When you’re asked about leadership experiences in an interview you may draw a blank. If you’re a current or former service member, it may not be such a difficult question to answer because leadership is a value instilled in you from training to practice. Whether you have a civilian or military background, your brain will automatically hone in on professional achievements. It’s possible that nothing will immediately come to mind or stand out for you. If so, think more creatively about where you’ve had the opportunity to demonstrate leadership outside of work.
Start with Professional Examples.
If you can, provide leadership examples from your work history. Below are some questions to ask yourself, depending on your career level, to figure out if you have good examples.
- Entry-level: Have you been given an opportunity to lead a part of a or a whole project? Have you been selected to represent the company at a conference or an event? Have you organized an event? Have you mentored staff or interns? Have you served on committees?
- Mid-level: Have you managed staff? Have you led projects? Have you represented the company at conferences or events? Do you oversee a budget? Do you train staff? Do you interview and select staff for hire?
- Senior-level: What are you most proud of accomplishing as a leader? Do you serve as a company spokesperson? Which executives do you work with regularly?
When you answer, provide a brief summary of what you did, the impact it had, and why you chose it as an example of your leadership capabilities.
Community Leadership.
Have you volunteered or held positions in community organizations? These are great examples of leadership. People tend to discount their community affiliations, but many are valuable. You don’t have to be on the board of directors of a major organization or company to garner the attention of an employer.
- Are you currently involved in any organizations? If so, what is your role? Consider all affiliations: parent-teacher organization, athletic club, church, school board, or non-profit.
- Did you start and/or lead any groups while in school? This could be anything from a sport to a political association.
- Have you served as a lifeguard, EMT, teacher, or in another position at some point in your life that is often associated with the term “leader”?
- Do you hold a title in these organizations? This could be anything: board member, treasurer, secretary, or volunteer coordinator.
Be specific when you answer. Don’t simply say that you are a member of Habitat for Humanity or that you sit on the school board. What have you achieved in these roles?
Personal Examples.
If you’re struggling to find professional or community-related leadership examples, dig into your personal background. Here are some possibilities.
- Have you helped someone through a difficult situation, and if so, what exactly did you do?
- Have you trained or mentored another person?
- Have you studied on your own to acquire a skill?
- What do your peers say about you? If you’re considered a leader, it’s not enough to say that others think of you as one. Provide specific examples to support your claim.
Leadership presents itself in many different forms. Think about your entire personal and work histories to identify your best examples. Telling someone you are a leader isn’t going to cut it; you need to offer specific examples to describe your leadership capabilities to persuade them you have what it takes to shine in their company.
