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You're halfway through your interview and feeling great, but then the interviewer asks, "If we contacted your references, what would they say about you?"
Try not to panic! Remember, if they wanted to know what your references would say about you, they could just ask them!
So why do they want to hear from YOU first instead?
Did you know?
With no prior work experience, you can use a guidance counselor, professor, or volunteer group leader to act as your reference.
What Are They *Really* Asking?
When your interviewer asks you this question, they're trying to see if you'll be a good fit for their organization.
For example, if you're applying to a retail position, they want someone who can take on shifts at varying times and not be afraid to approach customers. In other words, they're looking for someone who is flexible and confident.
Employers want to be sure that your qualities and skills match their needs. This means you'll have to do some homework before the interview!
Did you know?
Connect with your references before the interview and ask them what they will say about you.
How Should I Answer This Interview Question?
Before you can answer, you'll need to know the skills and qualities you possess that match what the interview team is looking for.
Are you confident that your references' observations match how you see yourself? If so, you're ready to answer. Ask yourself first:
What are the main duties of the job?
What skills and personal qualities would someone need to be successful for those duties?
What skills and qualities do I have that align with these needs?
Next, think about how your references observed these skills and qualities in you. Now you're ready to answer!
Quiz
You applied to be a medical receptionist. Which personal skill would worth highlighting?
You'll spend most of the day sitting down, so you wouldn't want to highlight being highly active. While being empathetic and analytical are great qualities, the main duty in this type of job would revolve around being a clear communicator (answering calls, liaising with the doctors, providing instructions to patients, etc).
Did you know?
Job descriptions include key qualities and skills your hiring managers are looking for during your interview.
Consider These Possible Answers
It's often helpful to have a frame to help you articulate your responses. Frames are tools that help you structure your responses, such as the STAR and SCORE methods.
EXAMPLE 1:
Imagine you're applying for a customer service agent job and you want to use STAR to answer the question.
"When I worked/volunteered forour school's help desk last fall [Situation],Ms. Wilson supervised me while I responded to student questions [Task] and noted that I clearly communicated step by step instructions to the students [Action].As a result, I was able to help a greater number of students than other help desk volunteers [Results]."
EXAMPLE 2:
Now imagine you're applying for an office assistant job and you want to uses SCORE to answer the question.
"My Professor, Mr. Brown, noted my ability to work under pressure after he asked me to organize our trip to the museum [Situation] and the bus driver cancelled that morning [Complication]. If we didn't get to the museum, we would have missed our tour [Outcome Expectation]. I was able to find an alternate route on public transportation [Remedial Action] and we made it to the museum on time for our tour (End Result)."
Take Action
Before your interview:
This Byte has been authored by
Lisa Hascal
Learning Designer