Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/599553
The Art of Manliness Continued JOBS for TEAMS | 10 www.jobsfor teams.com talk about what you want to. Several of her techniques work well for fielding those interview questions that don't offer the chance to paint yourself in the best possible light: Refocus the Question If there's part of a question you don't think it's a good idea to speak to, focus on an aspect that will allow you to highlight one of your matchups. You do that, Woodall writes, by taking "one word from the question (usually not the main topic word) which you are willing to talk about, and [building] a strong, supported response around it." So let's say a candidate doesn't have the advanced degree usually required of a position, and is asked: • "This job requires a strong knowledge of the subject area you'll be creating exhibits around. Initiative is important as well. In what ways do you exhibit those traits?" • A good answer could be something like: "My initiative is one of my greatest strengths. I have a passion for diving deep into a subject and I've always been able to teach myself new things very quickly. For example, the summer after college, I taught myself both Spanish and French." Build a Bridge With this technique you build a bridge from what the question asked to what you really want to talk about. This technique is similar to the refocusing strategy, but the break between the content of the question and that of your answer is sharper. The trick is to bridge to your talking points as smoothly as possible so the transition isn't too awkward or noticeable. To do this, first acknowledge the significance of the question's subject, and then look for a logical pivot point towards what you think is the more important factor: •"Tell me about an on-the-job experience where you managed a project from start to finish." • "While on-the-job experience can be important [acknowledging the significance], experience in other areas can be equally valuable [pivoting]. I spent last summer heading up a project to build wells in Africa. I not only had to manage a team and understand differences in the working styles of its members, but also had to navigate cross- cultural differences. The job taught me how to overcome obstacles similar in many ways to the ones it seems like I'll encounter in this job. For example…" • "I see that there's a year-long gap here on your resume. What were you doing during that time?" • "I had to take care of some family issues that year. But as you can also see, the work I did both immediately preceding and following that year is directly aligned with the responsibilities of this position. For example, while I was working at Acme Co., I was responsible for…" Use a Funnel With the bridge technique, you pivot entirely away from the question's main subject. But sometimes you just want to narrow the field of discussion, while also