PROUDLY PRESENTS

GARTH MACDONALD
Resident of USA and 3-DNET® VIP member
Email contact : garth@exec.org

      

 

INTERVIEW WITH 3-DNET®

Listen to sample sound "bites" from the interview:  

Question 1 : Tell me about yourself

Well, I have a wonderful relationship with my wife, stretching back to the mid seventies to today. We have a daughter who never ceases to surprise us. My career has allowed me to live and work in numerous countries over the past three decades. This exposure to differing cultures and corresponding work ethics has broadened my outlook not only professionally but personally as well.

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

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

A career, successfully managing high profile projects nationally and in the international arena. One, who believes in the team approach for achieving objectives. The ability to recruit and mentor outstanding men and women, coupled with an perceptive and strong adherence to fiscal responsibilities.

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

Question 3 : What are your strengths ?

Ablilty to maintain focus during high stress work activities. Cultivate and maintain productive relationships within the corporate and customer environments. My collective experiences during the past three decades continually underscores the importance of maintaining professional work eithics in order to succeed. Accountability, adaptability, patience and learning from those around you are a few that come to mind.

Question:  "What are your strengths?"  

Question 4 : What are your accomplishments ?

Successfully deploying Telephony products in many countries of the world which have generated additional corporate revenues through continued equipment orders through the years.
One such accomplishment took place in South Africa where my participation helped smooth the path on their first open general election with the abolishment of Apartheid and resulting verification through UN observers utilizing the equipment installed. Many rural areas now have telephone service that will serve them for years to come.

Question:  "What are your accomplishments?"  

Question 5 : What are your limitations ?

There are times when I become to closely involved in a project. My experience has shown this not to be a productive scenario for the team. They must be given the opportunity to due their jobs and grow accordingly

Question:  "What are your limitations ?"  

Question 6 : How much are you worth ?

My work experience and skills will contribute in establishing this worth, coupled with industry markets for comparable positions.

Question:  "How much are you worth ?"  

Question 7 : What are your ambitions for the future ?

To continue advancing my career in leading edge technology and the opportunity to experience the challenges and rewards inherent with new product introductions.

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

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

The “learning curve” for any new position can be shortened through due diligence, by this I mean fully understanding the duties and responsibilities of the position and quickly establishing a professional relationship with your associates and staff.

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

Question 9: What is your management style?

One, of respect and trust by ensuring concise objectives and work assignments are shared, followed with professional feedback on the individual and collective level. Encouraging an atmosphere of open discussion where applicable.

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

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

A career spanning decades where my managerial skills have grown and with the recognition through increased job complexity and responsibilities.

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

>Question 11: What would you look for hiring people? Why do you think you have a good potential to be a manager?

Aside from the the obvious technical skills required for a specific job, I look for confidence, solid work ethics, good interpersonal skills, being able to adapt to changes and loyalty. In other words, a team player.

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

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

Yes, there are times when an employee is just not suited for a specific position and all avenues to rectify this have been exhausted. It is encumbant upon you to inform the individual of your decision to let them go. My focus during this private meeting is to look at the opportunity for him or her to explore a more suitable career.

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

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

Maintaining a level of motivation and self worth for a team and individuals within the team. This is always interesting and when successfully accomplished, quite rewarding.

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

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

As I mentioned earlier, respect and trust by ensuring concise objectives and work assignments are shared, followed with professional feedback on the individual and collective level. Encouraging an atmosphere of open discussion where applicable.

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

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

The company gave me the opportunity to continue introducing challenging new products, on a global market and learning through interacting with great people. I enjoyed working at Nortel Networks.

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

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

Team building, identifying team members who warranted increased responsibility and recognition, coupled with appropriate compensation incentives. This assisted in the overall product quality and subsequent corporate objectives being met or exceeded.

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?

Many years ago, I recognized the importance of finance within my area of responsibility and to ensure that financial boundaries are being maintained has required continual tracking and assessment to identify any areas of concern and to implement these changes accordingly. My participation in budget formulation and tracking has been both satisfying and interesting.

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

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

This fluctuated from 25 to 30 employees depending upon the differing customer projects. On the business operations side of my responsibilities this number rose to 95.

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

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

Equally for the majority of work situations. There are times when working with figures, I find it quite enjoyable and this is due to the inherent logic associated with numbers

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

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

Over the years, feedback from my teams and associates has been poisitive. They have enjoyed working with and for me as I have with them.

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

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

An individual in a very stressful position and therefore all my interaction was kept at a professional level in order to ensure he was kept fully aware of all my specific team’s corporate objectives and their overall status.

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

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

During a business review, a senior executive criticized me for not meeting a project milestone and informing him, before hand. After the review I first spoke with my boss and learned that he had sent an e-mail to this executive a number of weeks ago informing him of this milestone being pushed out.

I arranged to meet the executive and during the course of the ensuing dicsussion I learned that he receives a very large number of e-mails every day and would like all future project updates of this nature be shared with him either in person or a voice mail be left. I thanked him for his time and informed my immediate boss of his wishes

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

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

My strength, would be the ability to maintain my compusure during high stress work situations and have this calm assist in mitigating it, especially when it occurs within a customer environment.

My biggest weakness would have to be my irritation, when dealing with any “quick fix ” approach to work. Personally and from any customer perspective this is unacceptable.

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

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

Pressure and tough deadlines have been a large part of my career for years. I have learned to maintain a professional composure and ensure that the team is aware of what our objective is and their respective roles in order to reach it. Being able to adapt to unforseen challenges and keep moving forward.

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

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

Having done both and recognizing their equal importance, I find myself leaning towards “line work”. Working within a close knit team environment, allows more immediate feedback and tangible results are easily observable. You also have an added bonus of watching team members learn and grow through the mentoring process.

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

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

Numerous situations have arisen during my role in the new product introduction field that have underscored the importance of putting the product through “real world” tests similar to what our customers would be dealing with. This approach has identified numerous product deficiencies and forced the R & D teams to rethink their own test methodology. The end result is a more robust and stable product. This assists in establishing vendor loyalty which normally equates to follow up equipment orders.

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

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

Either one, providing the work environment encourages open dialogue, along with the opportunity to choose and work with professional’s.

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

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

No, for the most part I find they can be enlightening and help point out some areas that you may want to modify.

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

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

Yes, to be a successful manager you must continually look at new approaches in dealing with individuals and situations. Maintaing the “status quo” at work is no longer applicable in todays fast changing market place.

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

Question 30: How do you describe your personality?

Steady, confident, composed and approachable.

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

Question 31: What is your outside reading you do?

History, Mysteries and Science Fiction.

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

Question 32: What are some of your outside activities?

Spending quality time with my family. We enjoy live theatre and concerts and on the opposite end of the spectrum canoing and hiking. On a more personal level I find working with and shaping wood to be relaxing and satisfying.

Question:  "What are some of.... ?"  

Question 33: Are you continuing your education?

Within an academic environment, not at the moment.

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

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