In the first of our series about Behavioral Interview Questions, we described what behavioral interview questions were, why interviewers ask them, and how you should prepare for them. Today, were taking the next step and talking about answering a specific and common question: “Tell me about a time when you had to learn something very quickly but knew nothing about it before.” This question is the interviewers way of acknowledging that you probably arent going to know everything that the new job will require. They want to know your method for learning new material so they can evaluate how well you might do in their organization.
People have different learning styles. Some people are visual learners who succeed most often when they see information presented in graphics, such as charts and diagrams. Some people are auditory learners. They do best when they can listen to information presented verbally. Others process information by reading material. And, still others prefer to learn by doing, much like on-the-job training. Some people like to learn in a group; others prefer a more solitary experience. As you prepare to answer the interviewers question, its important to recognize your own style. That way you can easily explain how you learned unfamiliar material in the past and describe how you would tackle it in the new job.
As we wrote in the previous blog post, you need to think about a situation that you experienced so that you will have an example ready. Once you identify that situation, it helps to approach your answer by breaking it down into specific parts using the STAR method. Heres an example.
“I moved into a new department at my previous employer. I had been handling customer service phone calls about a specific product. In the new department, I was responsible for handling customer calls about a completely different product. To learn about the new product, I read all the promotional material, manufacturing specifications and timelines for delivery. I also listened in to other workers phone calls with customers to see what customers wanted to know and how my co-workers handled them. After less than a week, my supervisor allowed me to take live calls from customers. Later that year, I was promoted to team leader of that section.”
How to Answer Tell me about a time you had to learn a new skill that was essential to your success
Example 3: Gaining research analysis skills
Research analysis skills can show you understand how to look for new business opportunities, find information from credible sources and interpret the data to draw important conclusions. Consider the following response for an example of how to describe your research competence to a potential employer:
“During my first year as a market research analyst, I had to learn how to forecast sales trends for popular beauty products. Since the company I worked for had a lot of competitors, it took some time for me to separate my findings and make interpretations based on a lot of information. I mastered how to distinguish between direct and indirect competitors, which made it easier to interpret the sales predictions that I reported. I also learned how to manage my time so I could deliver a timely research report, which enabled product developers to readjust their plans accordingly.”
Example 1: Operating new technology
Proficiency in technology can be an essential skill if your desired role requires the use of computers and software programs. The following example shows how you can communicate your journey in becoming better at operating technology:
“When I worked as a content creator for an advertising agency, I taught myself how to use new graphic design software. The application had unique features that could make our graphics more memorable, and the formats were more compatible with diverse social media platforms. I watched video tutorials and entered a certification course to master my skills. I also helped my coworkers navigate software, which helped us create more appealing graphics more quickly. Since weve used the program, our engagement on social media tripled.”
Highlight skills you gained
Next, showcase soft and technical skills you acquired while learning a new topic. Your answer can further reinforce your credentials, and you can include skills that you may use to be successful in your coveted position.
Use the job description to identify skills the employer prefers that best describe you. Next, contemplate how they relate to your learning experience. For instance, if you learned how to boost employee satisfaction, then you can highlight your communication, research and instructional leadership skills. Show the employer that you can perform the responsibilities of the job and make positive contributions to the company.
Interview questions with sample answers
When preparing for a job interview, think about the questions your interviewer may ask you—about yourself, the role or your industry—and create answers to them. You can connect your answers back to the job openings description to show your interviewer youre a perfect fit for the position. This process can help you be and feel more prepared to express your qualifications effectively in the actual interview process. Here are some interview questions with sample answers that may help you:
In-depth questions
In an interview for a learning and development management position, interviewers typically ask you questions specifically related to your experience in this career. They may want to hear about your educational background in business, economics, human resources or related fields, your interpersonal, problem-solving, leadership and collaboration skills, your previous work experience training employees and anything else that may demonstrate your expertise in learning and development management. Here are some examples of in-depth questions you may hear:
Questions about experience and background
Interviewers often ask questions related to the candidates experience in the industry or field of the job. Since learning and development professionals can work in many different fields and often depend on subject matter experts to learn content knowledge, they may not know much about the particular industry they are applying to. However, they can emphasize their ability to learn quickly and highlight their knowledge of adult learning principles, business sense, coaching, presenting and other relevant criteria. Here are some examples of questions you may encounter about experience and background:
Why is Learning Ability Important?
Dr. John Sullivan, internationally known HR thought-leader and author of 10 books on the subject of talent management, believes that learning ability is the number one predictor of top performance. He notes that “even though hiring managers still need to look at an individual’s “capability” to do the job, they also need to realize that it’s equally important to be assessing a candidate’s ability to continually learn new things.”
In our technology-driven world, the ability to learn is more important than ever. From changes in scheduling software to new apps popping up every day, your personal assistant needs to be on top of changes in the world around them. You don’t want to be the one having to catch them up every time a new or better way to perform a task comes around. They should be surprising you by consistently modernizing your life!
The capacity to learn new things is especially important in a job like a personal assistant job that encompasses a variety of tasks. It is almost impossible to find the perfect person who has already learned to perform 100% of the types of tasks you require, as well as any potential future tasks you think you may require them to perform.
Why is it crucial to demonstrate your willingness to learn?
Employers want to attract skilled workers, but they also prioritize hiring for a cultural fit. When a job candidate shows that they’re open to changing, learning and upgrading their skills, they instantly become a better investment. When navigating your career path, demonstrate your willingness to learn so employers can see your growth potential.
Your willingness to learn tells employers several important things:
Tip: Giving and accepting constructive feedback is key to professional growth, because it helps managers and employees examine their behavior and work from another perspective.
How to Identify Candidates Who Learn Well
Anyone can tell you that they learn quickly, but assessing whether they actually do is the tricky part. You will need to take learning ability into consideration when deciding who to bring in for interviews as well as when putting together interview questions.
FAQ
How do you go about learning a new skill interview question?
- Think about your work experience. The first step is to contemplate topics you’ve learned throughout your career. …
- Relate your answer to your desired job. …
- Highlight skills you gained. …
- Explain the positive results of your knowledge.
How do you answer Tell me about a time you had to learn something new?
- Be honest. Tell the truth in your response and express your honest desires for improving your skills.
- Be humble. …
- Express an eagerness to learn. …
- Highlight skills you have. …
- Use a professional example.
What skills do you learn interview questions?
- 1 COMMUNICATION SKILLS (LISTENING, SPEAKING AND WRITING) …
- 2 ANALYTICAL AND RESEARCH SKILLS. …
- 3 FLEXIBILITY/ADAPTABILITY. …
- 4 INTERPERSONAL ABILITIES. …
- 5 ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS AND SOLVE PROBLEMS. …
- 6 ABILITY TO PLAN, ORGANISE AND PRIORITISE WORK. …
- 7 ABILITY TO WEAR MULTIPLE HATS. …
- 8 LEADERSHIP/MANAGEMENT SKILLS.
What new skills have you developed recently interview question?
- 1 COMMUNICATION SKILLS (LISTENING, SPEAKING AND WRITING) …
- 2 ANALYTICAL AND RESEARCH SKILLS. …
- 3 FLEXIBILITY/ADAPTABILITY. …
- 4 INTERPERSONAL ABILITIES. …
- 5 ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS AND SOLVE PROBLEMS. …
- 6 ABILITY TO PLAN, ORGANISE AND PRIORITISE WORK. …
- 7 ABILITY TO WEAR MULTIPLE HATS. …
- 8 LEADERSHIP/MANAGEMENT SKILLS.
