Trying for a department director position and I was asked to answer these questions in writing before the interview.
Why are you interested in the open position? In your opinion, what is the most important responsibility of a Community Development Director?
So basically I need to answer why do you want this job and something about how the director is a leader.
At times, it’s important to understand informal systems to reach organizational objectives. Give us an example of a time when your knowledge of “how groups work” enhanced your ability to generate a change.
Basic working with groups. Something like working with my planning commission.
There are many work situations in which it is important to be skillful in reading hidden interests and personality conflicts. Tell us about a time that demonstrates your “savvy” in understanding another person.
This is the hard one for me to answer. Obviously it's looking for interpersonal skills that we use every day, but I'm not sure what kind of story to tell. I don't want to talk about the usual person who has some secret motive. We all know that happens, especially with elected officials, but I don't get the feeling I should be saying the wrong things. My best guess would be how I read my elected officials and others to figure out what their motivators are. Like the guy who is all about helping people (his friends) or the guy who is motivated by saving the government money unless it's for his personal benefit (I can leave that last part out along with how he thinks government employees are worthless and don't need benefits). His motivation is saving his tax dollar.
I'd appreciate any thoughts while I think on what type of story to write.