interview questions/answers

Please give me some examples of where you have demonstrated the ability to be an effective member of a team. How did you contribute effectively? (Make sure to include the situation, what actions you took, and the results)

S While working at Caleri's Cafe and Bakery, everyone there has a job for the day. T Some days I am told to make drinks, and others I am told to make the food. A Throughout each task, I do my best job possible with what I have been given. I set up my performance to reach the level of excellence. R By working hard to achieve these goals, I am able to see the business succeed and continue to grow.

Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a group problem. How did you contribute to the solution? (Make sure to include the situation, what actions you took, and the results)

I have not been put in this certain position with having to solve a group problem, but I have been able to see where people need help and then do my best job to help them. One of my strong suits is being able to help people when they need it.

Please give me some examples of where you took extraordinary efforts to achieve a deadline. What was the end result? (Make sure to include the situation, what actions you took, and the results)

I have not been put in this exact situation, but I would be able to demonstrate these skills through hard work and determination.

What motivates you?

A motivation for me is knowing children are constantly improving mentally and physically. Through lifeguarding, I would be able to help these kids grow in both ways.

What can you offer us that someone else can not? (You better be able to!)

I am able to offer clear communication along with organization on a daily basis.

Why are you interested in working in this field?

I am interested in this field since there are many different parts to it. Even though in the end my job would be to save children in an emergency, I would also be able to grow with them and continue learning.

Would you work holidays/weekends?

I would be thrilled to work weekends, but holidays are a time for intimate family time.

Tell me about yourself. (Focus on professional qualities and achievements)

I work at Caleri's Cafe and Bakery to serve others and I also babysit monthly for multiple families

What do you do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I enjoy being with younger kids and teaching them new skills. I also enjoy being outdoors doing anything from exploring to swimming.

What would you look to accomplish in the first 30 days on the job?

In the first thirty days of the job I would want to get to know my co-workers and where they come from, but also help children outside of swimming when they need encouragement.

Please give me an example of where you had a conflict with a peer. How did you resolve it? (Make sure to include the situation, what actions you took, and the results)

S In third grade I had to conduct a science experiment with a partner. T Her role in the project was to create all the background information, and mine was to then put it into play while creating the project. A This did not go as planned since she decided to fill out her information the day before the project was due. This made it look like she had done her part, but I had not done mine even though I wasn't given time. R Throughout this project, I had then realized that I cannot rely on others. I have to make sure the information is completed myself even if it was their part. Also, I now know how to have clear communication through experiences like this.

Please give me some examples of things you have done which demonstrate your level of motivation. (Make sure to include the situation, what actions you took, and the results)

S Moving back from Arizona can be a challenge for students including myself and can create challenges you never thought you would have to face. T In the process of moving, it made me join new teams, interact with more people in a week than I have ever done, and learn new things about new places I hadn't been to. A Throughout my actions I had to remember why everything was the way it was and learn to go while still learning about a new place and new situations. R As a result of pushing myself to places I have never been, I have been able to grow new friendships, but also continue old relationships.

Please give me some examples of things you have done which demonstrate the quality of the work that you do. (Make sure to include the situation, what actions you took, and the results)

S Throughout my life I have had the opportunity to put in all I can to everything I do. T Everything from doing chores, to getting work done at school, to perfecting my job, I try my best with everything I do to push myself harder. A Having a positive attitude is the best way to get the job done well which is why I come to school with a positive attitude everyday. R With perfecting every step comes a lot of work, but I am ready to put forth the effort if it means my goals along with my team goals are accomplished.

Please give me examples of things you have done which demonstrate your ability to handle multiple priorities. (Make sure to include the situation, what actions you took, and the results)

S When working at Caleri's cafe and Bakery, sometimes we can end up short staffed. T This leads me to having to do multiple tasks at once while providing for the customers. A While making drinks and also taking their orders can get messy, I am able to stay organized and maintain a positive attitude. R While staying organized with a positive attitude, I am able to accomplish everything that needs done in an orderly fashion.

Tell me about a time when you had to learn something new in a short time. What was the result? (Make sure to include the situation, what actions you took, and the results)

S While quickly being trained at Caleri's, there wasn't much time for questions to be asked and for me to look over what was needed for the job. T I was told how to make certain foods and drinks that I would have to serve to customers. A At first, I was not sure if I'd be able to remember all the different tasks needing to be done, but customer after customer, I continued to learn and pick up on new skills. R I still learn something new everyday as I continue to serve customers.

