m non-confrontational so it was difficult for me to address it face-2-face) but to address my issues, and bring points of improvements I had to be open and honest
A: In order to make it constructive, I ensured to maintain a positive tone and began by acknowledging the good parts and what’s working for me + what I’m enjoy and acknowledging all the strengths of my manager and I believe is reflecting his influence to us interns.
Then I specifically talk about things that weren’t working for me, or needed improvements which doesn’t match my work style but acknowledging both spectrum. Lastly, I asked for his persepctive and any challenges that there exists that impacts on my work as intern and the manager-intern operations.
R: It was eye opening, I got to learn more about his day-to-day work and his intentions for us interns from day 1 that he never really disclosed. I got to learn more about company processes that hinders some aspects of my work which I did not know of, and he took my suggestions and feedback and showed me that difficult conversations when handled well can lead to positive outcomes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Can you share an example of how you’ve empowered a team member to achieve their goals?

A

S: As the Publicity Director at my university’s tech club, I was in charge of managing and coordinating design tasks for our events. We had a series of urgent upcoming events, and promotional material needed to be created and published as soon as possible.
T: One of my main designers, who was a key player in creating these materials, was swamped with academic work. This was a critical situation because his contributions were essential to the task, but it was also important to respect his time and academic responsibilities.
A: After recognizing his stress and understanding the time consuming nature of the task. I decided to step in and take over the most demanding part of the job - designing the main graphic. I did while ensuring he still had a role to play in the task. After completing the main design, I delegated the remainder of the work, which involved formatting and rearranging the design for different dimensions, back to him. This approach allowed him to remain involved without feeling overwhelmed, thereby managing his workload effectively.
R: This decision not only helped us meet our deadlines for the events but also empowered the designer to manage his tasks more efficiently. He was able to balance his club responsibilities with his academic work, and he appreciated the support. As a result, he was able to continue contributing to the club without compromising his studies, and we successfully promoted our events.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How have you contributed to the professional growth and development of your peers?

A

Situation: As the Publicity Director at the university’s tech club (CISSA), I was working closely with a team of student volunteers. We were all balancing our academic responsibilities with our roles in the club.

Task: My task was not only to manage the team and make sure our tasks were completed efficiently, but also to help my team members develop their skills and prepare for future leadership roles. I aimed to create an environment that was both professional and comfortable, where we could learn from each other and grow together. (Context: we had 2 first years, 1 master, 1 final year 2 of them had previous leadership experiences) ideal learning environment.

Action: I managed the team transparently, ensuring that everyone was aware of the team’s activities and the reasoning behind my decisions. When delegating tasks, I considered each person’s strengths and interests to ensure that they would be both challenged and engaged. I also fostered a sense of autonomy within the team, empowering each member to take ownership of their tasks and encouraging them to make decisions.

Result: The team thrived in this environment. Not only did we successfully achieve our club’s goals, but three of my team members went on to become presidents of other clubs the following year, two of whom were in their first year of university. This progression was a testament to the skills they developed while working in our team and their newfound confidence to take on leadership roles. Especially with the help of me showing the management and design side of things on onboarding and throughout the year.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Can you provide an example of a complex problem you solved with a simple solution?

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How do you ensure that user needs remain central in your approach to problem-solving?

A

Put myself in the shoe of the user

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Can you share a situation where you’ve raised the bar for quality in your team or project?

A

CISSA Publicity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Tell me about a time when you took the initiative to learn something new in order to improve your skills or performance at work.

A

Suncorp fullstack work part time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Can you share a goal you’ve set for yourself or your team that seemed ambitious at the time, but that you were able to achieve?

A

Break new records for CISSA 2021-2022

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Describe a project or initiative where you had to prioritize tasks in order to meet an ambitious goal. How did you celebrate when you achieved it?

A

CISSA codebrew mayhem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Can you share an example where you’ve gone above and beyond to support a colleague or team in a difficult situation? How did it contribute to the overall good of the team or company?

A

Helping Ed Gu?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Can you describe a time when you were working with a team on a highly ambitious project? How did you ensure everyone stayed motivated and empowered to contribute their best work, and how did it lead to personal and team growth?

A

Kespresso

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Can you give an example of a complex project or task that you simplified to make it more understandable for others? How did you communicate this to your team or stakeholders, and how did it contribute to a better outcome?

