1. Can you tell us did you ever make a mistake that cost your company money?
I suppose that asking for name-brand vodka at the Christmas party, instead of the generic swill that they normally serve, doesn't count, right? No, really honestly, I'm delighted to report that I never made a mistake that cost my company money.
2. Suppose if I was your boss, what kind of person would you want me to be?
Friendly, supportive and appreciative. The one who gives equal opportunity to every subordinate, and practice the same what he preaches.
3. Tell us besides your regular duties, are you able to perform front desk tasks?
Yes! I am adept at handling reception work and managing telephone exchange / PABX. My strong communication skills and customer focused approach enables me to oversee all operations of the front desk efficiently.
4. Explain me how proficient you are with new data entry technologies and equipment?
Since I have been working as a data entry clerk for five years, I can work on most popular data entry software. I also can learn new software in a time-efficient manner. I am competent in using keyboards, 10-key, data entry calculators, data recorders and optical scanners.
5. Please explain is it more important to be lucky or skillful?
I think that it's more important to be lucky, although being very skilled can help to create more opportunities. Certainly, [at my former job, my boss'] confidence in me inspired the decision makers at our firm to trust that I could do the job. But clearly, I also happened to be in the right place at the right time.
6. Tell us what attributes give you an edge over other contenders for this position?
My excellent time management skills, healthcare industry experience and typing speed of 55 words per minute set me apart from competitors. I am also trained in using CRM and able to manage and present data. Above all, I always maintain the confidentiality of all kinds of information.
7. Tell me three of your major attributes?
☛ Perfect and timely data entry of information
☛ Exceptional attention to detail
☛ Proven ability to work in a fast-paced and multicultural environment
8. Can you tell me do you consider yourself a leader?
Oh, yes, absolutely. I have all of the leadership qualities. I'm extroverted, but I also happen to be a terrific listener. I consider myself a “big idea” person, but I can also be hard-nosed and practical when necessary.
9. As you know you have changed careers before. Why should I let you experiment on my nickel?
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.
10. Tell us how do you ensure accuracy while working as Data Entry Specialist?
I ensure accuracy at each point. When I punch in information, I make sure that I read it at least three times before typing it. Once I am done entering a module, I revisit it and compare it to the original to make sure that I have indeed punched in the correct information.
I believe that a company needs both A and B players. When you're pitching new business, you want the A players on the front line. But behind the A players, you need the B players who can hammer out the details of the projects and stick with them on a day-to-day basis. Having too many A players on the team leads to ego clashes and a disorganized, anarchical way of doing business.
12. Explain me what are the key skills needed for data entry jobs?
Employers who were asked this question identified the following 5 data entry skills.
☛ attention to detail and accuracy including closely monitoring all aspects of the job and continually checking processes and tasks
☛ effective communication skills including the ability to listen and follow instructions correctly and good written communication skills including the use of appropriate grammar and spelling
☛ able to work under pressure and maintain performance and work standards under stress
☛ efficient work management including planning, organizing and prioritizing
☛ excellent typing and keyboard skills
13. Tell me for high quality and timely data entry, what will you require from us?
A high spec computer system with latest MS Office installed and comfortable table and chair.
I'd recommend that we perform an on-site “test,” by hiring both candidates on a freelance basis for two weeks each.
15. Explain me are you comfortable with prolonged sitting at work?
Yes! I have the exceptional stamina to work for long periods of time.
16. Explain me what do you rate as the best virtue of as Data Entry Specialist?
I believe that accuracy is the best virtue without which it will be impossible to provide quality work. Since many decisions are based on the information punched by data entry clerks, it is essential that data quality is maintained.
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.
18. Explain me are 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.
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 favour.”
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.
CC&L 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 CC&L 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 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!
I sincerely believe that being a great writer requires one major skill beyond being able to string sentences together, and that quality is empathy. I think that, rather than looking at my skin colour, your company needs to consider whether or not I can empathize with our target market, and the answer is certainly yes.
23. Explain me an example of the most difficult political situation that you've dealt with on a job?
I was hired by a woman who was on her way out. She asked me to be her “fall guy” on a number of assignments. I just learned to drop the assignments off with my boss on the day that they were due, and when the managers would ring me up, I would recommend that they simply follow up with her. This kept me out of hot water with my boss and with her superiors.
I think that with 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.
26. Can you tell us how aware are you of internal politics that may affect your performance?
I'm sensitive to internal politics and respect authority figures. But I also do my best to never become embroiled in office politics. At my level, I consider this to be a wise course of action. I like people and can pretty much work with anyone. So I concentrate on doing my job, listening to directions, surpassing expectations, and leaving the internal political battles to the politicians.
27. Explain me under what circumstances have you found it acceptable to break confidence?
When the person doing the confiding has shared the fact that she was doing something unethical - and if I felt that I might be able to stop her behavior by telling someone else about 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.
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 me motivated and mentally stimulated for several years to come.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, superb organizational ability, priority management, a researcher's mindset for data gathering and patience. These skills would help me coordinate with different departments effectively.
31. Tell us why do you want to pursue a career as Data Entry Specialist?
My best asset is my typing speed. I would like to take advantage of this asset, and I believe that a data entry position will do justice to it.
32. Do you know what is “Big Data”?
Big Data is a term associated with complex and large datasets. A relational database cannot handle big data, and that's why special tools and methods are used to perform operations on a vast collection of data. Big data enables companies to understand their business better and helps them derive meaningful information from the unstructured and raw data collected on a regular basis. Big data also allows the companies to take better business decisions backed by data.
33. Tell me when do you think you'll peak in your career?
I come from a long line of healthy, hardy, mentally active types, and so I confess that I never even think about “peaking” in my career. That having been said, I do think it's important to have some self-knowledge, and to recognize when one is past one's prime.
34. Explain me how many hours a week do you usually work, and why?
I work pretty long hours most of the time. With the extra time, I try to find ways to “add value” to each assignment, both my own and the firm's. When our clients read our reports, I want them to think that no one else could have possibly written them, except for our company.
35. As you know from your resume, it looks like 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.
