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Job Competency
214. Many people are faced with times in their professional and personal life when they are required to take risks to get a project completed on time, overcome emergency situations, or take advantage of a business opportunity. Has there been a situation in your professional life when you had to take a risk to get an important project finished on time?
Answer:
The correct answer will include a discussion of an actual event in which the candidate had to take a calculated risk to get an important task done by a specific deadline.
As an example:
In order to meet a seemingly impossible deadline, you had to assign a critical task to a team member who had not yet proven himself capable of completing any critical or essential tasks. If the unproven team member failed to get the task done when expected, you would fail to get the overall project completed on time, causing the loss of a profitable contract. In this case, you were able to help the unproven colleague finish the critical task on time, saving the contract for the company.
215. Please describe any creative work you had with your previous employer.
Answer:
To answer this question correctly, the candidate will need to provide concrete evidence of his creative work at a previous employer.
As an example:
At my last employer, I was a landscape design planner for the company’s residential division. I would go out to the homes of prospective customers, measure their yards, find out their needs and find out what the expected budget for the project should be. I was responsible for designing the project, pricing, building codes, and selling the project to the customer.
216. Can you define the first law of thermodynamics?
Answer:
There are four laws of thermodynamics which describe how different physical elements such as temperature, energy, and entropy interact in nature.
As an example:
The First Law of Thermodynamics is concerned with the relationship between heat and energy transfer. The Second Law of Thermodynamics is concerned with the relationship between entropy and thermal equilibrium. The Third Law of Thermodynamics is concerned with the relationship between entropy and the temperature of systems. The Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics is concerned with the relationship between thermodynamic equilibrium and temperature. Entropy is defined as the process of disorder in any closed system. The Laws of Thermodynamics prove that perpetual motion in machines is impossible to create.
217. Please name the software programs you are able to use fluently.
Answer:
The candidate may report she is fluent with the Microsoft Office Suite, Java, Oracle, Outlook, Norton, Quicken, Power Point, Excel, and Windows 7 or 8 , to name a few.
As an example:
The candidate should be able to sit down at a computer and pass a test on each software application that he claims proficiency in.
218. Please name the bands or musical groups you have performed with.
Answer:
This question is simple to answer. The candidate should simply name the bands and musical groups she has been a part of.
As an example:
The answer to this question will provide the interviewer with a history of the candidate’s musical experience. This history will provide an indication of the musician’s skill.
219. Have you written music that has a copyright?
Answer:
The answer to this question is very simple. If the candidate has written and copyrighted some musical scores, then the answer is a simple matter of providing the requested information.
As an example:
If the candidate has been successful at writing music, it is an indication of her musical skill. The group the candidate is applying to will be very interested in the creativity of the musician.
220. Has any of the music you’ve written been published for public distribution?
Answer:
It would be a great testament of the candidate’s musical expertise if he has music being published and sold in music stores. The interviewer will be interested in finding out as much as possible about the candidate’s success in the music business.
As an example:
If a musician has music in wide distribution, he or she will have greater employment opportunities. Employers are looking for the highest qualified personnel possible.
221. How did you learn and develop your professional music skills?
Answer:
The candidate should be able to share information about her education, training, and experience as a professional musician.
As an example:
The musician may have studied at a very top-notch university or even the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. After formal training, the candidate should be able to provide evidence of the professional experience he has had leading up to this audition or interview.
222. Who is your primary audience?
Answer:
The correct answer to this question will depend on the style of music the candidate has been involved in.
As an example:
If the musician has been working with symphony orchestras, his audience will be interested in classical music. If the musician works primarily with jazz, then her audience will be people interested in jazz. This evidence will be the key indicator that qualifies or disqualifies the musician for the group he or she is trying to get into.
223. Do you have a good quality instrument?
Answer:
This is a really important question, which seeks some insight into the candidate’s ability to adjust to conditions that are less than ideal.
As an example:
Many instrumental performers do not own as good of an instrument as they would like to have. The answer to this question may provide the interviewer with some bargaining power. The interviewer may be able to bring a promising performer into the company with the promise of the opportunity for a higher quality of instrument after a period of time.
224. What is the largest orchestra you have directed?
Answer:
This question is singularly directed at orchestra directors. The person’s response to the question will provide information on the professional accomplishments of the candidate.
As an example:
If the candidate has only directed small orchestras, the interviewer will need to determine if the candidate is ready to move up to a larger group. The interviewer may need to see the candidate in action before he can make a hiring recommendation.
225. If you were called to a home to fix a leaking toilet, and you discovered the floor was rotted, what would you do?
Answer:
A good answer to this question would be one in which the interviewer can see you would do your best to ensure the correct repair is made at the most economical price possible.
As an example:
I would figure out exactly what needed to be repaired and immediately provide the homeowner with all of the options available for fixing the problem. I would then work with them on choosing the best option that would solve the problem safely and accurately within their budget.
226. Have you been able to pass the required tests to become a licensed plumber?
Answer:
In most jurisdictions, contractors are required to be licensed to work as a plumber. Passing the tests to become licensed is a measure of the plumber’s willingness to be as qualified as possible. If a candidate is unwilling to be licensed, it is a testimony of their lack of professionalism.
As an example:
Working without the required credentials may be a violation of the law. Plumbing companies will be unwilling to hire workers who are unwilling to take the steps required to promote their profession.
227. What was the worst mistake you made as a plumber?
Answer:
To fully answer this question, the plumber will need to share information on a serious mistake she made in a customer’s home or business.
As an example:
I was working in a customer’s home and I broke open a hot water line, which made water flood the entire first floor of the home. It took me hours to get the leak fixed, get someone to come in and clean up the mess, and make arrangements for my insurance to replace the homeowners damaged belongings. The willingness of the plumber to ensure the customer’s losses were covered is a very important issue to the company that may hire this person.
228. Do you have all the specialized tools you need to have as a professional plumber?
Answer:
The correct answer would be a resounding yes! A professional cannot do his job correctly if he does not have the tools needed to do a job quickly and efficiently.
As an example:
If the company sends you out to repair broken water lines under a kitchen sink, do you have the necessary tubing benders, soldering equ...
