Successfully Answering Questions About Policy and Procedures

Modern life can be described as a series of procedures. As a child, we have procedures placed on us by our parents. Our parents tell us the procedure for meeting new people, getting good grades in school, even doing the dishes. Our teachers and professors teach us procedures for being a good student. Society puts procedures on us. The corporate world is no different. Answering procedural questions is a big part of a job interview.

The interviewer(s) want to get a picture of how you view procedures. The interviewer(s) may ask questions that require you to describe, how you would handle several situations. For instance, if interviewing for a sales position then you may be asked how you would respond to customers, customer complaints, issuing rain checks, etc. These questions are general. The interviewer(s) do not expect you to follow their company policies and procedures exactly.

The interviewer(s) are trying to determine is your personal philosophy. Are you a person who views policies and procedures as something to follow or as just something that gets in the way? The interviewer(s) do not expect you to know their company policy. The interviewer(s) only want to see that you are the type of person who follows company policies and procedures.

When answering situational questions, hesitation can be bad. The interviewer(s) want a clear picture of your personal philosophy. If you take too long to answer situational questions then the interviewer(s) may suspect that you are making up answers. While this may work for other questions, situational questions require you to answer quickly. After all, if you were given the position then you may have to make these decisions quickly.

Be sure to acknowledge the interviewer(s) company's policies and procedures. Your preinterview preparation may have yielded an insight into the company's policies and procedures; however, it is going to be nearly impossible for you to know them exactly. Do not pretend that you do. When answering situational questions, begin your answer with "Of course, if hired I would abide by the company's guidelines; however, in this circumstance I would..." This phrase acknowledges that the company its own policies and procedures. In addition, this shows the interviewer(s) that you are flexible enough to change your personal habits to match the company's desires.

As in every part of the interview process, research can give you the edge. Using the internet and your personal network to research the company can provide an insight into the companies policies and procedures, what traits the company values, and what they may be looking for. While this research does not completely prepare you for situational questions, it can help to ensure that your answers are not out of line.

A large part of job success is following corporate policies and procedures. Part of a job interview is the interviewer(s) determining your personal philosophy. The interviewer(s) are looking for a job candidate that fits their corporate culture. Answering situational questions provides a view of you personal philosophy. Remember not to unduly hesitate. Research the company to gain insight into their corporate culture. Utilizing these preparation methods can provide an edge, over other job applicants.