PROUDLY PRESENTS

Kenneth Menzies
Resident of The USA and 3-DNET® VIP member
Email contact : kenneth.menzies@exec.org

      

INTERVIEW WITH 3-DNET®

Listen to sample sound "bites" from the interview:  

Question 1 : Tell me about yourself

I am an analytical mind who enjoys programming. I enjoy life and I enjoy my work.

Question:  "Tell me about yourself....?"  

Question 2 : What can you offer to your next employer ?

Besides a talent for analysis and a love of programming I am well skilled in object oriented design and have a strong appreciation for the object oriented paradigm. I am also noted for my flexibility. It is easy for me to switch from task to task with relatively little time to adjust.

Question:  "What can you offer....?"  

Question 3 : What are your strengths ?

Integrity, analysis, logic, flexibility, and determination to see things through until they are finished.

Question:  "What are your strengths?"  

Question 4 : What are your accomplishments ?

I have two bachelors degrees in computer science and psychology and a masters in divinity. I have upgraded, patched, tested, and supported an image archiving application through the entire software cycle. I have troubleshot numerous pieces of software and oversaw the patching. I have also written code for the conversion of data across platforms and applications.

Question:  "What are your accomplishments?"  

Question 5 : What are your limitations ?

I learn well from books, explanations, and by doing, but I don't learn particularly well just by watching someone else do something.

Question:  "What are your limitations ?"  

Question 6 : How much are you worth ?

More than anyone can pay me.

Question:  "How much are you worth ?"  

Question 7 : What are your ambitions for the future ?

I want to design and implement software that works the first time and every time a customer uses it.

Question:  "What are your ambitions for the future ?"  

Question 8 : How long would it take you start contributing to the firm? 

Because of my talent for analysis I could start contributing on the first day. As for the rest of what I would contribute, any time I spend understanding the process by which the firm gets things done such as software design, code generating, QA, and other development activities would be time I would be contributing to the firm. So I would be contributing in that area on the first day as well. As for implementing what I learned, I would expect to be doing that by the 2nd or 3rd day on the job, though possibly by the end of the first day. .

Question:  "How long would it take ... ?"  

Question 9: What is your management style?

I manage every task that is new to someone under me in five steps. First I explain the task to them. Second I observe them doing it. Third I give feedback in a positive way. Fourth I make sure that I approve of how the job is being done. Fifth I hold myself accountable to the desired results getting done.

Question:  "What is your management style .... ?"  

Question 10: Why do you think you have a good potential to be a manager?

I am strait forward, my motives are intentionally transparent, I have good people skills, and I keep track of the facts that matter to me and my department.

Question:  "Why do you think you..... ?"  

Question 11: What would you look for in hiring people?

Compatibility, integrity, competence, and communication skills.

Question:  "What would you look for hiring .... ?"  

Question 12: As a manager, have you ever had to fire someone?

No.

Question:  "As a manager, have you ever..... ?"  

Question 13: What do you see as the most difficult task of being a manager?

Balancing making sure everything gets done and done right and not wasting time or being annoying.

Question:  "What do you see as...... ?"  

Question 14: Describe what you feel is the best work environment?

One where communication is open and clear and the job being done is one that all involved can take pride in.

Question:  "Describe what you feel..... ?"  

Question 15: Looking back how do you describe your past employer?

My past employer was ambitious and positive and that was evident to its employees.

Question:  "Looking back how do you ..... ?"  

Question 16: What have you done to increase productivity, performance, efficiency, etc..?

I have encouraged and supported all efforts to create a positive environment. I have created tracking tools to aid the department in addressing and managing it's priorities. I have reviewed the departments old unresolved issues and working with others found ways to resolve them.

Question:  "What have you done to .... ?"  

Question 17: Whether you are a "computer wizard", how do you respond to the financial side of your responsibilities?

Whoever I work for, profit or nonprofit, money is like a life blood. I want what ever I do to be in the firm's best financial interests and my economics education has taught me to believe that what is financially best and what is truly best are almost always one in the same.

Question:  "Whether you are a "computer wizard".... ?"  

