What I learned today

Interviewer Ash Valec, Branch Manager for all of the Poppy Bank branches recommended the SOAR method for interviews: Situation, Objective, Action, Result. For example, lead with there was a time when…, my objective, what I decided to do, and the outcome/result. He also said it is very important to dress well for interviews and he complimented what I chose to wear for the interview. The other interviewer Amirah, a CSR III, was focused on asking questions. There was not time for feedback. I had the sense my answers went over well but Ash was very focused on SOAR so I did my best on the fly to adapt to his preferred style. I also worked to build a collegial relationship with both interviewers in the time we had for the dual-interview. The other interview was with LaTonya Summers-Render also a CSR who trained Amirah. Her feedback included: more eyecontact, more smiling, fewer hand gestures and try getting a squeeze toy to occupy my hands – she said it worked for her as she also uses her hands in conversation.