Tell me about your career to date:

1 Answer

Answer :

Keep it interesting and to the point, elaborate when necessary and back up key points with examples from your current/previous roles, this is crucial – highlighting important skills such as: time management, prioritisation, team building and client relationship management skills. For example if you are a financial adviser involved in a target driven environment it’s important to talk through your networking, lead generation, business development skills, ability to close business, retain exiting clients etc..The key point at this stage is to draw attention and highlight your transferable skills, strengthening your case all the time as to why you would be suitable for the position in question.

Related questions

Description : Why do you think you’ve been successful in your career so far?

Last Answer : I've been successful so far because I've always worked very hard and I've always been willing to accept any challenges that are offered to me. Actually, I usually seek them out. I have excellent time- ... to think he had anything to do with his own success. If he doesn't believe it, who will?

Description : How do you feel about the way your career has progressed so far?

Last Answer : I'm pleased with how my career has progressed. When I graduated from college, I was hired to work as a trainee at Rogers, Inc., a small advertising agency. Being a trainee meant I answered the phones ... where I am. Don't assume the interviewer knows where you are right now or how you got there.

Description : Why did you choose this career?

Last Answer : When I started college, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I visited the career office and they gave me some self-assessment tests. Based on the results, they gave me a list of careers that ... way to make a career choice. It may make the interviewer wonder how this person will make other decisions.

Description : What are your career goals?

Last Answer : Mention your short term and long term career goals, as they are often dierent. What have you done so far to work toward these goals? Most important, explain how this job will fit into your plan toward your ultimate career goals.

Description : What are the most important rewards you expect in and from your career?

Last Answer : Explain what you want to achieve and what you are expecting to get out of your career.

Description : When have you been most satisfied in your career?

Last Answer : This question is designed to see what makes you happy and what motivates you. Explain why the particular example made you feel satisfied.

Description : Was there a person in your career who really made a dierence?

Last Answer : If you can't think of one, you need to get a mentor QUICKLY! Mentors can come in the form of peers, family members, co-workers, management / leaders at a company and so on.

Description : What would you like to have accomplished by the end of your career?

Last Answer : Think of 3 major achievements that you'd like to accomplish in your job when all is said and done - and think BIG. You want to show you expect to be a major contributor at the company. It could be creating a revolutionary new product, it could be implementing a new eective way of marketing, etc.

Description : Where do you see yourself in 5 years with your career?

Last Answer : Be sure to paint a clear picture of your career vision that demonstrates your aspirations and goals that are realistic. This could emphasize increased responsibility, the ability to manage people and so forth

Description : Describe your career goals?

Last Answer : It is probably better to focus on the short to medium term goals rather than ten years down the line. I guess an immediate goal is to secure this job!!

Description : How could you have improved your career progress?

Last Answer : TRAPS: This is another variation on the question, If you could, how would you live your life over? Remember, you're not going to fall for any such invitations to rewrite person history. You can't win ... for where you are, how you've gotten there, where you are going and you harbor no regrets.  

Description : Why aren’t you earning more money at this stage of your career?

Last Answer : TRAPS: You don't want to give the impression that money is not important to you, yet you want to explain why your salary may be a little below industry standards. BEST ANSWER: You like to ... position and company would be like, matching them as closely as possible to the opportunity at hand.    

Description : What are your career options right now?

Last Answer : TRAPS: The interviewer is trying to find out, How desperate are you? BEST ANSWER: Prepare for this question by thinking of how you can position yourself as a desired commodity. If you are still ... a light touch, speaking only in general terms. You don't want to seem manipulative or coy.  

Description : What are your career goals?

Last Answer : 1. The reasons of this question: This question will test your ability and ambition to develop yourself as well as the ability to plan for the future. 2. Levels of career goals: You are not sure about your ... do to achieve your goals? In the next 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, what will you do?

Description : How do you stay up to date with industry?

Last Answer : Discuss how you stay up to date by reading industry specific sites, magazines, and Google / yahoo news. Also make sure you stay up to date by reading the current news on the company's website.

