Question

1. Strengths: What makes you unique? What makes you the best at what you do?
2. Opportunities: What benefits do you bring to a prospective employer?
3. Aspirations: What kind of long-term difference do you want to make in your industry?
4. Results: What accomplishments would potential employers be most excited to hear about?

• I have an eye for detail which ensures that I do not miss any important information and corresponding action can be taken. I am very hard working and do not shy away from taking responsibilities. I am best at delegating and managing work so that deadlines are met.
• The benefits that I would bring to the prospective employer is I can introduce innovative methods to solve the problems that can save the company cost and resources. Also, I can manage team effectively so that the long-term objectives of the company are also met.
• I would want them to move from manual work to automated system of working so that they can save time and cost, I would want to start with my own department and later on it can be scaled up for the entire company.
• Accomplishments that the potential employers be excited about would be the final year project that I have done which have included innovative ways of solving problems and the same can be replicated in the company operations. Also, my academic record is also worth noting.

Employers are attracted to those who can add value and if you provide specific results, it’s more convincing. Does that make sense?

One of the ways to identify your transferrable skills is to reflect on past achievements. Below, list 3 achievements that you think were key contributions, accomplishments or peak experiences, and use the STAR technique to explain and expand on your answers. (Click the video listed below to learn more about the STAR technique and what employers want, and how you can use it during an interview)

1. Give the Situation (provide context and background);
2. Explain the Task (Describe problem/challenges);
3. Provide your Actions (Explain what you did and how);
4. Give the Results(State outcomes, savings, recognition, etc.).
   • At the end of your example, list the skills you gained or developed.

     Expand on your answers. For example, rather than “I responded to a customer complaint,” you might write “I greeted a customer at my last internship, I listened attentively to their complaint, then I asked questions to determine the exact nature of the problem, next, I discussed possible remedies and contacted my department head. We both gathered information, and the result was we resolved customer problem, leading to a frequent return customer.”

Answer 1

- Employers are attracted to those who can add value and if you provide specific results, it’s more convincing. Does that make sense?

This statement in my opinion makes sense to some extent. This is because, the employers cannot expect and trial the employees at all the levels in the manner so as to know the level of the value addition they provide to the company especially in a big entity. But at the same time an employer with a small and handy business with a countable number of employees would definitely be attracted to the employee on the basis of the value that they can provide and the specific results that they would make.

Again coming to a big entity with many employees, the executives at the senior level who are responsible to make the most important decisions regarding the projects, the sales executives (say of an IT company) who brings in heavily profitable projects to the company would be very much in the interest book of the employer and he would definitely looking for value providing and result providing candidates.

- 3 achievements listed, that I think were key contributions, accomplishments or peak experiences, using the STAR technique to explain and expand my answers.

1. Experience I:

Once when I was doing my training for accounting and tax at a firm in the nearby city, there was an incidence where a client who could not talk English walks in to the office. He was a middle aged man and came alone. The man did not look well worth and rich also. As interns we were supposed to consult the clients with a lower profile. But as he was unable to talk English, all my co-interns did not address or try to open a conversation with him. As I was attending another client there was nothing I could do.

So when I was done with the client, I decided to walk over to this client and spoke with him in English which he understood held way and then he handed over his papers of salary certificates and other compensation papers. This was there for almost 4 years and along with a notice from the tax department. So I took all worked on the same and printed the drafts so as to consult my team lead and boss.

The client’s tax returns were filed and the team led and boss who was watching the way I handled the client and the case when nobody else was turning towards the same, was impressed. They praised me and also offered me a job in the company after completion of my course and also paid me some extra bonus for the effort put in by me as he told every client are important for us despite of the fact of having a higher or lower profile.

2. Experience II:

Once when I was working for a multi-product store as a supervisor, there was a customer who wanted to buy an earphone but was in the same segment since long hour and still continuing to be there. When this was continued, I decided to go and talk to the person so as to know what the real problem was. It was a girl around 20 years who seem to be a working one.

I spoke to her regarding her need, and in one spot itself I understood that her problem is the price of the product as she wants a quality one at a lower price as she can’t afford to pay for the same more than once. And it is vital for her to purchase one but her knowledge on the same is limited or zero.

And taking the responsibility of my job which is to supervise, I decided to supervise and solute her problem so I suggested her the quality product at a lower price which was a normal earphones of Samsung at a very handy price which I promised to stay long. As all other sales men were trying to dump her with the high priced products, in order to cover their sale target, it made her stay in confusion thus spending more than 2 hours for the same.

Now she got the solution and bought the suggested earphone. The result was that her trust on the store and our products increased which made her return to our store for each and every purchase thereafter and now her spending capacity is much higher.

3. Experience III:

Same as before when I was working for the tax and accounting firm, there was a first major work of a renowned doctor and his wife that I had to look after. And this was the first assignment when I got promoted from intern to an employee. But there were a lot of mistakes in the final draft that I presented before them. Both of them who has good knowledge in the area found all and reported to my boss. For which he got angry with me. They even asked to change me from attending there case. As a high profiled client my boss was concerned and asked me if he should shift the work.

But I assured him I would do it and this time with zero mistakes to which he agreed. So I spoke to the client apologized for the mistake from my part and asked for a 2 days’ time by which I would send them the draft via mail and by God’s grace they accepted the proposal.

I reworked the whole draft within 2 days and with the approval of my boss I send the same to the client. And this time even they were convinced and as a result they themselves told my boss that I can continue handling their cases. Thereafter, I was the one handling all their cases.