Interviewer: What were your responsibilities at your last job?
Tina: As a store manager, I was in charge of making sure everything in the store was operating correctly. I supervised the employees to make sure everybody was working hard and staying on task. I interviewed and hired new staff when needed. I created the work schedule for the employees. And I was also in charge of finding new ways to improve the store’s design, service, and efficiency.
Interviewer: You had a lot of responsibilities. Which one was the most difficult for you?
Tina: It might come as a surprise but making the employee schedule was the most difficult. It was impossible to make everybody happy. There were always times and days that people did not want to work.
Interviewer: How did you handle it?
Tina: I just tried to be as fair as possible, and if somebody had a problem with the schedule, then I just explained the situation honestly and directly. I told them that everybody had to work some shifts that they did not want to work. Most people understood and there were never any major problems.
Interviewer: I see. I think your management and leadership skills would be a good fit here.
Patterns and Examples
I was in charge in of ____________________. This experience ____________________.
- I was in charge of gathering and organizing financial data into reports for the senior financial analysts. This experience helped me learn a lot about the important data needed to make smart decisions when investing.
- I was in charge of managing the restaurant and making sure that everything went smoothly. This experience taught me a lot about managing a restaurant and dealing with all kinds of people.
As a/an ____________________, I was responsible for ____________________.
- As an English teacher, I was responsible for planning and teaching English classes.
- As a salesman at T-Mart, I was responsible for helping customers who were interested in purchasing home appliances.
I was in charge of ____________________ at my previous job. I learned a lot, and I think it prepared me for ____________________.
- I was in charge of making sure the store ran smoothly and helping the manager at my previous job. I learned a lot, and I think it prepared me for being a manager of a retail store.
- I was in charge of an entire sales division at my previous job. I learned a lot, and I think it prepared me for a regional sales director position like this one.
