Can you tell me about a decision you made in your previous job that you regretted? …
What examples can you provide that highlight your ability to problem-solve when there isn’t anyone available to help you? …
How do you approach stressful situations in the workplace?
Targeted Selection Interview Questions And Answers
► Worked effectively under pressure. ► Handled a difficult situation with a co-worker. ► Were creative in solving a problem. ► Missed an obvious solution to a problem. ► Were unable to complete a project on time. ► Persuaded team members to do things your way. ► Wrote a report that was well-received. ► Anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.
► Had to make an important decision with limited facts. ► Were forced to make an unpopular decision. ► Had to adapt to a difficult situation. ► Were tolerant of an opinion that was different from yours. ► Used your political savvy to push a program through that you really believed in. ► Were disappointed in your behavior. ► Had to deal with an irate customer. ► Delegated a project effectively.
► Here is one list of sample behavioral-based interview questions: ► Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way. ► Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills. ► Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem. ► Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it. ► Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someones opinion. ► Give me a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy with which you did not agree. ► Please discuss an important written document you were required to complete.
► Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co-worker. ► Give me an example of a time when you motivated others. ► Tell me about a time when you delegated a project effectively. ► Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem. ► Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem. ► Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures. ► Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision. ► Please tell me about a time you had to fire a friend. ► Describe a time when you set your sights too high (or too low).
In a Targeted Selection interview, the interviewer will have a list of skills critical to the role for which shes interviewing. If the role is a managers job, then one of the skill sets that the interviewer will be interested in could be conflict resolution within a team. The interviewer might start this section by asking for examples of previous situations where the candidate resolved conflict within her team. Or she could be asked to give an example of how she managed an irate team member. Additional questions could center on a description of how the candidate handled a difference of opinion with her manager or colleague, and how she put her case across.
ANALYTICAL SKILLS / PROBLEM SOLVING
Describe the project or situation that best demonstrates your analytical abilities. What was your role?
Tell me about a time when you had to analyze information and make a recommendation. What kind of thought process did you go through? Was the recommendation accepted? If not, why?
Tell me about a situation where you had to solve a difficult problem. What did you do? What was the outcome? What do you wish you had done differently?
What steps do you follow to study a problem before making a decision? Why?
What process do you use to check that you have the right details from a customer?
Give me an example of a time you discovered an error that been overlooked by a colleague. What did you do? What was the outcome?
Tell me about a time that you were confused by a customer’s request. What steps did you take to clarify things?
CLIENT FOCUS / CUSTOMER ORIENTATION
When have you had to deal with an irate customer? What did you do? How did the situation end up?
Tell me about a time you have “inherited” a customer. What steps did you take to establish rapport with them? What did you do to gain their trust?
How have you handled a situation in the past where your client has changed the brief or “changed the goalposts”?
Give an example of a time you went well out of your way to ensure a customer received the best possible service from you and organisation. What was their reaction?
When have you ever gone out on a limb to defend a customer? What happened?
Tell me about a recent successful experience in making a speech or presentation?
When have you had to present to a group of people with little or no preparation? What obstacles did you face? How did you handle them?
Have you ever had to “sell” an idea to your co-workers? How did you do it?
Give me an example of a time when you were able to successfully communicate with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa).
What obstacles or difficulties have you ever faced in communicating your ideas to a manager?
Tell me about a time in which you had to use your written communication skills in order to get an important point across.
When have you chosen to communicate a particular message in person as opposed to via email even though the email channel would have been a lot faster?
When was the last time you thought “outside the box” and how did you do it? Why?
Tell me about a problem that you’ve solved in a unique or unusual way. What was the outcome? Were you happy or satisfied with it?
Give me an example of when someone brought you a new idea that was odd or unusual. What did you do?
When have you brought an innovative idea into your team? How was it received?
Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision without all the information you needed. How did you handle it?
Give me an example of a time when you had to be quick in coming to a decision. What obstacles did you face?
What is the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make at work? How did you arrive at your decision? What was the result?
Give me an example of a business decision you made that you ultimately regretted. What happened?
Give me an example of an important career goal which you set yourself and tell me how you reached it. What obstacles did you encounter? How did you overcome the obstacles?
Tell me about a professional goal that you set that you did not reach. How did it make you feel?
How have you gone about setting short-term goals and long-term goals for yourself or your team? What steps did you take along the way to keep yourself accountable?
