Common Flashcards
What are your strengths?
- Troubleshooting software issues at both the User level and Source Code level.
- Ability to get along with just about anybody. Collaborating/Training/Teaching People.
- Persistence. I do what it takes.
What are your weaknesses?
- I can get distracted because I’m always on the look-out for how to do things better. I get “shiny object” syndrome. I’m always looking for new or better ways to do things. Example: Developing the IDG website. Always looking to implement some new plugin or feature.
- I sometimes take failure personally and can get a little down on myself. I bounce back. But still. I’m working on it. Falsely identified a bug. It was found by another dev. I started to question my abilities. But it usually doesn’t last long. I have things to prevent it. Mentors, reflection,…
What types of things frustrate you?
- Unreliable dependencies. Example 1: PRI project.
Example 2: Postcard mailers delivered late by USPS.
Tell about a time when you had to deal with a difficult person/customer…
- I try to remember what I learned from the old book “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. Listen. Empathize. Try to let them know that you understand their situation. Connect.
But never compromise your values or the values of the company.
Example: Each case is unique. We have an employee who has a real “people-pleaser” personality that can sometimes works to the detriment of the business. It can be frustrating sometimes, but we also know that this person has good intentions. It takes constant encouragement and gentle correction.
However, in another case we had an employee who was just downright disagreeable. We had to fire that guy.
Tell about a time when you made a mistake?
As a software developer, mistakes mostly came in the form of bugs. These were easy to correct.
But I can tell you about a mistake I made of a different nature:
The mistake I made was not recognizing soon enough that it was time to make a shift in my career. The result was that my work felt like “work”.
And that’s pretty much the reason for this shift in my career. Because now I know exactly what was missing. I wasn’t leveraging my strengths and passions.
What have been some of your most significant accomplishments?
- In my current business, I helped document all of our processes and put a number of systems in place (auto-responder, online ordering, and payment, etc.). I helped increase monthly revenue by 25%.
- Finding a gap in the business process when I was about to be laid off.
- Helping to save our relationship with Microsoft by personally flying up to Redmond to provision 2500 phones.
- Learning to swim as an adult.
Why should we choose you for this position?
For a number of reasons, I believe. First, I think my skills and experience make for a good fit. I’d be able to contribute right away…at difference levels (RD, QA, Customer Support…).
But most of all, I believe that you will not find anyone who is excited and passionate about doing the work. And this is because I’m very careful and intentional about the kinds of jobs and companies I entertain. I want to be certain that I would giving the very best I have to offer.
How do you work under pressure?
Better than when things are too easy. A little pressure is good. But not too much. I try to always do my best. That’s all I can do. That way I don’t have to worry about the results.
Describe an ideal work environment.
For me, it’s all about the people and the culture of the company.
Is everyone on board with the company mission and vision?
Do they know the company’s values and stand by them?
Do they know the goals of the company and are they committed to them?
Are people more concerned about solving problems than pointing fingers?
Is everyone accountable for their work?
Where would you like to be in 5 years?
My plan is to still be working at a company like this where I’m still learning and growing and contributing ideas that significantly impact the growth and direction of the company.
How do you solve a problem?
- Gather all pertinent information.
- Ask questions: When did it break? When was the last time it worked? What has changed since then? Data? System? User?
- Reproduce the problem.
- Start with the simple or obvious: Is it plugged in?
- Check Knowledge Base.
- Isolate the issue.
- Document root cause.
- Create an action plan.
Do you prefer working alone or in a team?
I do well in either. I’ve mostly worked on projects solo. But I prefer collaborating with people internally and externally.
What do you look for in a supervisor?
Trust. Does she/he trust me enough to do the work the way I see fit?
Respect. Does she/he respect me as a person? Empathy.
How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution?
I believe I could contribute very quickly. Because I believe I’m ideally suited for this position. It plays to my strengths and passions.
Why are you leaving your current job?
It was always a temporary thing. I did what I set out to do. Put systems and processes in place. Documented things. Now it’s time to move on.
