In many interviews for a variety of position this is a very common question that tends to always come up and often times, we can find ourselves unprepared, especially if we don't recall what happened. Even though this is a small, but straight forward question, an employer will ask this question because it gives them an understanding into countless different areas.
It helps them to visualise your own job search process and what you do to find work and secure employment. Is it relevant? Possibly not. But it can help the employer to analyse and work out in their own mind how strong-minded and persistent you are as a person. We all know that a picture paints a thousand words. So if by any chance at all you have shown a degree of ambition and how much you are in control of your career. This may actually be quite important especially in business development type roles where it is important to take ownership of your work.
You can interpret this question in two different ways and need to ensure you cover all areas:
Firstly, you need to address how you found your last job, whether if it was by a recruitment agency, head-hunted, etc.
Secondly, you need to address how you got the job – how you persuaded your current employer that you were the best person for the position. You need to sound like a person who has control of their future, not someone who is just easy going.
A career is a pathway, a measure of your own success in your field of expertise. It's viewed differently to 'a job'. A job is something that is merely a means to an end. A task/activity/project that needs to be performed. A career is something more, it can be a numbers of jobs but on the same path to maybe a promotion or greater industry expertise and skill level to the point that you are possibly leading others.
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Client Centric Executive Employment Solutions is an Australian based business that assists with CV/Resume writing, addressing key selection criteria and covering letters to help you with give your best foot forward to an employer.
They also assist with interview skills coaching either face to face or via online video link. For more information, please visit: https://www.clientcentric.com.au/interview-coaching-for-melbourne
Please feel free to visit their website: www.clientcentric.com.au.