Describe a project or idea (not necessarily your own) that was implemented primarily because of your efforts. What was your role? What was the outcome?
Describe a situation in which you recognized a potential problem as an opportunity. What did you do? What was the result? What, if anything, do you wish you had done differently?
Tell me about a project you initiated. What did you do? Why? What was the outcome? Were you happy with the result?
Tell me about a time when your initiative caused a change to occur.
What has been the best idea you have come up with during your professional career?
Discuss a time when your integrity was challenged. How did you handle it?
Tell me about a time when you experienced a loss for doing what is right. How did you react?
Tell me about a business situation when you felt honesty was inappropriate. Why? What did you do?
Give a specific example of a policy you conformed to with which you did not agree. Why?
Give an example of when you had to work with someone who was difficult to get along with. How/why was this person difficult? How did you handle it? How did the relationship progress?
Describe a situation where you found yourself dealing with someone who didn’t like you. How did you handle it?
Describe a recent unpopular decision you made. How was it received? How did you handle it?
What, in your opinion, are the key ingredients in guiding and maintaining successful business relationships? Give me examples of how you have made these work for you.
Give me an example of a time when you were able to successfully communicate with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa). How did you handle the situation?
Tell me about a time when you had to work on a team with someone you did not get along with. What happened?
Describe a situation where you had a conflict with another individual, and how you dealt with it. What was the outcome? How did you feel about it?
Tell me about a team project when you had to take charge of the project? What did you do? What was the result?
Describe a leadership role of yours outside of work. Why did you commit your time to it? How did you feel about it?
What is the toughest group that you have ever had to lead? What were the obstacles? How did you handle the situation?
What has been your greatest leadership achievement in a professional environment? Talk through the steps you took to reach it.
What have been the greatest obstacles you have faced in building/growing a team?
Describe a time when you have not only been responsible for leading a team of people but for also doing the same job as your team members? How did you juggle/balance your time?
To test the all-important drive to succeed of a management candidate, a Targeted Selection interviewer could ask these questions: “Describe a time when you pro-actively identified and removed barriers to the completion of an important team task.” And then the candidate could be asked:”How did you analyze the situation, what was the result?” The final questions in this section could be: “How did you convince senior management to give your team an important operational task? How did you ensure its success?”
Targeted selection (TS) interview technique is an interview process based on the working assumption that how a person performed in previous work situations will be a good indicator of how shell perform in a similar set-up in the interviewers company. The technique brings structure and direction to the interview. Targeted selection interview preparation allows the interviewee to anticipate likely questions and deliver higher-quality answers.
Currently working in Dublin, Michael Mageean started out writing for Belfast-based “Fortnight” magazine in 1998. Recently he has written for Verify Recruitment’s technology blog, newsletter and scripted Verifys radio show, “New Job Radio.” He trained as a journalist with the London school of Journalism in 2012. He is a graduate of the University of Ulster.
According to Indeed Career Guide, in a Targeted Selection interview, the interviewer will have a list of skills critical to the role for which she’s interviewing. Targeted selection questions for a manager position often ask about conflict resolution approaches within a team. The interviewer might start this section by asking for examples of previous situations where the candidate resolved conflict within her team.
Or she could be asked to give an example of how she managed an irate team member, as reported by InterviewQuestionsAnswers.org. Additional questions could center on a description of how the candidate handled a difference of opinion with her manager or colleague, and how she put her case across.
FAQ
Which is an example of a targeted selection interview question?
For example, an interviewer hiring a retail manager might say the job requirements include merchandising, sales and employee management. A sample targeted selection interview question might then be, “Tell me about a time in which none of your scheduled employees showed up for a shift.
What are the 10 most common interview questions and answers?
10 Common Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
Could you tell me about yourself and describe your background in brief? …
How did you hear about this position? …
What type of work environment do you prefer? …
How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations? …
Do you prefer working independently or on a team?
What are the 5 Target interview questions?
Interview questions at Target
What is your background? Work experience? Why do you want to work at Target?
When did you encounter something unexpected in a workplace? How did you handle it and what was the outcome?
When w…
How do you meet your targets interview answer?
Examples of the Best Answers
Yes, I have met or surpassed my sales goals every quarter over my five-year career in the business. For example, last year, I led my team to exceed our sales projections by 20%—and we accomplished this in a very challenging market when most of the other teams in our group fell short.