Description : What's been your biggest success to date?

Last Answer : Talk about a story / experience about how you achieved success and be sure to share details on the results and outcome. Have it highlight a strong characteristic such as leadership, work ethic and so forth.

Description : What's been your biggest failure to date?

Last Answer : Describe your biggest failure and discuss what you've learned from it and ideally how you've been successful since because of that lesson.

Description : What is your biggest regret to date and why?

Last Answer : Describe honestly the regretful action / situation you were in but then discuss how you proactively fixed / improved it and how that helped you to improve as a person/worker.

Description : It seems like you’ve accomplished a lot. I know everyone fails, at least occasionally. Tell me about something you failed at.

Last Answer : When I was a freshman in college, I decided to run for president of the management club. My opponent was in his junior year. I came up with what I thought and still think was a great ... must give a more detailed answer. This one leaves the interviewer to wonder why the applicant lost the election.

Description : Tell me about the personal accomplishment that you are the proudest of.

Last Answer : Last year I ran a marathon for the first time. I've been a runner for years, but I never ran more than four miles at a time. I began training four months before the big day. It was ... of how she reached this goal, this candidate doesn't show off any strengths when she gives this example.

Description : Tell me how you were of value to your previous employer.

Last Answer : My previous employer valued my ability to deal with difficult clients. Whenever we had a client who was very demanding, my boss would ask me to be the one to work with her. He said he knew I was so ... up on time. Showing up on time is expected and doesn't set this candidate apart from any other.

Description : Can you tell me about your greatest accomplishment at work?

Last Answer : I'm particularly proud of the mentoring program I started about five years ago. I noticed that new employees were having trouble getting acclimated to the company, causing a very high turnover ... is important to share this information, this interviewee doesn't indicate what led to that promotion.

Description : Tell me about a crisis you encountered at work and how you handled it.

Last Answer : Last year, a virus was causing our computers to send out thousands of e-mail messages to our clients. We were being inundated with angry phone calls before we even knew what was going on. Our ... . This candidate is resourceful, but he shouldn't have had anyone running his errands on company time.

Description : Can you tell me about your responsibilities at your last job?

Last Answer : Candidate: I advised customers on financial matters. After I consulted the customer, I completed a customer inquiry form and catalogued the information in our database. I then collaborated with colleagues ... the passive voice, or an introductory clause to help you add variety to your presentation

Description : With your eyes closed, tell me step-by-step how to tie my shoes.

Last Answer : Take the time to visualize the shoe first. Then as you go through the process make sure you describe it step by step in great detail.

Description : Tell me 10 ways to use a pencil other than writing.

Last Answer : This is a test on your creativity. A pencil could be used as a eating device, as a measurement tool, as a liquid stirring device, etc.

Description : Tell me about the PowerPoint presentations you have developed.

Last Answer : Have you developed a detailed presentation before? Was it logically ordered? How was it received by the person viewing it? Was there an ending to it that drove home the point? Was there animation involved? How was it creative? All good questions to think of as you answer this question.

Description : Tell me about the types of word processing you did on your last job.

Last Answer : Discuss your familiarity with Microsoft Oce, Lotus Notes, Zimbra, Apple software products and so forth. A typewriter doesn't count. It's obsolete.

Description : Tell me about your school experiences.

Last Answer : This isn't a time to talk about attending frat parties, but rather a time to speak about how you volunteered with the Red Cross chapter at your school, or how you often attended the theatre productions. Speak to your academic experience as well, but don't only focus on that.

Description : Tell me about a professional assignment you've handled.

Last Answer : Give an example of an assignment you've done, what the assignment was, how you did it, and what the results were.

Description : Tell me the contribution you can make to the organization.

Last Answer : Explain your goals for the position, and why your experience and education make you a good fit for the organization.

Description : Tell me about your accomplishments that show you have initiative and a willingness to work.

Last Answer : Give an example of a time when you took initiative and did not wait for someone to ask you to do something. How did your manager/co-workers react to it?

