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Rachel is in a conference room at ABC Consulting, interviewing for the position of junior consultant. She is being interviewed by the director of consulting, the HR manager, and a senior consulting manager.
The senior consulting manager asks Rachel, "Can you tell me about a time when you improved your company's bottom line in a previous position?"
If you were Rachel, how would you answer this question?
Understanding the Bottom Line
Do you know what "bottom line" is?
The bottom line refers to the final profit of a business after all costs have been subtracted from its total income. It shows how much money the company really makes.
The bottom line means different things in different areas. For a recruiter, it might be how productive new hires are. For an admissions officer at a college, it might be the quality of applicants to their school.
Learn more about the term "bottom line" from The Balance. 👈
Discover What The Interviewer Really Wants To Know
Before answering the question, you should understand what the interviewer really wants to know. Here are two things you should think about:
1. Your understanding of company's profitability: The interviewers want to know if you understand how to make the business successful and which achievements matter most.
2. Your value to the company: The interviewers want to know what practical values you can add to the company.
Quiz
If you work in sales, which practical value can you add to your company?
Your value should be quantifiable. Providing precise figures will demonstrate to the employer how you can contribute to the company's profitability.
Did you know?
This Byte was created by a volunteer professional that wanted to share this insight to help you succeed - no agenda, no cost.
How to Give the Best Answer
Now it's time to answer "What have you done to improve your company's bottom line in previous positions?" Here are some tips that can help you get the best answer.
Provide quantitative results: Share measurable results that directly impact the bottom line, such as increased profits or reduced expenses. For example, "I increased sales by 30% in southwestern area."
Highlight accomplishments valued by others: Share achievements praised by others as valuable to the company. For example, "I demonstrated my value by streamlining processes, resulting in a 15% increase in productivity, which was praised by my team members and manager."
Stress skills the company needs: If the company is looking for someone who can analyze company data proficiently, you must highlight your experience in interpreting complex datasets and extracting valuable insights to drive informed decision-making.
Quiz
Rachel is interviewing for junior consultant role, which answers would you include in your response to "What have you done to improve your company's bottom line?" You can choose more than one answer:
You should share measurable results that impact your company’s bottom line, supported by clear data like reducing 15% annual operating expenses or raising 25% revenue. Also, if you want to highlight your achievement valued by others, you should use some data to prove that, rather than just mention getting recognition from clients. You can stress your skills and achievements but without specific examples, your response won't answer the question appropriately.
Take Action
Now it's time for you to prepare your own answer for the desired position.
This Byte has been authored by
Olivia Liu
Instructional designer
Master