Week 2 Assignment

Tell me about yourself
I am a Business Administration specialist with a special interest in accounting. I have five years
of professional work experience, having worked in 2 organizations. Through this time, I have
risen to the rank of a chief business strategist. In my last posting, I oversaw the organization’s
critical strategy activities. I was in charge of an implementation team in the acquisition of
another business. The acquisition was smooth and successful. As the head of strategy, I designed
the organization’s current 5-year strategy. I left in the third year of its implementation. The
organization was on course to achieve target results by the third year of operations. I bring good
experience, business acumen, intellectual ability, and adaptability.
Why should we hire you?
I have reviewed the job description for the vacant position, and I meet the requirements that you
are looking for. My academic and professional qualifications match the requirements of the
position, and my work experience fits the responsibilities that you would like the holder of the
position to fulfill. I am a quick learner and demand more from myself than what others demand
from me. I have read about the operations of this organization, and you can expect that I will
reach full productivity within no time.
What are your two greatest opportunities?
Creativity and risk-taking. I am a risk-taker, and most of the time, it pays off. We are in a
hypercompetitive industry. The organizations that make significant strides innovate their own
solutions, where people are not afraid to take risks. I took some risks, but I took the wrong
approach because I did not consult enough and learned from my mistakes. Creativity is

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imagination. I imagine scenarios before I arrive at them. It helps me prepare better, but
sometimes I overthink things and overlook simpler ways to do things.

Part II

Tell me about your greatest challenge and how you overcame it
This question is a measure of employee adaptability and experience. Employers look for
individuals who can take the initiative when faced with adversity and provide the organization
with options that they can use to turn the situation around. A person’s greatest challenge helps
employers know whether the employee is a good fit for the organization. Since an interviewer is
already aware of the challenges that a new employee might face in the organization, this question
may help the interviewer know whether or not they can handle the organization’s challenges.
This question also tests an employee’s character. Based on their actions to solve the problem, an
employer can tell whether the interviewee’s character is a good fit for the organization.
What do you know about this organization?
This question is a test of an interviewee’s ability to gather information. Employers need to
know that they are interviewing a person interested in their organization. It is also a test of the
interviewee’s preparation methods. When someone attends an interview, they research the
organization. When asked this question, an interviewee will say what they consider necessary
about the organization. This question tests how much the interviewee knows about the
organization and if what they know about the business is essential.
What is your motivation in applying for this job?

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This question is a great way to know what drives employees. People join organizations
for different reasons. Some are attracted to the brand, others consider the remuneration package,
while others seek career progression and other reasons. From the interviewee’s answers, one can
tell whether they are the right fit for the job. For example, if the employee is motivated by the
excellent remuneration package, even if they are qualified and the best fit, they may leave if they
find a better offer elsewhere. The employer also needs to know what motivates employees. This
way, when employers sense a decline in productivity due to loss of motivation, they know what
to do. This question also reveals the qualities of an employee. For example, if they answer that
their motivation is mentoring and coaching others, it can reveal leadership qualities.

Part III

Employee performance appraisal
This is an employee performance appraisal for Mr. Von Michael, a business analyst in the
business development department. The appraisal was done based on five metrics through the
relative rating system described by (Cascio & Aguinis, 2019). The metrics used are creativity,
teamwork, customer experience, work ethic, and time management.
Dear Michael,
We are pleased to present you with your performance appraisal report for the year ended 31 st
December 2021. We have also given feedback on how you performed in the performance metrics
used in the appraisal.

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Creativity

Good
Score : 67%

Teamwork

Very good
Score : 76%

Customer
experience

Excellent
Score : 90%

Work ethic

Very good
Score : 68%

Time
Management

Average
Score : 40%

Creativity
The organization values creative employees. We work in a very competitive industry, and
this past year you have demonstrated good creativity and innovation. The company thanks you
for finding creative ways to solve employee problems. You have great imagination, and you have
demonstrated the ability to create value for the organization. However, you need to channel that
creativity and imagination and take on more risks.
Teamwork
You were involved in several projects over the last year, which you saw to completion.
You worked well with colleagues in your department and other departments. From the feedback
of your colleagues, they appreciate and value your contribution. You only need to work on your
communication with other team members to become an even better team player.
Customer Experience,
Our customers have nothing but good words to say about you in the customer surveys
that we did. They say you were of great assistance to them and that they felt comfortable and
valued working with you. Our business model relies heavily on customer satisfaction, and we are
proud to have achieved our goals through your efforts.
Work ethic

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We value the way you take your work seriously. It is not lost on us that you are a hard worker
and an ardent follower of the company’s code of conduct. The effort you put in the work can be
seen by your continuous ability to meet your targets. However, we would like you to improve
your work organization and presentation.
Time management
We found that you have quite a challenge delivering your reports on time when asked. We want
to help you improve on this. Your attendance records are impressive, and we know you value
your time. We have organized to upgrade your laptop to a newer version. If there is any other
way to help you improve your time management skill, we are committed. Please become a better
time manager.
Overall, you were a great performer last year; you improved in all but one of your metrics from

2019. We appreciate your contribution to the team and wish you the best for the future.

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References

Cascio, W. F., & Aguinis, H. (2019). Applied Psychology in Talent Management (8th ed.).
SAGE Publications, Inc.