A

Kespresso KTable Lookup Service API simplified and visual diagram

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Can you recall a time when you had to manage a team towards a high-reaching goal? How did you maintain open and honest communication, and how did you ensure you were empowering your team along the way?

A

CISSA Publicity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How have you used your skills and expertise to create positive change in your role, your team, or your community? Can you give an example of a time when you simplified a complex process or problem in the pursuit of this change?

A

CISSA Publicity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Please tell me a time when you disagreed with a team member’s strategy.

A

Lake Incident

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

I want you to tell me about a time you showed initiative.

A

CISSA projects

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

If you ever had to make an unpopular decision, tell us about it.

A

Using Figma as a centralised design platform

20
Q

Share with us what you learned from a major failure at work.

A

Maybe setting an ambitious expectation at beginning of internship to become knowledgeable about DevOps but made absolute zero progress.

21
Q

Which metric would you use to measure success?

A

Performance review and feedback for pre and post project comparison in aims to see personal growth. Talk about quantitative ones not showing the full story.

22
Q

Briefly describe your background and what is your most relevant experience within Canva

A
23
Q

Tell us about how Canva aligns with your longer term plans

A
24
Q

How do your near-term goals contribute to your long-term goals?

A

Right now all about dev experience and knowledge building in software industry as well as personal growth development. Building blocks of being suited to build future impacts. Long term goal start an initiative for social good using tech. To do so I need the skills, foster a community of like minded people and expertise in the area so that I can find stakeholders, hold credibility and capable of making impact and enable others

25
Q

I would like to hear about a time you had to change your working style.

A

Introduced into Agile methodologies for Summer Internship @ Suncorp

26
Q

Share a time when you had a disagreement with a member of your team.

A

Vs Lake pair programming

27
Q

Describe a time when you failed to meet a deadline.

A

MSP OBC Deadline for IDR (Co-Lead)

28
Q

When have you made a decision that didn’t turn out the way you expected? What did you learn from that experience?

A

Same as OBC IDR unrealistic deadline.

29
Q

Can you share an example of when you made a positive impact in your previous role or community?

A

CISSA Publicity Director!

30
Q

How have you contributed to fostering inclusion and diversity in your previous roles?

A

S: Publicity Director at CISSA - increasing diversity was one of the priority, gender ratio was about 1:3 (women and non-binary + other undisclosed)
T: Recruitment for publicity team looked for experience and first years - very balance and among 7 students in a tech club other than cs majors we had people from commerce, design, maths and ranging 1st year to masters.
A: Club wide we still had an issue - although the committee headcount gender ratio was 50-50. our subcommittee was very male dominant, I think the figure was around 1:3 as well. So throughout the year we collaborated with many women in tech student societies promoting and making the entry to join more friendly and approachable.
R: Next recruiting process, it improved significantly to around 60-40, one team that was all male because only males applied when to 1:1 male-female ratio.

31
Q

How do you make sure your work aligns with ethical principles and social responsibility?

A

Do things that leaves a positive impact

32
Q

How do you ensure effective communication within a team, especially during challenging projects or situations?

A

Regular updates and meetings, Open and honest communication, Clear responsibilities, Conflict resolution

Talk about CISSA Publicity Workload and Ed Gu scenario.

33
Q

Can you describe a situation where you had to be honest even though it was difficult? What was the outcome?

A

Manager constructive feedback meeting maybe?

34
Q

How have you handled feedback, both giving and receiving, in the past?

A

Giving: Acknowledging strengths and then look for points of improvements

35
Q

Can you provide an example of when you helped a team member or a peer to develop their skills or improve their work?

A

Publicity design master class lmao

36
Q

Tell me about a time when you empowered someone to take ownership of their work or project.

A

Giving Kevin codebrew and catalyst flagship event design responsibilities

37
Q

Describe a time when you had to simplify a complex problem or process. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?

A

Suncorp kespresso web app, explaining in laymans term and using a visual diagram to simplify explanation for non-technical stakeholders and increase clarity

38
Q

How do you balance the need for innovative solutions with the necessity of maintaining simplicity and user-friendliness?

A

Situation: implementing new feature at work
Task: as an intern with first exposure to an existing code base after summer internship
Action: use design patterns and exisitng patterns in codebase, make it consistent but also change some things designs up where I found to be improvements but made sure it was simple and code is readable. No need to reinvent the wheel
Even worked on UI/UX changes that makes sure the main users approves of it.

39
Q

Can you tell me about a time when you went above and beyond to achieve a goal?

