STAR Qs Flashcards
Please discuss an important written document you were required to complete?
In my previous company, I was responsible for creating formal offer letters to potential hires. I had to ensure the offer letter had the correct salary, job duties, benefit packages, and start date. After this, I am proud to say I have created a unique template I use on any new offer letters. KEYWORD: OFFER LETTER
Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it?
A personal/prof goal I set for myself was completing my MBA while working full-time within 2 years. I took the leap of faith and enrolled in mostly night classes so I can attend right after work. From there, it was all about time management and spreading my work and school load. I also worked with my manager who was very flexible and patient with me. I can proudly say I was able to accomplish this from the support of my family, and finished it as of June 2020. KEYWORD: GOAL-MBA
Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done. OR difficult time at work?
This isn’t HR persay, but during the peak time of COVID we only had half our employees report to work with the shutdown and lost a key warehouse logistics manager in this period. During this difficult time, I stepped up and helped their department schedule and book trucks for Toyota pickups. This allowed us to continue shipping and sending product to Toyota without any delays, and lessen the burden on their department. KEYWORD: TOMAS-COVID-ASSIST LOGISTICS TEAM
Tell me about a time when you had to be strategic in order to meet all your top priorities. OR Describe a time when you were under a lot of pressure at work. How did you react?
At the end of last year during the holidays and in the midst of our company relocating, there were many HR and non-HR tasks to complete from termination paperwork, to weekly payroll, to preparing month end reporting, to simply packing and moving out of my office. Overwhelmed at first, stayed calm, focused, priotized and organized by writing down all my tasks, listing down the highest urgent tasks to the lowest. Although I was busy, the time sped by and I was able to execute these tasks efficiently through being adaptable. I gave my manager estimated due dates and asked her to be flexible with me as I checked off the tasks one by one. KEYWORD: HOLIDAY- CO. MOVING
Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead
Spearheading the electronic onboarding new hire process through Paychex. My manager was too busy to learn the details on it when we had a workshop with the Paychex Specialist via online. After the workshop, I was able to transfer all our paper documents to online for easier processing. It was less hassle for me and my manager as well because the employee’s information were transferred directly to our HR platform. This made the hiring process more efficient and mostly paper free. KEYWORD: E-ONBOARDING- LEADERSHIP-OWNERSHIP
Give me an example when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.
A time when I used good judgment was when I noticed during a walk through (when manager was at our TX facility) employees in the warehouse were clocking out at the end of the day but were never there. I investigated the issue, and realized our new timeclock had a feature where we can clock in/out of the mobile app. We ended up blocking all warehouse employees access to this mobile feature and made sure every shop employee was clocking out through the timeclock instead. This ensured time and attendance were properly recorded and not taken advantage of. KEYWORD: MOBILE TIME AND ATTENDANCE
Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split second decision.
A split second decision, there was one time our team manager was running late for our 8:30 meeting. This was virtual and we weren’t informed, but I did not want to hold the meeting longer than necessary so while we waited five min or so, I knew the location where we keep the running spreadsheet for our meetings and led the meetings while taking notes for everyone to see. It’s only a short production meeting and was successfully under 15 minutes so work was resumed. My manager thanked me, stating she had an emergency that morning. KEYWORD: 830 MEETING
What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example or Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with another person even when that
individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa). Conflict how you handled it? OR Describe a Time You Managed an Employee Who Was Struggling or Causing Strife
As with all workplaces, I try to get along with everyone and usually have no issue building a great rapport with them. I did work with one individual who came on board our team as a temporary A/P, and he was a difficult person to work with because he could not get along with others due to his blunt personality. However, I tried to remain calm and listen, and was sensitive to his thoughts as we continued working. I looked at his point of view, and realized we were both passionate about working hard with different methods. I did not engage in his duties unless he asked me too and kept our office talks professional.
We had to counsel him, encouraging him to encourage his team and talk in a sensitive manner so to not frustrate them. This improved their teamwork and also the productivity of the team. KEYWORD: A/P-CALM-LISTEN-ACKNOWLEDGE-ASSIST
Tell me about a difficult decision you’ve made in the last year.
Personal: Not taking the job offer, not relocating. Learned about drastic changes are for building new opportunities and taking challenges. KEYWORD: JOB-RELOCATE
Please tell me about a time you had to fire a friend (or deliver bad news). OR
Tell me about your proudest professional accomplishment.
I can’t say I was happy to do it, but I was proud of completing and taking responsibility off all the Offboarding during our end of year layoffs. Had to ensure our company was in Compliance with paperwork, communicating tactfully and gracefully with all the EEs and ultimately showing Compassion. Acknowledging their efforts and contribution, communicating openly next steps moving forward KEYWORD: MASS LAYOFFS OR PROUD MOMENT FINISHING IT GRACEFULLY/PROFF
Have you ever had to onboard new hires to your team? How did you ensure they were up to speed as quickly as possible?
I onboarded and made sure the first day they come into the the office to meet with me. I introduce them to their manager/supervisor/team, and walk them through the break rooms, restrooms. Safety specialist would go over safety equipment and then would ask if they had any questions. I’d follow up a week later making sure they are getting familiar with our company and policies, and always kept the open door should they have any questions and feedback. This helped them become comfortable and familiar themselves quickly. KEYWORD: ONBOARD-FOLLOW UP-FEEDBACK
Give me an example of a time when you motivated others OR Tell me about a time when you mentored a coworker successfully. OR Describe a situation when you were able to have a positive influence on the actions of others. What specifically did you do to accomplish that goal?
Quiet quitting (workplace disengagement), when we found out about our acquisition, our performance and morale was low. I supported and encouraged my coworkers and our office team to fight the quiet quitting and work hard till the end so the new company will have a seamless transfer. With informal lunch meetings, or one on one. We worked well together, and I encouraged them so they perhaps will gain a good experience/reference from them as well. We all stayed till the end, the office personnel. KEYWORD: WORKPLACE DISENGAGEMENT
Give me an example of how you Give Feedback and Hold People Accountable?
I first hold myself accountable and remain consistent in giving them feedback. With the AP contract employee, whether by checking up on them and setting up their goals/setting my expectations, or giving them the resources needed (more training, more equipment, more personnel). Listen to their needs as well. Make it an open door policy where they can knock on my door as well and give their feedback. KEYWORD: A/P-FEEDBACK-ACCOUNTABLE
Tell me about a time when you mentored coworker but failed to help them improve. Greatest training challenge you have faced?
Office clerk who was part time was in charge of creating customer labels and ship small parcel packages. Although he was a part-time employee who was also going to school, I mentored him. I tried to improve his social/communication skills (simply saying good morning to them when he arrives) or answering the phone in a more enthusiastic manner or being more proactive about his work instead of sitting around until we tell him his next project. This made me realize and reflect, that although we encourage and supported and counseled him multiple times (he did not do anything wrong) but he also wasn’t giving his best effort. Sometimes work ethic is engrained in you, and while I was frustrated, I let him understand that although this isn’t his dream job, making an effort everywhere you go/every situation you are placed matters. KEYWORD: OFFICE CLERK-WORH ETHIC-ENCOURAGE COUNSEL
Tell me about a time you worked with other departments to complete a project
Worked with production to ensure our SOPS were properly in place and being used. We were being auditied by Toyota for a new program and they were checking all our processes, which included HR functions such as onboarding and safety. By prepping the production managerss, we communicated and worked together to get good feedback from Toyota. The audit went well and we passed, moving us forward to launching the new program. KEYWORD: SOPS
