A: I selected this career because it allows me to capitalize on my strengths of managing and directing others, my organization skills, and my desire to work in an environment that challenges me every single day. Managing others requires the ability to direct a team in a very positive, consistent, and clear manner; I find myself to do quite well with this ability, and I am able to put the positive influencing skills that I possess to good use. Since I am such a strong organizer I am able to use the resources available, time, people, and services efficiently to ensure that me and my team meet our objectives. Finally, I learned long ago that in this industry, no two days are ever the same; I thoroughly enjoy the prospect of stepping into the office each day expecting, the unexpected. I am passionate about my career because this industry has so many moving pieces and it requires a solid knowledge base and a deep understanding of the ability of what is needed to have all of those moving pieces work in unison to be able to provide a basic human need - a residence that the customer takes pride in calling home. 

A: I have always been extremely critical of my own work. Now – I realize that the self-proclaimed “perfectionist” is the clichéd response to this question, but for longer than I can recall I have prided myself on producing error-free work, a fault that serves me well when it comes to job performance and at evaluation time. However, having such a weakness has proven to be an impairment as I would have a tendency to waste time checking and re-checking my work or dwelling on minor errors that had nothing to do with the actual assignment. Since I have become aware of this trait, I have taught myself to make a concerted effort to trust myself and my expertise, research abilities, and quality focus on the task or assignment in that moment and to not be so critical of myself.

A: My greatest weakness has proven to also be my greatest strength. Since I tend to be so critical of myself and I can rely on myself to be so focused on producing the error-free work mentioned earlier, my teammates and supervisors know they can depend on me to perform at my best. Regardless of the task or assignment, they find me to be consistently hard-working and detail-oriented. Second, I actively listen, so I am able to really hear what the problem is and get a true understanding of what needs to be addressed so that I am better able to effectively resolve problems. Another strength that I am proud of and one that directly relates to my active listening strength is that I am a bridge builder between people. Whenever there are two people or groups with differing points of view, whether they are my peers or customers, I am able to hear and fully assess both sides and leverage that skill to find workable solutions for all involved.

A: I feel that a good manager is able to support or balance the talents of the individuals so that they work together and the team ultimately ends up managing itself. I work to actively coach, mentor, and motivate my direct reports to establish an environment that fosters teamwork for achieving goals, influencing valued input and participation, while setting expectations for accountability. I believe in having open discussion for decision-making and I am always open to new ideas coming from team members; I consult with them frequently and encourage and support independent thinking.

A: Getting married young and remaining committed to my toughest critic, my greatest advocate, and my closest friend for twenty years.

A: 1. Methodical
   2. Reliable
   3. Loyal