US Career Guide

STAND Out

by Jessica Bartow,

AgCareers.com

Talent Solutions Specialist

YOU MADE IT

to the interview—congratulations! Have you ever wondered how to make yourself stand out among other

interviewers? We asked some of our employers for their advice on common interview questions. Check out their recommendations

& F

ood

Areer

uide

Debra Defreece

Director - enterprise recruitment | talent acquisition, wilbur-ellis

Jennifer struck

talent acquisition programs & operations lead, corteva

where do you see yourself in

five years?

Interviewers often ask this

do you have any questions for me?

Whether you have interviewed with one person in the

organization or eight, always say “yes” and be prepared

to ask a question. It shows that you are interested and

engaged. If you don’t ask a question you are missing out

on an opportunity to find out more about the company.

You might ask what the greatest challenges are in the role;

you might ask what the average day looks like. The best

answers to this question come from listening to what the

interviewer is asking you and then exploring that further

with the interviewer. Such as, “From what you’ve asked,

I get the sense that inventory control accuracy is a focus

right now. Can you tell me what the challenges are in this

area?” Be prepared for this question and be thoughtful.

I am looking to see how curious you are and if you’ve paid

attention during the interview.

Can you tell me about a difficult work situation

and how you overcame it?

This question is an example of a behavioral-based

question and when responding, if the candidate can, in

brevity, answer this “in-full,” that sets a candidate apart

from the rest. When answering this question, use the

STAR method: provide a situation, task, action, and result.

To start, provide the interviewers a glimpse of what the

situation was and what tasks are needed to overcome the

situation. From there, detail the action you specifically took

followed by the end result. Most candidates are good at

detailing out the first three, but forget to relay the results.

If you briefly detail all four, you will set yourself apart.

Tell me a little about yourself.

Many interviewers will ask this at the

very beginning of the interview. This is done on purpose

to help the candidate relax and become more comfortable.

This is a great way for the candidate to set the tone of

the overall process. The key to answering this question

effectively is brevity. Before an interview, take the time

to think about what you may want to say. Ensure that the

information is work-related. Be succinct and thought-

ful in your response. A candidate who states they are a

hard-working, organized, detail-oriented, team player

will stand out more so than one that rambles on about a

variety of non-work/position-related information.

answers to everyday

interview questions

to gain some inside tips from an employer’s perspective.

question to evaluate how your career goals fit into the

role today and long-term. It’s always nice to find employ-

ees who will remain motivated and enthusiastic for more

than a few months. I recommend that you are honest and

sincere yet fairly general. Especially if you’re not sure about

a five-year goal. Stress your interest in a long-term career.

The interviewer wants to know that you want to settle in

and grow so they see you as a good investment. Also, show

enthusiasm in the job and the company. The interviewer

wants to know that it’s an opportunity that is exciting

to you and you’ll be as invested in the company as the

company is in you!