By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter tells you how to answer that question, no matter who you really are.
Job Search and the Ten Thousand Rule
I know you’re tempted to immediately say, “Well, I’m a leader! I love leading,” and your answer may sound like a puppy. The first thing you need to do is remember what the job you’re interviewing for is all about. What do they want to hear from you?
You can talk about being a leader, but you have to be prepared for the follow-up questions they’ll ask you. Then, you must be prepared for the follow-up question, which is, “To me, you’ve made your job.” You must be prepared to talk about the situation and describe it broadly and clearly. So you might talk about your projects, or in the office, you might not have the title of manager, but you are the go-to individual in the company for anyone doing your kind of work. You are a resource that everyone seeks, not because you have a position, but because people see you as a leader.
However, if you are a follower, there are many different directions you can take. For example, you might be interviewing for a staff position without leadership responsibilities. However, you could say something like: “There is a connotation to being a follower. Followers take orders. They take instructions from people. I do this in the course of my work. But, at the same time, in situations where I work with others, I act as their leader…”
Do you see what I’m doing here? I mean I can follow orders, but I can also work with my colleagues and inspire them. I can also make suggestions to my management on how to do things differently. I know it’s ultimately their decision, but at the end of the day, I’m a follower, but in this case, I’m a leader of followers.
Will I get that? You don’t want to come across as just a clerk.
I use “clerk” to describe a person who sits at a desk without thinking.
(I remember a high school kid doing this at one of my early jobs, taking apart staplers, taking them apart, and sorting them in different orders… man! That was a crappy job, but with a high school kid, you do what you can, especially if it keeps you indoors).
You can be a follower, but modify your answers to let them know you are a leader among those being mentored.
Ⓒ Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2020
An important key to success
