Job Interview Question: Tell me about five things that you can do that few others can? (applying, accountant)

[Refugee56]

To get a job now days you have to stand out. You need to have unique skills, talents and knowledge that few others that are applying at the company have.

I was recently told to hire a new Administrative Assistant in our Department. We advertised all over the place and got almost two hundred resumes. Nearly every resume looked the same. Few listed any accomplishments or talents, but instead just listed what they did at each job. Their Resumes were just modified job descriptions, and my eyes glazed over reading them.

So when we did bring in ten different people to interview for the job we asked them three basic questions:

Tell us what you can do as an Administrative Assistant that the other 200 people who applied can not do?

What new skills have you learned in the last few years? Please describe them in depth. (Most people could not list any new skills)

Please name three major accomplishments during the last year at your current or last job. (Most people talked about their job duties and did not have any accomplishments!)
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What do you think?

[TKramar]

How many people are really good at tooting their own horn?

When my company gives out recognition, I usually think in my head, "Yeah, but that's my JOB--that should be EXPECTED of me, and anyone else that works here!"

[overtaxedunderpaided]

Good questions and on the spot questions.........however i think most people expect the run of the mill type questions at interviews and you probably threw them off a bit......just a more creative spin on the ol "tell me about yourself?" and "what's your good qualities and your bad qualities?" .......which still throw people off,LOL

.........as for the five things? I'd probably answer it with: 1. i Answer my phone 2. i respond to All emails 3. i treat Everyone with respect 4. i don't pass the buck and take responsibility for my own actions 5. when i come to work i Work!

[Racelady88]

In all fairness most of the Admins that I know are really just glorified receptionists who are rarely offered the opportunity for accomplishment or growth. 3 accomplishments? Not likely. Perhaps it is different in the company that the OP works at, but not one of the Admins that I have ever worked with would have been able to offer a satisfactory answer to the OP's question.

[Refugee56]

Originally Posted by Racelady88

In all fairness most of the Admins that I know are really just glorified receptionists who are rarely offered the opportunity for accomplishment or growth. 3 accomplishments? Not likely. Perhaps it is different in the company that the OP works at, but not one of the Admins that I have ever worked with would have been able to offer a satisfactory answer to the OP's question.

Here are some people gave me:

Got certified as an expert in Microsoft Office
Took classes
Improved my typing speed to 80 WPM
Was promoted from General Clerk to AA
Completely updated our filing system

[jenn02674]

What exactly are you expecting out of an Admin Assistant? I don't want to sound like I am belittling the job at all but the job is typically to do pretty much whatever the person they are working for wants. It isn't usually a job that requires much creativity and it isn't a job that is measured in terms of revenue or managing or leading projects. Now I imagine that you want someone that can work without supervision, takes initiative, and can figure out things on their own along with the usual office type skills, but I am not sure the best AA on the planet would be able to answer your question to your satisfaction.

[fierce_flawless]

Originally Posted by jenn02674

What exactly are you expecting out of an Admin Assistant? I don't want to sound like I am belittling the job at all but the job is typically to do pretty much whatever the person they are working for wants. It isn't usually a job that requires much creativity and it isn't a job that is measured in terms of revenue or managing or leading projects. Now I imagine that you want someone that can work without supervision, takes initiative, and can figure out things on their own along with the usual office type skills, but I am not sure the best AA on the planet would be able to answer your question to your satisfaction.

I agree. Many of the examples you gave in your answers would not be good answers for those that had already done those things. There's only so much you can do in this type of position unless you have a rare boss that gives you a lot of control and opportunities to make decisions.

I have always wondered about these types of questions.. for example, I did a LOT of data entry, medical related (health insurance)... and my resume was clear on this. I was interviewing for a similar position, data entry and some filing. I get the "Tell me of an example where you provided excellent customer service..."



Ummm, by meeting the deadlines (part of my job anyway) and not making errors (part of my job anyway) and typing REALLY FAST? ... I mean really. It's data entry. I had zero contact with the client or the patient. It's solitary and simple...and that question was rather pointless IMO and had no place in teh data entry job interview. It seemed "stock".

[glastron_79]

Originally Posted by fierce_flawless

I agree. Many of the examples you gave in your answers would not be good answers for those that had already done those things. There's only so much you can do in this type of position unless you have a rare boss that gives you a lot of control and opportunities to make decisions.

I have always wondered about these types of questions.. for example, I did a LOT of data entry, medical related (health insurance)... and my resume was clear on this. I was interviewing for a similar position, data entry and some filing. I get the "Tell me of an example where you provided excellent customer service..."



Ummm, by meeting the deadlines (part of my job anyway) and not making errors (part of my job anyway) and typing REALLY FAST? ... I mean really. It's data entry. I had zero contact with the client or the patient. It's solitary and simple...and that question was rather pointless IMO and had no place in teh data entry job interview. It seemed "stock".

When interviewing for an accounting position two months ago, the interviewer asked me that good old "customer service" question. So, I told her that my current contacts are vendors, not customers, and gave some examples of excellent "vendor" service. She seemed impressed at the moment, though I didn't get the job.

[glastron_79]

Originally Posted by Refugee56

Here are some people gave me:

Got certified as an expert in Microsoft Office
Took classes
Improved my typing speed to 80 WPM
Was promoted from General Clerk to AA
Completely updated our filing system

Completely updated the filing system? What kind of details did your applicant give on that project? I want to say what I think he/she really did, but I won't. I'm an accountant and I "completely update my filing system" at the end of every year though it's barely worth calling an accomplishment.

[fierce_flawless]

Originally Posted by glastron_79

Completely updated the filing system? What kind of details did your applicant give on that project? I want to say what I think he/she really did, but I won't. I'm an accountant and I "completely update my filing system" at the end of every year though it's barely worth calling an accomplishment.

Yes, I was wondering as well. I completely updated the filing system on my last job in a law office. Took about a week, and that was working on it an hour a day.

What if your typing speed is already 80 WPM? I've reached my plateau there, I'm afraid. It just won't get any higher. I should know, as I've been typing at that speed since 1990 or so.

What if you took classes in Chemistry or something else having nothing to do with the job?

What if you already use MS Office on an expert level?

What if you started the job as an AA and there is no where to go from there?

I'm just saying, with some types of jobs, these questions are just not the right ones to be asking. I'm sure others will disagree.