In the spirit of continuous self improvement (and in the hope that articulating these ideas now will help me in the future), I submit three questions I was asked and the answers I should have given. (And to Emma, who interviewed me: Here is what I would say to you if you asked me those questions again!)

1)  Can you give an example of a time when you showed initiative?

I think initiative is often just about doing the right thing, or getting the job done. I once worked as an unpaid intern for a non-governmental organisation in Washington, D.C. They promoted environmental causes and entrepreneurship in the former Soviet Union; I was hired to draft official position papers for the organisation on a number of their hot topics.

However, two weeks into the internship, the organisation learned that it had lost its funding for next year and had to immediately begin shutting down. They now needed my help to sell or otherwise dispose of all the office equipment and supplies. This was quite a challenge. The most difficult task was finding a home for the organisation’s library; it contained a number of their own publications and was something they cared about deeply. With very little oversight, I organised the donation of the organisation’s library to a nearby university, including packing the books and arranging for transportation. We were able to clear the rest of the office within two weeks.

2)  Can you give an example of a time you worked in a team?

I worked briefly for an auction house during its busiest sale of the year. As a member of the viewing staff team, I was in charge of an entire floor full of antique Asian art and furniture. The management was understandably very busy with the sale, so we had to organise ourselves. Specifically, we had to make sure that everyone got a lunch break, that each room always had at least one salesperson and that customers were attended to efficiently and effectively.

I worked with two other members of staff in particular—who I had just met that week—to make sure that all three of these objectives were met. As a bonus, working together so closely meant that we got to know each other quite well. Even though we only worked together for a week, I still keep in touch with them.

3)  Can you give an example of your communication skills?

Sure. This year, I became a member of the University of Edinburgh’s Debate Union. I debated a bit in high school, but this year was my first university level involvement. I participated in a number of competitions and public debates, and was ultimately awarded “Best Speaker” in Edinburgh’s pro-am competition, which pairs advanced speakers with ‘new’ debaters like myself. I am proud of that achievement, which I think speaks to my verbal communication skills.

I also have a strong background in written communication. One example is that while studying at American University in Washington, D.C., I wrote a paper on mathematics education that was presented at three conferences in the United States, including a meeting of the Mathematics Association of America.

Image credit: jenniferrt66