Interview Question of the Week: What have you done recently to improve your skills?

photo credit: Dawn Endico

The Interview Question of the Week series highlights common interview questions to aid you in preparing for interviews.  Extra bonus: the questions often also help you think more critically about your career development, like today.  If you’d like to see all of the IQOTWs, you can do so here.

What have you done recently to improve your skills?

This question is simple, as long as you can demonstrate that you make it a priority to improve your job related skills.

You do, don’t you?

So let’s make a quick catalog of the types of skills you might be targeting for improvement:

• Job/technical skills
• Management skills
• Organizational/time management skills
• Relationship building skills
• Strategic planning skills
• Communication/Public speaking skills
• Sales skills
• Administrative skills
• Negotiation skills, etc.

Where are you getting these new and/or enhanced skills?  You may be taking a class, pursuing a degree, reading industry or business publications, participating in Toastmasters, etc.  These are all tried and true methods for getting new learning.  But when you’re compiling your list, be sure to include other experiences that might develop those skills, or even allow you to demonstrate your mastery.

Quick sample answer:

Well, I’m an avid consumer of business media, like the Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek.  I also recently read Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi, which changed my viewpoint on the practice of networking.  In fact, it prompted me to get more involved with a key professional organization.  Not only have I had a chance to put into practice the principles around successful business relationships, my volunteer involvement has given me a chance to lead a team and participate in strategic planning, two areas that I think are key to my success in this role.

This answer incorporates two best practices: it shows an interest in growth through more than just reading, and ties the skills being developed to the role at hand.

So tell me, what have you done lately to improve your skills?

Related posts:

1. Interview Question of the Week: What has been your greatest success?
2. Interview Question of the Week: Where do you hope to see yourself in five years?
3. Interview Question of the Week: What would your last supervisor say about you?
4. Interview Question of the Week: Would your supervisor be surprised to learn that you are seeking new employment?
5. Interview Question of the Week: What qualifies you for this position?

Tagged as: Career, education, interview, interview prep, job change, job hunt, job search