Question 18: How many people have you supervised in your recent job?

None

Question:  "How many people have you .... ?"  

Question 19: What do you like more, working with figures or words?

Figures, but words can be fun too.

Question:  "What do you like more ..... ?"  

Question 20: How do you think that your subordinates receive you?

Positively.

Question:  "How do you think .... ?"  

Question 21: What do you think of your previous boss?

He was hardworking and very determined. He seemed to care a lot about the people working under him.

Question:  "What do you think .... ?"  

Question 22: Describe a situation in which your work was criticized?

There was a case where a customer's check processing was down and after troubleshooting and quick analysis I determine that while we could get them back up and running within 15 minutes that doing so would prevent us from finding the ultimate reason why they came down. I explained this to the customer's manager. He told me to keep looking while he checked to see how long they could afford to stay down. A couple hours later I was berated by my manager for not bringing them up right away. I explained why I had not done that and he responded by reviewing standard procedures with me that had nothing to do with the circumstance. After bringing the customer back up I prepared a written detailed report for my manager explaining the nature of the customer's problem. The written report was effective at clearing up what apparently was a communication problem between all involved.

Question:  "Describe a situation .... ?"  

Question 23: If I spoke with your boss what he would say about your greatest strength and weaknesses?

I'd expect him to say I was hardworking, good spirited, and a team player amongst other things. As for any negative things he might say, I wouldn't expect him to say anything. He always hated it when people said negative things about others.

Question:  "If I spoke with your boss.... ?"  

Question 24: How can you handle life under pressure and with tough deadlines?

I like challenges and I like working with people who share the challenge with me. A little pressure is healthy.

Question:  "How can you handle .... ?"  

Question 25: What do you think you do better: staff work or line work?

If by "staff work" you mean team work and by "line work" you mean individual work, I work well in good teams where all involved are competent and communicative. I also work very well by myself. The advantage of working by myself is that I know exactly what I can expect from myself. Teams can at times be more productive than individuals but to paraphrase Steven Covey, a good team is one that is interdependent but to be interdependent all of its members must be independent. I am independent and as such am capable of being an effective part of a interdependent team where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Question:  "What do you think.... ?"  

Question 26: In your current position, what problem have you identified that was previously overlooked?

There were several issues that had been unresolved for months before I started working. Many of these I found solutions for and resolved them. The reason these issues were most often unresolved before I got to them was because someone somewhere made a lot of assumptions that had made it impossible to resolve at the time they first came up. There are three ways to do everything. The fast way, the slow way, and the right way. I prefer the right way of course and that means leaving no assumption untested.

Question:  "In your current position .... ?"  

Question 27: If you had a choice of job and a company what would you choose?

A company.

Question:  "If you had a choice of job.... ?"  

Question 28:Do you have any objection to take a psychological test?

No objection, but I do have a warning. In my psychology training I was taught some of the inner workings of personality profiles. This makes any I take unreliable since they depend very largely on the taker not understanding how they work. These profiles are some what complex and thus while I can't necessarily make the test say whatever I want it to, I can't avoid having the results being warped. I will likely end up kicking off the triggers that say I am either being dishonest, compulsive, or both. In short, the test would be a waste of time I would grant no credence to its results and no one else should either.

Question:  "Do you have any objection.... ?"

Question 29: Do you consider yourself as a creative person?

Yes.

Question:  "Do you consider yourself.... ?"

Question 30: How do you describe your personality?

I am amiable, but with bouts of being more of a driver personality. I am more comfortable in technical situations than social ones but I enjoy social contact.

Question:  "How do you describe.... ?"  

Question 31: What is your outside reading you do?

History, politics, socioeconomics, science fiction, and self-improvement.

Question:  "What is your outside.... ?"  

Question 32: What are some of your outside activities?

Computer games, Church events like choir and social gatherings, walking, and going to see things like parks, museums, and plays.

Question:  "What are some of.... ?"  

Question 33: Are you continuing your education?

Yes. I am currently taking courses in Internet programming and web-mastering.

Question:  "Are you continuing your.... ?"

 Curriculum Vitae  Confidential

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