Shortcomings and Team Work - Sample Questions: Part 10

Yes, you have found yet another installment of my ongoing series looking at potential questions you may find presented to you in a job interview. Many of these are standard questions that you may be asked when interviewing for most any position, but some apply more specifically to the logistics field career. You can find our first part of this series HERE if you'd like to go back and pick up some of the prior posts.



Last time we looked more at questions that were related to management and how you would handle certain issues surrounding management and their decisions. Let us this time look more at questions directly related to you, the worker.



If you were asked what your previous manager may have pointed out as a need for training or a shortcoming you may have, what might you say? It is important at this point to not give them any reason to feel the need to follow up and dig in to find such information. Hopefully you have left your previous position on favorable terms, and when asked, they will simply report that you were a satisfactory employee, without a need to go into in-depth discussions about your shortcomings. You should answer such a question professionally, but without feeling the need to give long discussion on the topic. Simply say that your previous employer would state that you were indeed qualified for this current position, and just leave it at that. If they push for further answers, focus on your qualifications, education and skills, and never go into any negative discussion of previous employers. Keep your answers short and focused about you alone.



If the position is one that would put you within a team environment, you may be asked to discuss how you might establish creditability and quickly become a vital part of the team. This is not a time to discuss how you interact with people or your shining personality and how everyone loves you once they get to know you. Do you have the type of personality that allows you to quickly and seamlessly fit in to a group? Do you take directions well, and do you accomplish tasks quickly and efficiently? How well are your troubleshooting skills? Will you bring something to the team that will have an immediate and positive effect on them? Focus on things like your communication skills, your strong ability to listen, take advice and criticism, and your ability to integrate well and work with the team to produce positive results. Stick with discussing positive experiences you have had in the past with working on teams; accomplishment and positive results.



That’s it for now, and as always, feel free to comment below and share on your experiences and what you have found to be commonplace in the interview process.



Jeff McCormack resides in Virginia Beach, VA. where he works as a web designer by day. In his off time he is a husband, father, mail order book store manager, and musician. Aside from being a freelance writer for this Logistics Jobsite blog, he also seeks to assist in career choices and information by contributing to other Nexxt blog sites.