Interviewing to Get the Job : “What would your co-workers say about you?”

Interviewing to Get the Job : “What would your co-workers say about you?”

By Sharon Boerbon Hanson

Advance preparation will help you nail this question during the interview. Get a quote or two from co-workers or take a statement from your yearly review. Either one can be a direct statement or a paraphrase. Have a selection that speaks to both your technical and nontechnical skills.

Make the quote specific. For example, “My boss, Caleb, at IT Innova8 Labs always said I was the most enthusiastic developer he ever worked with.” Or, “my co-worker, Suzanne, at Perfect Purchase used to tell everyone I was the go-to person if they wanted fast and accurate Q&A results.”

Stating a name lends strength and credibility to the statement. And of course, if the quote links to a skill the interviewer wants in their new hire, all the better.

Sharon Boerbon Hanson is associate executive director of Advance IT Minnesota, a Center of Excellence that promotes awareness of and excellence in IT careers in order to ensure business success. She has over 25 years’ experience marketing and brand-building, and has been a resume and interview coach 15 years.