1) What are your strengths?
My top four strengths are adaptability, empathy, work ethic, and teachability.
- Adaptability: I go with the flow. It is hard to ruffle me or get me flustered - in a crisis, I am one of the people remaining calm. This was challenged and refined when I was an RA of 34 freshman girls. I had to learn how to deal with scary, hard, and emotionally overwhelming circumstances while keeping the girl in front of me calm. Plans change, people change, and stuff happens, but it never pays to panic.
- Empathy: I found this strength to factor in extremely well in my internship at SYNNEX. I was able to relate to people and build genuine relationships with those around me. No matter the personality types, stages of life, or levels of expertise, this strength of empathy allowed me to impact the lives of of coworkers in a positive manner.
- Work ethic: My whole life I was told that "if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well." As I became an adult, I found this to ring true. Whether I was cleaning a bathroom, hand-cutting 200 postcards, or developing a marketing plan for Lenovo, I saw it as a job worth doing well. The pursuit of excellence in every task is a personal motto that I take seriously. A good attitude, a willing spirit, and an accurate execution are necessary for every task.
- Teachability: Never stop learning, and be a student of all people. It is one of my top goals in life to always be willing and ready to learn from anyone and everyone. I am adaptable, empathetic, and hard working, but in no way does that mean I can or will stop learning.
2) What are your weaknesses?
Attention to detail and becoming distracted are two of my weaknesses.
- Attention to detail: I am a people person, I love building relationships, and I love creative thinking. These three facets of my personality are not conducive to spread sheets or tedious details. However, I understand that this can be a weakness of mine, and I am actively working to fight it. I keep an updated calendar and desktop sticky notes, I challenge myself by taking on tasks like researching the addresses and CEO names of dozens of companies, I make it a point to remember small details about the lives of people I meet, and I am careful to double check any work that does require detailed attention to make sure nothing is missed. It is my goal that one day, this weakness will become a strength and I will be a more well-founded person because of it.
- Becoming distracted: I often focus too long on a single task as I become distracted with minute details within a project. These details detract from my efficiency and the fulfillment I find in each project. I am working on this weakness by letting the standard for my work be overall excellence. By letting my best, which is not perfect, be the standard by which I judge my work, I am able to find fulfillment and satisfaction in that work. Taking a moment to pause and recognize I am capable and smart even when I only see flaws in my work is a necessary part of each day. Through this discipline and self-talk, I have been able to increase the amount of fulfillment I find in each task.
3) Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I hope to be working in a government intelligence community in D.C. I have a strong desire to impact and influence the lives of those around me in a positive and meaningful manner, and assisting in the safety of those around me is the ideal way to satisfy that desire. Problem solving, critical thinking, adaptability, and creativity, all strengths of mine, lend themselves to a career in this field, and I am hopeful that one day I will be able to realize my ambition and impact the world in a positive way.
4) What can you offer us that someone else cannot?
I love to learn, I love to work hard, and I keep a positive attitude. These are not qualities found easily in the millennial generation. Not only that, these are qualities that have been tested and refined through my various work experiences on campus, like being a college Ambassador or RA, but also in my volunteer experiences with the YMCA. On top of that, I have experience working with Microsoft Suite, chatting with professional clients, participating in donor events, and interacting with people of various backgrounds and personality types. I am curious and strongly value the opportunity to learn, and then apply that learning in a way that challenges myself.
5) Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of
My junior year I was hired as an resident adviser (RA) of 30 or so Freshman girls. In November the girl who was senior RA moved off campus for personal reasons, and I was selected to become the new senior RA. I was a first year RA selected over other second year RAs. I was recommended by my RD, a second RD, and a fellow RA as the best choice for the job. This was incredibly affirming and I am proud of what I was able to do as as RA and as an SRA in the lives of both my residents and my resident staff.
6) Tell me about a time you made a mistake
I remember at SYNNEX I had to cut out 200 postcard handouts and I cut them off-kilter and crooked. My superior was not pleased with them but told me it was okay. I was ashamed of them because, while adequate, I knew I had not given it my best. I owned the mistake, went back, and used scissors to hand-cut them straight. Mistakes are common, it is a matter of taking responsibility for those mistakes and then making them right. I take this seriously and think it is essential to success. I am a firm believer in "failing well" and learning from that failure. We all make mistakes, the difference comes in how those mistakes are handled.
7) What motivates you?
I am motivated by the opportunity to succeed, exceed expectations, and receive recognition. I love having the opportunity to exercise creativity, problem-solve, and go beyond that which is asked of me. This joy of winning a challenge motivates me to continue striving for excellence.
I am also motivated by tangible results. Working on a project and then being able to experience the finished product is incredibly motivating. I love winning, so working hard for a successful goal is always an appropriate motivation.
I am also motivated by tangible results. Working on a project and then being able to experience the finished product is incredibly motivating. I love winning, so working hard for a successful goal is always an appropriate motivation.
8) How do you work under pressure?
I work much better under pressure. I am more efficient, concise, and to the point when there is a time limit. Junior year I was enrolled in 18 hours, I was an RA of 34 girls, and I was on the FCA leadership team. All of these commitments and the commitments I had to my friendships forced me to become my best in order to get all of my work done.. I had to learn the balance of working hard and getting everything done while also treating those around me with love and respect.
9) How do you deal with conflict?
I believe in debating to find the truth, not be right. I am opinionated and competitive. These two qualities lead me to conflict with people more frequently than others. However, I am the second child of 4 siblings, all three of whom are opinionated and absolutely brilliant. This fact led me to lose a lot of arguments and learn how to debate in humility. Whenever I disagree with someone I try to step back, see their point of view, be teachable, and debate with the goal of finding the right answer rather than simply winning.
10) What kind of work do you enjoy most?
I enjoy work that has tangible benefits the most. I am more than happy to work on more conceptual projects, but in my ideal world, I am able to see the impact and influence of the work I do. Having positive influence, recognition, and impact through the work I accomplish motivates me, fulfills me, and encourages me to work harder, longer, and more thoroughly. This is not to say I give less than 100% effort to the work where this is not true, the emotional reward is simply lessened for those tasks.