How would you deal with an angry or irate customer? (Make sure to include the situation, what actions you took, and the results)

S With working at a coffee shop, not every customer is always in a great mood especially in the morning. In one incident, the customer refused to take the salad he had purchased since it was "too big". T As being the server of the day, my task was to work with the customers to make sure they got what they needed comfortably. A In this situation I had to be the bigger person and explain to him why it is the way it is. I had to make sure we were both on the same page and continue to move forward. R As a resolution, having communication with the customer made both of our jobs easier and I was able to continue business.

Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.

When moving back to Illinois at the beginning of eighth grade, it was hard to adjust when everybody already had their friends they had had throughout their childhood. IN my situation, I had gotten lucky and my childhood best friend went to the same school I had moved to. When moving state to state, I consider this an accomplishment physically, but also emotionally.

What is your favorite website to visit? (Interests)

While enjoying learning new things about people and places, my favorite website is quizlet.

When a hot dog expands, in which direction does it split and why?

As a hot dog expands the whole hotdog expands evenly which means it then splits down the middle. This is because that is where most of the pressure is being pushed.

What are your co-worker pet peeves? (Searching for a weakness)

At Caleri's Cafe and Bakery, one of their biggest pet peeves is an organization. Coming from my point, this is great since that's a strong suit of mine.

Are you a leader or a follower? (Think about what the position needs)

For the most part I am a leader. I like to know what needs done and then make it happen. I put a lot of work into everything I do.

Please give me an example of where you failed (or received some very negative feedback) in some aspect of your life. What did you do to try to correct this failure and what resulted from your actions? (Make sure to include the situation, what actions you took, and the results)

I have not been associated in this certain situation, but I have misinterpreted information that could have led to negative feedback if it wasn't corrected quickly enough. Being able to listen is one of my strong suits as I enter into the working community.

What was the last book you've read for fun? (Interests)

I am not huge on reading, but the last book I read for English class was called "The Witch of Blackbird Pond". I found this book to be very interesting and ended up enjoying it a lot.

Please give me an example of where you may have found an error in some aspect of work that others may have overlooked. How did you handle the situation? (Make sure to include the situation, what actions you took, and the results)

I have never been in this certain situation, but I can tell you that I can demonstrate these types of skills through finding problems in class and throughout school work.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In five years I see myself still dealing with kids and how they continue to grow. I see myself continuing to grow while teaching children as they continue to grow.

How do you handle pressure? (Make sure to include the situation, what actions you took, and the results)

S Handling pressure in cross country can be a difficult task. T When entering a race week, you have to focus on school, but also your upcoming race and everything that has to be put into both. A In this situation it is hard to stay calm, but I am able to take one day at a time and work through it. R As a result, both my grades do well, and my team is able to succeed with the amount of work put into both.

What is your dream job? (Tie this position as a way to achieve career goals)

My dream job is to do occupation therapy. I love dealing with kids and helping them through their problems. This can help me not only achieve my goals, but help them achieve their goal, which is my goal.

What is your greatest strength? (Explain with an example)

My greatest strength is being able to keep everything organized. For example, at home, all my sibling's rooms are a mess, except for mine. This is an area where my parents tend to compliment me a lot.

What is your greatest weakness? (Explain how you are working on improving in this area)

My greatest weakness is dealing with technological problems. Even though this is a problem, it helps me be strong in ways such as communication and learning other skills.

What is your most difficult subject in school? How do you accomplish success in this area? (Make sure you do not pick an area that would hinder your performance in this position)

My most difficult subject in school is History. I am not great at remembering dates and names which doesn't help me out in History.

Who is your role model?

My role model is my Mom. She is the hardest more efficient worker I know. She creates a positive working environment and doesn't create conflict. She gets all her work done on time and done correctly.

Please give me some examples of your accomplishments, which would demonstrate your ability to perform this job. (Make sure to include the situation, what actions you took, and the results)

S All year round, I babysit many different families. T In some cases, it can be an accomplishment to make it through the evening without going crazy. A Being able to make everyone happy is a task of its own which is something I strive to do. R IN doing this, I get good reviews from the parents, and also all the kids.

Please describe some things you have done on previous jobs or in school that would demonstrate your organizational skills. (Make sure to include the situation, what actions you took, and the results)

S During a day on the job, lots of people come through the coffee shop and things tend to get unorganized. T Throughout the day, I have to make sure everything is in the correct places and they all have to correct labels. For instance, if bakery items get the wrong label, someone could end up eating something they are allergic to which could cause some legal issues for miscommunication. A Taking action on this, I make sure everything is in the correct spot with the correct labels to ensure everyone's safety along with communication. R As a result, both the customers and the employees jobs go smoothly and everyone is able to stay on task.