How long does it take to make a significant contribution? |Job-Job TV Network
By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
In this video, big game hunter Jeff Altman explains how to answer this interview question.
Tough interview question: Rate your abilities on a scale of 1-10
Today, I want to talk to you about one of those tough interview questions. . . They’re trying to learn more about you, and part of what they’re trying to do is see if you’re stupid enough to give them a stupid answer in the interview, which they can then use to reject you. Remember, the easiest thing for them to do is to fire employees, not hire them. So, what they want to do is filter out people.
Now, one of the questions that is sometimes asked is, “So, how long do you think it will be before you can make a meaningful contribution here,” or something like that? Basically, what they want to do is see if you have “aggressiveness.” I really don’t like that word, so I jokingly call it “aggressiveness.”
Now, when you think about that, you have no idea what you’re getting into. The “but” is that they want a taste of your tenacity and determination. So, one thing you can say is, “You know, I’m hoping to make some version of a contribution from day one. But if you’re talking about a ‘significant contribution,’ I don’t fully understand this organization and what I’m getting into. I don’t know the relationships and how things are done here. If you’re looking for my guess, I think it’s reasonable to expect that six months to understand what’s going on and what’s really going on here, conservatively, six months to a year, will definitely lead to a significant contribution.”
Recruiters are not your friends
Now, there are a few things you do. First, did you really give them a reasonable answer. The second thing is, again, remember, I’m a big believer in you being able to dramatize your answers. So you have to say something like: “I want to contribute from day one, but it’s going to take a while to get the hang of things, how things are done, who does what, how things get done. So, I think that’s pretty reasonable…” Notice how I briefly broke eye contact? This makes them feel like you’re thinking about your answer.
“I think it’s quite reasonable to expect six months to a year to make what you consider to be a significant contribution to the organization.”
If you really don’t want to deal with them, then before you start answering the question, ask them what a “significant contribution” is to you, as their definition of “significant” may be very different from yours. So, you never want to appear to have a preset answer. You must always act as if you are thinking about it.
But ultimately, everything should be well-rehearsed so that it comes off instinctively. “What do you consider a significant contribution?”
“I want you to part the Red Sea and let the whole world see your infinite power.”
“Well, it’s probably going to take longer than six to 12 months,” but, you know, when it’s all said and done, they’re going to talk about some of the important job responsibilities and what those responsibilities are. You can give them a reasonable guess, but we always talk about terms that make a significant contribution almost immediately, but then need to understand the situation, but do you think it might take… . . My recommendation is six to twelve months. They’re probably thinking about something shorter than that. As they begin to answer questions, you’ll hear what they think is important.
Decide
About Big Game Hunter Jeff Altman
People hire “Big Game Hunter” Jeff Altman to provide no-nonsense job coaching and career advice around the world because he makes your job search and career success easier.
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