MECOP Interview Questions

STAR/CAR

Situation/task/challenge, action, result

Communication • _Describe a situation when you were able to strengthen a relationship by communicating effectively. What made your communication effective?

• _Give me an example of a time when you were able to successfully communicate with another person, even when that individual may not have personally liked you , or vice versa.

• _Tell us about a time when you had to present complex information. How did you ensure that the other person understood?

Ambulance story – feeding tube to scared wife

Group project – delegating tasks, ask for progress report

• _Tell us about a time you had to communicate negative or unpopular information to another individual or group. What approach did you take and how did you feel afterwards?

Invoice problem

Coffee bags

Decision making & Problem Solving • _Discuss an important decision you have made regarding a task or project at work or school. What factors influenced your decision?

Choosing majors

• _Give an example of a time when you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision.

Ambulance calls

• _Tell us about a time when you had to defend a decision you made even though other important people were opposed to your decision.

Coffee bags

• _In many problem situations, it is often tempting to jump to a conclusion to build a solution quickly. Tell me about a time when you resisted this temptation and thoroughly obtained all facts associated with the problem before coming to a decision.

Innovation/ Creativity • _Describe a time when you came up with a creative solution/idea/project/report to a problem in your past work.

GRO research project – superfund sites to bioswale contaminants

• _Give me an example of when you took a risk to achieve a goal. What was the outcome?

Using autocad to create drawing for project, learning to use program during project

• _What have been some of your most creative ideas?

Building gasifier from 55gal drum

Speaking to City of Portland about Big Pipe for project, and just because I was curious

• _Think of a conventional practice that you chose to improve upon. How did you do it?

Leadership • _Give an example of your ability to build motivation in your co-workers, classmates, and even if on a volunteer committee.

• _What is the toughest group that you have had to get cooperation from? Describe how you handled it. What was the outcome?

Paramedic scenario proctors, scene control on hectic call

• _Have you ever had difficulty getting others to accept your ideas? What was your approach? Did it work?

Coffee care bags

Planning, Prioritizing and Goal Setting • _Describe a situation that required you to do a number of things at the same time. How did you handle it? What was the result?

Too many classes, homework/projects

Paramedic calls, triage

• _How do you determine priorities in scheduling your time? Give an example.

• _How do you typically plan your day to manage your time effectively?

Mornings – exercise, eat, relax

Afternoon – reading, homework

Evening – most productive, homework

• _Think of a project in which you skillfully coordinated people, tasks, and schedules. How did you do it?

CE 111, big pipe presentation, group work, quiet group

CE 112, bridge project, group work, multiple leaders

Teamwork • _Describe a team experience you found disappointing. What would you have done to prevent this?

Paramedic preceptor -

• _Have you ever been a project leader? Give examples of problems you experienced and how you reacted.

• _Walk me through a single situation when you went out of your way to induce a friendly climate on your team. How did you do it?

• _Tell me about a situation when you provided full support for a team decision, even though you didn’t agree with it.

Tell Me About a Time When You…1. Worked effectively under pressure.

2. Handled a difficult situation with a co-worker.

3. Were creative in solving a problem.

4. Missed an obvious solution to a problem.

5. Were unable to complete a project on time.

6. Persuaded team members to do things your way.

7. Wrote a report that was well received.

8. Anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.

9. Had to make an important decision with limited facts.

10. Were forced to make an unpopular decision.

11. Had to adapt to a difficult situation.

12. Were tolerant of an opinion that was different from yours. 13. Were disappointed in your behavior.

14. Used your political savvy to push a program through that you really believed in.

15. Had to deal with an irate customer.

16. Delegated a project effectively.

17. Surmounted a major obstacle.

18. Set your sights too high (or too low).

19. Prioritized the elements of a complicated project.

20. Got bogged down in the details of a project.

21. Lost (or won) an important contract.

22. Made a bad decision.

23. Had to fire a friend.

24. Hired (or fired) the wrong person.

25. Turned down a good job.

EPA GRO Grant

Application, few opportunities

Research – stormwater, bioswales, contaminants

Summer internship in Colorado

EWB coffee cart manager

Managing volunteers

Running errands

Interacting with strangers

**Invoice problem

Biochar, gasifier summer project

Greenroof biodiversity study

Landscaping groundscrew

Public interaction

Hard work

Firefighting, paramedic

Public interaction

Intense situations, complex problems, quick thinking

Hard work