PROUDLY PRESENTS

Steve Hope
Resident of The United Kindom and 3-DNET® VIP member
Email contact : steve@exec.org

      

VIDEO INTRODUCTION®

 

 

INTERVIEW WITH 3-DNET®

Listen to sample sound "bites" from the interview:  

Question 1 : Tell me about yourself

I am a very confident and driven individual. I strive to perform to my best possible abilities in all I do, whether this be professional, sporting or being a good husband and father. I want to look back on my life with no regrets and feel that I have maximised every opportunity I have been given.

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

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

My next new role will be an enormous challenge as not only will I be starting with a new company but also I will be working within a new country, with all the challenges this brings. It is a challenge that greatly excites me, and my new employers will get an individual who is fully committed to succeeding in his career, and with the wider picture of helping my family settle in our new life.

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

Question 3 : What are your strengths ?

My main strengths are the ability to quickly build strong working relationships with colleagues and customers alike. I also learn new skills very quickly and I am positive and committed to succeeding at whatever I do

Question:  "What are your strengths?"  

Question 4 : What are your accomplishments ?

On a personal level my greatest accomplishment is providing for my family and giving them a safe and loving environment to grow up in. On a business level I have worked in the very competitive corporate finance sales field for well over 5 years and I have never failed to achieve a target that has been set.

Question:  "What are your accomplishments?"  

Question 5 : What are your limitations ?

I feel that anything is possible as long as you prepare yourself to the maximum and in this respect, I feel that any limitations can be overcome with the correct preparation and training.

Question:  "What are your limitations ?"  

Question 6 : How much are you worth ?

This is a difficult one to gage especially when I am moving to a new country and new market. I know what I am worth at present and in financial terms that is approximately 40% of the income I earn my present employers year in year out.

Question:  "How much are you worth ?"  

Question 7 : What are your ambitions for the future ?

Professionally I want to achieve as much as I possible can in my career, and as I have said before I want to look back when I retire with no regrets and feel that I have maximised my abilities. Personally I want a secure and happy home life for myself and my family, and to give my girls the best possible start in life.

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

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

I would start contributing immediately as I have a number of ideas and strategies that have helped me to be successful in the past, which I feel that would benefit any new employer. As for business on the books it would take me a little time to get to know a new market, however, as I have said one of my major strengths is how quickly I pick things up and adapt, so this shouldn’t take too long

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

Question 9: What is your management style?

I try to lead by example, point out what has worked for me in the past and help colleagues adapt this to their particular strengths and weaknesses. I like to think the enthusiasm and commitment I show rubs off on other people.

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

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

I like to think that I can inspire people to achieve their maximum. I have captained various sporting teams, especially soccer and I have the ability to get people to give their all. It is the same in business, once you can see what makes an individual tick you can adapt your style to get them to perform to their maximum ability. The bottom line is to get everyone in the team pulling together.

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

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

Strong character and a will to win. People who may not have the technical experience but have these characteristics appeal to me as technical training can be given, but desire and commitment are often within a person.

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

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

No, this is not something that I have had to do.

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

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

Getting the balance right between being close enough to your team to inspire them and for them to want to give everything for you, but not too close that they lose respect and make tough decisions all the harder.

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

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

I have most enjoyed working for companies who adopt a work hard, play hard culture, where everybody is committed to the success of the company, and where everyone celebrates successes together as a team.

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

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

It has been an exciting challenge working for my present employer, as I have been at the forefront of creating a new business. In the last year or so we have become absorbed into the bigger group picture, and in some ways we have lost our identity. Overall however, they still get ticks in the majority of the boxes that define a good employer.

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

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

I have introduces a detailed and disciplined territory management plan. Prior to this staff would be out for one appointment an hour drive away and then straight back to the office. We now work on a minimum of 4 appointments when out and about, and have worked hard on dividing our individual territories into 3 set patches and looking to get onto each patch at least once a week. This has meant we get to see more customers, write more business and waste less time travelling.

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?

Working in the finance industry it is obviously very important to me individually and to the company a whole. I am very target orientated and know exactly each deal I complete makes the company. On the bigger picture as a new business within a large organisation, we know how important our bottom line profit is and we constantly monitor our profit and loss account to see where we can maximise profits and make cost savings.

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

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

It varies, I currently have 2 trainee account managers to supervise but this number can change. With my experience and disciplined approach to the job I am tasked with seeing new account managers through their initial training period, and particularly to ensure they go about the basics of the job in the right way.

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

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

Though I work in finance and figures are very important to me, I feel that I work best with words. This is how relationships are established, which I feel has been the greatest contributor to my success.

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

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

I like to think that I give them the confidence to go about their job in the right manner, and they see me as open and approachable. My enthusiasm and commitment linked with my disciplined approach rubs off on people working with me. I hope they see me as someone who fosters a happy and friendly work environment where success and failure are not blown out of proportion and, someone who constantly encourages change and self-improvement.

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

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

To be totally honest, I like him as a person but don’t rate him as a boss. He can get too close to his staff, and by this I mean pass on confidential information about other employees that he should not be divulging. He also does nothing to inspire his staff to work for him, and does not support staff when delicate situations arrive with other groups within the organisation.

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

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

I did a deal last year for Newcastle United Football Club, who are a major professional football club. We agreed to loan them circa £1m and I felt we should have committed to twice this amount. The underwriter who made the final decision accused me of being too close to the customer however, my perspective is that this is my job and I am sure that I will be vindicated in this.

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

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

My greatest strengths are my enthusiasm, will to succeed and commitment to the job. My greatest weakness is that sometimes I take negative underwriting decisions to personally.

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

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

I have been specifically targeted for over 5 years now and I thrive on this. I actually would not want to go back to a work situation where I wasn’t targeted. Pressure is relative and it is meeting targets and deadlines that gives me the most pleasure.

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

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

I prefer staff work as I get far more fulfilment working with people. I work in a people industry and firmly believe that people buy people, whether this is internally or externally.

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

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

When I joined, the link between some sections of the business, for example underwriting and sales was very fragmented. I put forward the argument that these two sections should work closer together and sometimes commercial decisions need to be taken on a deal when everything isn’t black and white. This has been taken on board and as a result we have a far more effective organisation.

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

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

Ideally I would like a job, a job very similar to my position in the United Kingdom, with a leading Canadian Asset Finance and Leasing Company. A company that offers excellent career progression for employees, a customer facing, target driven role within a strong motivated team.

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

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

No.

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

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

Yes I undertook a creative writing course over three-year period, and I have always considered English to be my best and favourite subject. In the workplace I am always keen on new and different ways to do things and to challenge existing routines

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

Question 30: How do you describe your personality?

I am confident and outgoing and I get on with people on all levels. I am also loyal, ambitious and very positive.

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

Question 31: What is your outside reading you do?

I read a lot of local and trade press, I enjoy a variety of fiction and particularly I enjoy reading autobiographies.

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

Question 32: What are some of your outside activities?

With having two girls aged 10 months and 2 years old, I don’t have too much time for other activities. We have also invested a lot of time in preparing our Canadian permanent residency application, which is now with the High Commission. When I have the time, I enjoy sport particularly soccer, and I watch and play whenever I can.

Question:  "What are some of.... ?"  

Question 33: Are you continuing your education?

I have recently started learning basic French, and I am always keen to improve myself both personally and professionally.

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

 Curriculum Vitae  Confidential

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