An innovative or creative thinking is the kind of thinking that leads to new insights, novel approaches, fresh perspectives, whole new ways of understanding and conceiving of things. The products of creative thought include some obvious things like music, poetry, dance, dramatic literature, inventions, and technical innovations. But there are some not so obvious examples as well, such as ways of putting a question that expand the horizons of possible solutions, or ways of conceiving of relationships that challenge presuppositions and lead one to see the world in imaginative and different ways innovative thinking is the kind of thinking that leads to new insights, novel approaches, fresh perspectives, whole new ways of understanding and conceiving of things. The products of creative thought include some obvious things like music, poetry, dance, dramatic literature, inventions, and technical innovations. But there are some not so obvious examples as well, such as ways of putting a question that expand the horizons of possible solutions, or ways of conceiving of relationships that challenge presuppositions and lead one to see the world in imaginative and different ways.
2. Why you want to be creative?
Creativity is an effective resource that resides in all people and within all organizations. Our more than thirty years of research has conclusively demonstrated that creativity can be nurtured and enhanced through the use of deliberate tools, techniques and strategies.
3. Will you be here to take my job?
Maybe in about twenty years, but by then, I suspect you'll be running the entire company and will need a good, loyal lieutenant to help you manage this department!
I consider myself ambitious, but I'm also practical. As long as I am continuing to learn and grow within my position, I'll be a happy camper. Different companies promote people at different rates, and I'm pretty confident that working for you will keep my motivated and mentally stimulated for several years to come.
5. What is your biggest weakness that's really a weakness, and not a secret strength?
I am extremely impatient. I expect my employees to prove themselves on the very first assignment. If they fail, my tendency is to stop delegating to them and start doing everything myself.
To compensate for my own weakness, however, I have started to really prep my people on exactly what will be expected of them.
6. Why should I let you experiment on my nickel because you have changed careers before?
As a career-changer, I believe that I'm a better employee because I've gained a lot of diverse skills from moving around. These skills help me solve problems creatively.
I was working so hard to keep my job while everyone around me was being cut that I didn't have any time left over to look for another job. With all of the mergers that have been happening in our field, layoffs are a way of life. At least I gave it my best shot!
8. Your resume tells me that you were fired twice. How did that make you feel?
After I recuperated from the shock both times, it made me feel stronger. It's true that I was fired twice, but I managed to bounce back both times and land jobs that gave me more responsibility, paid me more money, and were at better firms.
The morale here is very high. I've been exposed to the "seamy underbelly" of this business, but I'm still passionate about working in it.
HSM is a great company, and thanks in part to my team's contributions, they are doing very well these days. But that wasn't always the case.
During the first two years that I worked there, people were being fired left and right, and just hanging onto my job was a feat.
Once the company began to turn around, [my boss] was offered a terrific job at a rival organization and it took HSM six months to replace him and when they did, the new boss was eager to bring in his own people. Once again, I tenaciously hung on to my job, and, even though I was long overdue for a promotion, I really didn't think that the timing was right for me to broach it. No one from the old staff was there to even vouch for my performance!
I would search for new markets for the product while I spurred the engineers to change the product to make it more marketable to its original core audience.
11. You majored in philosophy. How did that prepare you for this career?
Philosophy didn't prepare me for a career in architecture at all. But it did force me to become philosophical about my prospects. After two years of trying to figure out what to do with my life, I visited Chicago one weekend, and was absolutely spell bound by the gorgeous architecture all around me.
I came home, applied to architecture schools all over the country, and was accepted by one of the best. I've never looked back... this is definitely the career that I was meant to be in.
I think that the home office located halfway across the globe, there is a very small risk that one might not have the chance to interact with the key decision makers as often as might be ideal. On the other hand, teleconferencing, email, faxing, and having a 24/7 work ethic will go a long way towards bridging the gap.
Sometimes you need to take a step backward to move your career forward. Starting in an entry-level role would allow me to learn your business from the ground up.
The career that I've been in is so different than yours that I would love the opportunity to start over again in your field. The salary cut will be well worth it.
Yes, I did very well at my internship, and I had originally assumed that I would come on staff once I graduated from college. However, BB&L drastically cut back the number of new hires they were planning. As fate would have it, they will not be hiring any of the interns they had last summer.
I love working at BB&L, and I brought some references with me today to show you that my job performance there was stellar. Still, in some ways, I consider this new turn of events to be a lucky break for me, believe it or not.
Why is that, exactly? It seems to me that I am probably more qualified to handle this position than anyone, man or woman.
My father's career as a diplomat took our family around the world seven times, and I even spent my junior year abroad in the Far East. I would need far less training than an American man who grew up here and has never worked outside our borders.
16. How many skis are rented each year in the U.S.?
There are 250 million people in the U.S. Let's suppose that the number of skis is 15 percent of that, or 37,500,000. Of those, let's figure that 21,175,000 of them own skis, leaving the number who rent at 9,325,000. Then let's add the number of tourists who ski, say, one million. So the grand total of renters would be 10,325,000.
Now let's assume that the renters who live here take three trips a year, so three times 9,325,000 is 27,975,000 and add that with 1,000,000 is 28,975,000.
First, I would try to credit her publicly with the ideas that were hers. Sometimes, by being generous with credit, it spurs the other person to "return the favor."
If that doesn't solve it, I'd try to work out an arrangement where we each agreed to present the ideas that were our own to our bosses. If that doesn't work, I would openly discuss the situation with her.
However, if the person taking credit for my ideas was my boss, I would tread cautiously. To some extent, I believe that my job is to make my superiors shine. If I were being rewarded for my ideas with raises and promotions, I would be happy.
18. Where you better at 'managing up' or 'managing down'?
If you aren't good at "managing up," you rarely get the opportunity to "manage down." Fortunately, I've always been quite good at self-management. I've never had a deadline that I didn't meet.
19. Let's discuss a time when you missed a significant deadline?
I would absolutely love to, but honestly, it's never happened.
20. What would it score on a scale from 8 to 10, if you had to rank your alcohol consumption?
Nobody wants to work with a Sober Sally or Dry Dan. Morale plays a key role in any company culture. Make sure you and your newest employee know how to boost it with a little bit of grandpa's cough medicine.
21. Suppose if you were a sweater, what kind would you be?
Cardigans are slow learners and they'll hate using computers.
V-necks won't add any originality to your business plans, but they'll probably look quite dashing.
Sweater vests combine the best of all worlds, and plus their armpits won't sweat. We recommend option three as the safest bet.
Oh, and anything made of wool will need to be shown the door.
Seriously, wool is itchy.
Admittedly, you should only ask this question under certain circumstanceslike if you want to go out with the applicant.
Men or women, if the candidates don't answer with George Clooney, you don't want them.
24. If you had to pick between air, your family, or a $200 gift card to Staples, which you choose?
This one can sound tricky, but the prepared interviewee will know just what to say.
But I can't live without air!" a terrible applicant may suggest. Please. Air would be the obvious choice. You don't want obvious employees.
But I love my family more than anything! an applicant may exclaim if they apparently don't want a job. This isn't a holiday. You need someone to work. Plus, if someone already has a family, they'll never truly become part of yours.
Well, I don't breath that often and I hate my dream-slaughtering family. I'll go with the gift card.
Hire. This. Person.
25. Tell me when you quit, how and why will you do it?
Don't accept any reply short of, I can't quit because that will break my life-oath to die at this desk in my continuous goal of upping production until the last measly breath slips across my cold lips.
Your business deserves dedication.