Description : Your resume shows that you were with your last company for a number of years with limited increase in rank or salary. What can you tell me about this?

Last Answer : Don't say anything bad about the company. Did you like your job and you didn't want to move up? Did your company have a tight budget and rarely gave increases to anyone? Was your rank level a broad range so that you really did move within it, but on paper it isn't as noticeable?

Description : Tell me about a time when you failed to meet a deadline. What things did you fail to do? What were the repercussions? What did you learn?

Last Answer : This example should be a time in which a more important priority came up and you had to focus on that, instead of the other deadline you had. Don't give an example of a time when you were bad at managing your time and missed the deadline.

Description : Tell me about a time when you came up with an innovative solution to a challenge your company/class/organization was facing. What was the challenge? What role did others play?

Last Answer : The company wants to hire someone who can come up with solutions to problems the company is facing, and can eectively implement those solutions. Give an example from the past that shows this.

Description : Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision, but didn't have all the information you needed.

Last Answer : This question is designed to see whether you know how to ask the right questions to get the information you need. The company doesn't want someone who makes a decision without all of the information.

Description : Tell me about a time you had to handle multiple responsibilities. How did you organize the work you needed to do?

Last Answer : This question is designed to see if you have the ability to multitask. Give an example of how you organized your work.

Description : Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult person. How did you handle the situation?

Last Answer : This question is designed to see how you handle conflict and to see whether you can move beyond it. Explain what you do in such a situation and how you stayed level-headed.

Description : Tell me about a difficult situation when it was desirable for you to keep a positive attitude. What did you do?

Last Answer : This is similar to the last question except that it focuses on you instead of others. The company wants to know that you can keep a positive attitude even when times are dicult. Give an example and explain what you do to keep your spirits up.

Description : Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.

Last Answer : Explain the situation, and what you did to go above and beyond? How did others react?

Description : Give me an example of an important goal which you had set in the past and tell me about your success in reaching it.

Last Answer : Many people want to mention their college education as the goal, but unless you achieved it through a dierent path than most people you should try to come up with a dierent example.

Description : Tell me about the last time you missed a goal or deadline.

Last Answer : Unless you're a completely perfect person, chances are you've messed up before on a goal/deadline. If so, discuss how you fell short and what you would have done in retrospect to achieve it.

Description : Tell me about a decision you made recently and how you reached it.

Last Answer : The key is to show that you put a lot of thought (weighing out the pros and cons) but were able to be decisive. Be sure to explain your logic in arriving at the decision.

Description : Think about the changes you have seen and tell me how you handle change.

Last Answer : You can cite personal life changes, work place changes, career changes, technology change, industry change. The key is to discuss how seeing or experiencing that change has helped your development. For ... in social media has broadened my horizons and helped me learn new forms of ecient marketing.

Description : Tell me about a time when you were held accountable for a problem that you hadn't caused.

Last Answer : If someone puts the blame on you (incorrectly), the best thing you can do is NOT to retaliate. You want to make it known that you were not to blame (explain all the facts) and then focus on fixing the problem in the best way possible.

Description : Tell me the dierence between good and exceptional.

Last Answer : Good gets the job done on time and is high quality. Exceptional is a game changer - it stands out, it's creative, it's above and beyond expectations. Tell the interviewer a story about how you were exceptional

Description : Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want me to know.

Last Answer : Talk about a trait that you would consider a weakness. No need to talk about your deepest darkest secrets here.

Description : Tell me about a time you had to fire a friend.

Last Answer : Hopefully you've never had to do this, but if you did, talk about how hard it was personally to fire anyone but that you did it objectively.

Description : Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision.

Last Answer : Not every decision is popular. In fact, almost every decision is bound to make someone unhappy at some point. The key is to demonstrate how it impacted others positively and why you chose it.

Description : Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision without all the information you needed. How did you handle it? Why? Were you happy with the outcome?

Last Answer : In many scenarios, you will not have all the information needed. The key is to make the best possible decision based on what you deem to be a sucient amount of information.