What Would Your Direct Reports Say About You?
In an interview, a hiring manager may ask you several different questions, and one of these may have to do with what past performance reports say about you. Although this question may be tough to answer, what the interviewer really wants to know is how you perform as an employee based on records from your prior job.
This way, they gain a better understanding into whether or not there are past incidences on your reports that could keep you from getting the job or situations of outstanding performance that could make you a good fit for the position.
Points to Emphasize
To answer this question in a way that makes you stand out in a positive manner, there are a few points you should make. These include the following:
- Describe how often you had reports done at your job and what they included.
- Make sure that you point out the good things on your reports.
- Make connections between common information on these reports and tie it into why you are a good employee.
- Keep your answer clear and concise.
Ultimately, it’s a good idea to answer this question in a way that promotes your strengths, without putting too much emphasis on your weaknesses.
Mistakes You Should Avoid
If you’re not careful, it’s easy to answer this question incorrectly. To prepare yourself properly, avoid making these mistakes during the interview.
- Refrain from bragging about how all of your reports were positive and there isn’t anything bad on them.
- Do not dwell on past mistakes that could be on your past reports.
- Avoid skipping any pertinent information that could help you in the interview.
- Be careful not to get nervous when answering this question if there is information on your past reports that resulted in a negative mark.
Most importantly, it’s important not to hide information that exists on your reports. In interviews, it is always best to be confident, yet open and honest.
Sample Answer
A good answer to this tricky interview questions might go something like this:
The reports from my past employment experiences will say that I am a hard worker and that I consistently showed up to work on time every day. They will also say that I did my best in any given situation. I feel that my reports would accurately describe me as an employee.
Remember, this question is just one of many you will be asked during any interview. For this reason, it’s essential that you do not stress too much about answering it and just provide a response that accurately highlights your strengths and abilities.