A

CISSA publicity goal after covid goals. 80+ events 2x more graphics more followers, 100% ticket sell out in aims to win student club of the year and celebrate 30 year anniversary

40
Q

How do you ensure continuous personal and professional development?

A

Academic approach
Professional approach
Personal approach
Technical up-skilling

41
Q

What’s the most ambitious goal you’ve set for yourself or your team? How did you go about achieving it?

A

can’t top MSP ACRUX2 Project

42
Q

Can you give an example of a project where you had to prioritize certain tasks over others? How did you make that decision?

A

CISSA Codebrew vs HackMelbourne mayhem

43
Q

Tell me about a book you’ve read this year

A

Situation: As an individual working in the highly competitive field of technology, I often found myself comparing my performance with that of my peers. This, coupled with my high expectations for myself, led to a pattern of self-sabotage where minor failures or mistakes would greatly affect my confidence and overall productivity.

Task: I recognized that this pattern was not sustainable and was hindering my growth and performance. I decided that I needed to find a resource to help me navigate these feelings of self-sabotage and help me turn them into opportunities for self-improvement.

Action: After doing some research, I decided to read “The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery” by Brianna Wiest. The book’s premise – transforming self-sabotage into self-mastery – resonated with my situation. As I read the book, I took the time to introspectively apply its principles and exercises to my own life. I focused on identifying moments of self-sabotage and used the strategies suggested by Wiest to transform these moments into opportunities for growth and learning. These includes: healthy habits, mindfulness, self compassion, positive affirmations and facing fear.

Result: Since reading “The Mountain Is You” and applying some of its teachings, I’ve noticed a significant shift in my mindset. I no longer view my failures or mistakes as roadblocks, but rather as opportunities to learn and grow. This has allowed me to maintain a steady pace in my work and personal life, avoiding the burnout that I used to experience regularly. This shift has not only improved my productivity but also allowed me to enjoy my work more and to appreciate the journey of continuous learning that comes with a career in technology.

44
Q

Why do wanna work at Canva?

A

As someone who is passionate about building impactful products that positively shape individual lives and communities, Canva’s mission and vision resonate deeply with me.

Like Canva, I believe in the power of empowering others and contributing to the community. This belief is not just in line with my professional goals, but my personal ambitions as well.

I’m also drawn to Canva’s commitment to simplifying complex problems. As someone who transitioned into software engineering with a background in design, I have a strong affinity for frontend engineering. I enjoy transforming designs into functional, interactive elements that users can directly engage with. Being able to contribute to Canva’s innovative design solutions feels like coming full circle, as Canva’s platform played a pivotal role in my journey to software engineering.

Canva’s standards of excellence is another quality that excites me. I admire the high standards Canva sets for its products and team members. As someone who is committed to continuous growth and improvement, both personally and professionally, I see Canva as a place where I can push my boundaries and learn from a community of like-minded individuals.

Ultimately, long term, my goal is to leverage my technical abilities to start an initiative that helps alleviate poverty and empowers education in my home country. I believe Canva’s culture and the learning opportunities it provides can guide me on this path.

45
Q

Tell me about yourself

A

I’m a third year student who is passionate about creating products that have a positive impact on individuals and communities. I began my journey in design and transitioned into software engineering, so I have a unique perspective on building intuitive and interactive user experiences. Currently, I’m honing my skills through an internship at Suncorp now ANZ where I’m gaining hands-on experience with full stack development. But coming from an artsy background, I think specializing in Frontend Engineering feels very natural and exciting.

I’ve been involved in a few exciting engineering projects like building satellites and rockets as well as student clubs. Just like Canva, I believe in empowering others and contributing to the community. I’ve demonstrated this commitment through my role as a Publicity Director at my university’s tech club, where I helped organize events and initiatives that encouraged students to develop their tech skills and act as the bridge between student and industry.

What draws me to Canva is its dedication to simplifying complex problems (design is multifaceted, some people enjoy and but some find it hard - Canva aims to solve that). Canva played a pivotal role in my transition to software engineering, so being part of this innovative team feels like coming full circle for me. Also, I admire Canva’s high standards for its products and team members - this resonates with my commitment to continuous growth and improvement.

Long-term, my goal is to leverage my technical abilities to start an initiative that helps alleviate poverty and empowers education in my home country of Cambodia. I believe Canva’s culture and learning opportunities would be invaluable on this path.