Mixing
Asked to demonstrate I am efficient on job application
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
I have been asked to give examples in a job application of things that show I am efficient. A friend suggested that I should only give examples of ways in which I have done things on time or earlier.
I think it would be good to give examples of things I have implemented that have made a task shorter than it would otherwise be (e.g. noticing that certain parts of the task can be skipped).
By way of examples, the first type of efficiency would be handing in a thesis early, where as the second type of efficiency would be automating various parts of writing a thesis (contents, index etc.).
The job is for a think tank, and my background is that I am finishing a PhD in maths.
applications
edited Jun 26 '14 at 18:36
Jan Doggen
11.5k145066
asked Jun 26 '14 at 14:47
Tait
1466
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
I have been asked to give examples in a job application of things that show I am efficient. A friend suggested that I should only give examples of ways in which I have done things on time or earlier.
I think it would be good to give examples of things I have implemented that have made a task shorter than it would otherwise be (e.g. noticing that certain parts of the task can be skipped).
By way of examples, the first type of efficiency would be handing in a thesis early, where as the second type of efficiency would be automating various parts of writing a thesis (contents, index etc.).
The job is for a think tank, and my background is that I am finishing a PhD in maths.
applications
edited Jun 26 '14 at 18:36
Jan Doggen
11.5k145066
asked Jun 26 '14 at 14:47
Tait
1466
It's a think tank. Would giving them the methodology you would use to go through to analyze analyze an issue that's near and dear to them - would that count as "efficient" thinking? Personally, I would ask a candidate "Tell me how you would handle an auto accident investigation?" I want to see if the candidate is capable of systematic thinking under pressure, even in an area where the candidate is not familiar. I'd like to see if quickly figure out which questions to ask, come up with a mental picture with the answers you are given, and make sense of that picture.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Jun 26 '14 at 16:58
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
I have been asked to give examples in a job application of things that show I am efficient. A friend suggested that I should only give examples of ways in which I have done things on time or earlier.
I think it would be good to give examples of things I have implemented that have made a task shorter than it would otherwise be (e.g. noticing that certain parts of the task can be skipped).
By way of examples, the first type of efficiency would be handing in a thesis early, where as the second type of efficiency would be automating various parts of writing a thesis (contents, index etc.).
The job is for a think tank, and my background is that I am finishing a PhD in maths.
applications
edited Jun 26 '14 at 18:36
Jan Doggen
11.5k145066
asked Jun 26 '14 at 14:47
Tait
1466
I have been asked to give examples in a job application of things that show I am efficient. A friend suggested that I should only give examples of ways in which I have done things on time or earlier.
I think it would be good to give examples of things I have implemented that have made a task shorter than it would otherwise be (e.g. noticing that certain parts of the task can be skipped).
By way of examples, the first type of efficiency would be handing in a thesis early, where as the second type of efficiency would be automating various parts of writing a thesis (contents, index etc.).
The job is for a think tank, and my background is that I am finishing a PhD in maths.
applications
edited Jun 26 '14 at 18:36
Jan Doggen
11.5k145066
asked Jun 26 '14 at 14:47
Tait
1466
edited Jun 26 '14 at 18:36
Jan Doggen
11.5k145066
edited Jun 26 '14 at 18:36
Jan Doggen
11.5k145066
edited Jun 26 '14 at 18:36
Jan Doggen
11.5k145066
11.5k145066
asked Jun 26 '14 at 14:47
Tait
1466
asked Jun 26 '14 at 14:47
Tait
1466
asked Jun 26 '14 at 14:47
Tait
1466
1466
It's a think tank. Would giving them the methodology you would use to go through to analyze analyze an issue that's near and dear to them - would that count as "efficient" thinking? Personally, I would ask a candidate "Tell me how you would handle an auto accident investigation?" I want to see if the candidate is capable of systematic thinking under pressure, even in an area where the candidate is not familiar. I'd like to see if quickly figure out which questions to ask, come up with a mental picture with the answers you are given, and make sense of that picture.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Jun 26 '14 at 16:58
add a comment |Â
It's a think tank. Would giving them the methodology you would use to go through to analyze analyze an issue that's near and dear to them - would that count as "efficient" thinking? Personally, I would ask a candidate "Tell me how you would handle an auto accident investigation?" I want to see if the candidate is capable of systematic thinking under pressure, even in an area where the candidate is not familiar. I'd like to see if quickly figure out which questions to ask, come up with a mental picture with the answers you are given, and make sense of that picture.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Jun 26 '14 at 16:58
It's a think tank. Would giving them the methodology you would use to go through to analyze analyze an issue that's near and dear to them - would that count as "efficient" thinking? Personally, I would ask a candidate "Tell me how you would handle an auto accident investigation?" I want to see if the candidate is capable of systematic thinking under pressure, even in an area where the candidate is not familiar. I'd like to see if quickly figure out which questions to ask, come up with a mental picture with the answers you are given, and make sense of that picture.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Jun 26 '14 at 16:58
It's a think tank. Would giving them the methodology you would use to go through to analyze analyze an issue that's near and dear to them - would that count as "efficient" thinking? Personally, I would ask a candidate "Tell me how you would handle an auto accident investigation?" I want to see if the candidate is capable of systematic thinking under pressure, even in an area where the candidate is not familiar. I'd like to see if quickly figure out which questions to ask, come up with a mental picture with the answers you are given, and make sense of that picture.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Jun 26 '14 at 16:58
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
8
down vote
accepted
I'd say that either type is fine, and examples that cover both are even better.
