Undergrauate video interview - advice please
Discussion
My son is studying Geography at Loughborough and is in the process of applying to a number of companies for his placement year. The applications, testing and video interviews are all online and despite being a confident successful student some of the questions are causing him concern. Having participated in maybe 5 face to face job inerviews in my 36 year working life I am unable to offer guidance.
A question last night (from a FTSE 100 employer)
an example:
'some people say issues can only be resolved if you voice them to the right individual - to what extent would you agree ?'
what exactly are they driving at and what would be a good response to this line of questioning ? he found it hard to have an understanding and provide a two minute response to this in the alloted timescale.
Any advice would be welcome from people who perhaps have set these questions as to what sort of response is being sought, thank you
A question last night (from a FTSE 100 employer)
an example:
'some people say issues can only be resolved if you voice them to the right individual - to what extent would you agree ?'
what exactly are they driving at and what would be a good response to this line of questioning ? he found it hard to have an understanding and provide a two minute response to this in the alloted timescale.
Any advice would be welcome from people who perhaps have set these questions as to what sort of response is being sought, thank you
I’ve never used that exact question, and it’s a bit ambiguous what is meant by ‘issue’ - a human problem such as a disagreement or concern, or a business problem? Either way, my guess from the phrasing here (and the fact that it’s a graduate interview) is that they are looking to hear a balance of ownership and judgement:
- Does this person seek to solve problems themselves or just run to someone else? But balanced with...
- Do they know when it needs experience and therefore escalating rather than just doing it myself.
More generally, when I ask candidates about how they solve issues, especially human ones, what I’m looking to hear is:
- Approach: Do they shy away from the problem or tackle it? Do they judge it it’s urgent and/or important?
- Analysis: Do they seek to learn more before jumping to conclusions? Do they get under opinion and into data?
- Knowledge: How do they draw on their own experience or that to others? How do they find missing information?
- Insight/EQ: For people problems, do they understand thar people operate in different ways? Do they seek to appreciate those ways and adapt?
- Effectiveness: Can they show me when they’ve gone through a logical process to conclusjon? Can they give me examples of when they’ve successfully solved a disagreement?
But to be honest it’s not a brilliantly worded question, which may say something about the people setting it...
- Does this person seek to solve problems themselves or just run to someone else? But balanced with...
- Do they know when it needs experience and therefore escalating rather than just doing it myself.
More generally, when I ask candidates about how they solve issues, especially human ones, what I’m looking to hear is:
- Approach: Do they shy away from the problem or tackle it? Do they judge it it’s urgent and/or important?
- Analysis: Do they seek to learn more before jumping to conclusions? Do they get under opinion and into data?
- Knowledge: How do they draw on their own experience or that to others? How do they find missing information?
- Insight/EQ: For people problems, do they understand thar people operate in different ways? Do they seek to appreciate those ways and adapt?
- Effectiveness: Can they show me when they’ve gone through a logical process to conclusjon? Can they give me examples of when they’ve successfully solved a disagreement?
But to be honest it’s not a brilliantly worded question, which may say something about the people setting it...
Ziplobb said:
'some people say issues can only be resolved if you voice them to the right individual - to what extent would you agree ?'
Everyone is going to answer this question differently, but seeing as you’ve asked, here’s what I’d be thinking... to give balance i’d talk power structures/ timescales inside business and outside (in society).I’d say that in companies, often things can be resolved by building consensus, but sometimes the decision resides with one person and if they decide otherwise, or are unaware of the issues they won’t be resolved. Talk about vested interests not wanting to take issues to the person who can enact the decision. Talk about how the benefits of clear decision ownership in organisations trade off against concentration of power. Then talk about how over time populations’ opinions develop and societal issues are addressed by younger generations with new ideas.
Ziplobb said:
'some people say issues can only be resolved if you voice them to the right individual - to what extent would you agree ?'
what exactly are they driving at and what would be a good response to this line of questioning ?
To my mind, the question is to determine the confidence your son might have in taking matters up the management chain as well as demonstrate understanding as to the role of management chains.what exactly are they driving at and what would be a good response to this line of questioning ?
The question is a fairly straight forward one because of course, things can only get fixed if you bring them to the person with the capacity to fix them. Anything other than this is just 'moaning' to colleagues.
He can balance this though by recognising that discussing an issue with others may reveal a solution so that when the right individual is approached with an issue, your son comes with both the problem and a possible solution.
HTH
StevieBee said:
To my mind, the question is to determine the confidence your son might have in taking matters up the management chain as well as demonstrate understanding as to the role of management chains.
The question is a fairly straight forward one because of course, things can only get fixed if you bring them to the person with the capacity to fix them. Anything other than this is just 'moaning' to colleagues.
He can balance this though by recognising that discussing an issue with others may reveal a solution so that when the right individual is approached with an issue, your son comes with both the problem and a possible solution.
HTH
See, this is why it’s an interesting question. The way you’re answering this questions and the assumptions that you’re making reveal different preferences/ assumptions/ experience to my own. I’ve spent my career in flat/ servant-leadership style organisations very much at odds with the necessary hierarchical model you describe (and I don’t doubt is wholly suitable for your endeavours)The question is a fairly straight forward one because of course, things can only get fixed if you bring them to the person with the capacity to fix them. Anything other than this is just 'moaning' to colleagues.
He can balance this though by recognising that discussing an issue with others may reveal a solution so that when the right individual is approached with an issue, your son comes with both the problem and a possible solution.
HTH
Good point emerging here, which is that what they’re looking for will also depend on the needs and culture of the organisation. There’s no one right answer, so worth your son doing his research on how they answer this question in their own materials.
For example, the Army will want a different answer to an Art Gallery. If the interview was with an American Entrpreneur who is now a motivational coach on YouTube, the correct answer would probably be:
“Issues? There aren’t any issues. There’s only opportunities. Right person? There’s only one right person and that’s me. Voice? Anyone who has got a voice at the end of the day hasn’t been on the phone enough hustling, I get up at 4am, etc”
For example, the Army will want a different answer to an Art Gallery. If the interview was with an American Entrpreneur who is now a motivational coach on YouTube, the correct answer would probably be:
“Issues? There aren’t any issues. There’s only opportunities. Right person? There’s only one right person and that’s me. Voice? Anyone who has got a voice at the end of the day hasn’t been on the phone enough hustling, I get up at 4am, etc”
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