For example:
After writing my first thesis and handing it in on time, I found that certain parts of it could be automated to save time. In between thesis papers, I wrote an automation script. On the next thesis paper, the script saved me 20 hours of work. The script took 40 hours to write, so I earned the time back after 3 thesis papers (saved 60 hours at that point!), making it a net win
I've seen that people fail to realize that "efficiency" is a double edged sword. Profound, long lasting efficiency improvements often take an initial investment up front, that is LESS efficient than doing it the original way. Showing that you have a sense for how to make your work more efficient, but that you remain sensitive to the idea that in the end, the bottom line is getting things done quickly with the same quality, is really important.
answered Jun 26 '14 at 15:01
bethlakshmi
70.3k4136277
That's great, thanks. I just wanted to check that I wasn't being insane by saying both, since no-one else I had asked agreed.
– Tait
Jun 27 '14 at 7:56
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
8
down vote
accepted
I'd say that either type is fine, and examples that cover both are even better.
For example:
After writing my first thesis and handing it in on time, I found that certain parts of it could be automated to save time. In between thesis papers, I wrote an automation script. On the next thesis paper, the script saved me 20 hours of work. The script took 40 hours to write, so I earned the time back after 3 thesis papers (saved 60 hours at that point!), making it a net win
I've seen that people fail to realize that "efficiency" is a double edged sword. Profound, long lasting efficiency improvements often take an initial investment up front, that is LESS efficient than doing it the original way. Showing that you have a sense for how to make your work more efficient, but that you remain sensitive to the idea that in the end, the bottom line is getting things done quickly with the same quality, is really important.
answered Jun 26 '14 at 15:01
bethlakshmi
70.3k4136277
That's great, thanks. I just wanted to check that I wasn't being insane by saying both, since no-one else I had asked agreed.
– Tait
Jun 27 '14 at 7:56
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
accepted
I'd say that either type is fine, and examples that cover both are even better.
For example:
After writing my first thesis and handing it in on time, I found that certain parts of it could be automated to save time. In between thesis papers, I wrote an automation script. On the next thesis paper, the script saved me 20 hours of work. The script took 40 hours to write, so I earned the time back after 3 thesis papers (saved 60 hours at that point!), making it a net win
I've seen that people fail to realize that "efficiency" is a double edged sword. Profound, long lasting efficiency improvements often take an initial investment up front, that is LESS efficient than doing it the original way. Showing that you have a sense for how to make your work more efficient, but that you remain sensitive to the idea that in the end, the bottom line is getting things done quickly with the same quality, is really important.
answered Jun 26 '14 at 15:01
bethlakshmi
70.3k4136277
That's great, thanks. I just wanted to check that I wasn't being insane by saying both, since no-one else I had asked agreed.
– Tait
Jun 27 '14 at 7:56
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
accepted
up vote
8
down vote
accepted
I'd say that either type is fine, and examples that cover both are even better.
For example:
After writing my first thesis and handing it in on time, I found that certain parts of it could be automated to save time. In between thesis papers, I wrote an automation script. On the next thesis paper, the script saved me 20 hours of work. The script took 40 hours to write, so I earned the time back after 3 thesis papers (saved 60 hours at that point!), making it a net win
I've seen that people fail to realize that "efficiency" is a double edged sword. Profound, long lasting efficiency improvements often take an initial investment up front, that is LESS efficient than doing it the original way. Showing that you have a sense for how to make your work more efficient, but that you remain sensitive to the idea that in the end, the bottom line is getting things done quickly with the same quality, is really important.
answered Jun 26 '14 at 15:01
bethlakshmi
70.3k4136277
I'd say that either type is fine, and examples that cover both are even better.
For example:
After writing my first thesis and handing it in on time, I found that certain parts of it could be automated to save time. In between thesis papers, I wrote an automation script. On the next thesis paper, the script saved me 20 hours of work. The script took 40 hours to write, so I earned the time back after 3 thesis papers (saved 60 hours at that point!), making it a net win
I've seen that people fail to realize that "efficiency" is a double edged sword. Profound, long lasting efficiency improvements often take an initial investment up front, that is LESS efficient than doing it the original way. Showing that you have a sense for how to make your work more efficient, but that you remain sensitive to the idea that in the end, the bottom line is getting things done quickly with the same quality, is really important.
answered Jun 26 '14 at 15:01
bethlakshmi
70.3k4136277
answered Jun 26 '14 at 15:01
bethlakshmi
70.3k4136277
answered Jun 26 '14 at 15:01
bethlakshmi
70.3k4136277
answered Jun 26 '14 at 15:01
bethlakshmi
70.3k4136277
70.3k4136277
That's great, thanks. I just wanted to check that I wasn't being insane by saying both, since no-one else I had asked agreed.
– Tait
Jun 27 '14 at 7:56
add a comment |Â
That's great, thanks. I just wanted to check that I wasn't being insane by saying both, since no-one else I had asked agreed.
– Tait
Jun 27 '14 at 7:56
That's great, thanks. I just wanted to check that I wasn't being insane by saying both, since no-one else I had asked agreed.
– Tait
Jun 27 '14 at 7:56
That's great, thanks. I just wanted to check that I wasn't being insane by saying both, since no-one else I had asked agreed.
– Tait
Jun 27 '14 at 7:56
add a comment |Â
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworkplace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f27816%2fasked-to-demonstrate-i-am-efficient-on-job-application%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
It's a think tank. Would giving them the methodology you would use to go through to analyze analyze an issue that's near and dear to them - would that count as "efficient" thinking? Personally, I would ask a candidate "Tell me how you would handle an auto accident investigation?" I want to see if the candidate is capable of systematic thinking under pressure, even in an area where the candidate is not familiar. I'd like to see if quickly figure out which questions to ask, come up with a mental picture with the answers you are given, and make sense of that picture.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Jun 26 '14 at 16:58