Assertiveness Interview Preparation Guide

Assertiveness is a way of communicating to others in a direct, open, and honest manner
about your individual rights and needs. In communicating with others in an assertive
way you are able to express who you are, to respect yourself, and to value your own
opinions and beliefs. Assertiveness is never done in a way that violates the rights of
others and does not involve hurting others in physical or emotional ways. The goal of
assertiveness is effective communication and mutuality in relationships?equalizing the
balance of power in relationships through giving and getting respect and leaving room for
compromise when the rights and needs of two people conflict.

There may be several reasons that people may struggle to be assertive. For some, there may be an underlying belief that others will not like them if they do not do things as others want them to do. They may believe that others will be hurt or disappointed if they say no to a request. There may be a strong belief that others should come first. They may believe that they do not have the right to speak their own needs and opinions. For others, they may not know exactly what they want out of life and so they go along with others who have stronger opinions. These types of beliefs can be deeply ingrained but very limiting. Other barriers to assertiveness may include high levels of anxiety or fear about being assertive and a lack of skills for effective self-expression.

Evaluate how positive and confident the applicant appears to be when discussing their ability to motivate co-workers. Do they seem confident that they can improve productivity in difficult situations?

Evaluate the answer and try to see if the job seeker is intimidated by authority figures; are they prepared to protest something they do not believe in; are they able to see things from someone else's perspective.

It is unfortunate that assertive women often have more trouble at work than their male counterparts. However, that should not stop any woman from standing up for herselfin the workplace. If you possess the skills necessary for the job and have the experience and the drive, you can assert yourself and get what you want. A woman in a management position may find herself walking in a fine line. She must be assertive in order to do her job, but may be thought of as pushy or unfeminine when she does. Oddly enough, studies done on this topic showed that the criticism came mostly from other women, not the menin the workplace . Someone once said that we should learn to live without the good opinions of others. If your career is important to you, you will have to learn to beassertive and be selective about considering other peoples opinions.

Being assertive and let people know you are clever and skilled is not being immodest or egocentric. Sometimes you have to toot your own horn, so to speak, and there is nothing wrong with that. If you do not do it, who will? Sometimes being modest is not a good thing. It makes you sound like you cannot say anything positive about yourself. It also indicates that you cannot give or receive compliments.

Things to look for: Does the job seeker seem to have the ability to solve this issue? What steps would they take? Does the thought of a personality conflict intimidate them? Do they seem confrontational or quietly assertive?

Assertiveness promotes self-confidence as you learn to make better decisions for yourself and increase the chances that you will get what you want from your life. It maximizes your sense of control of your life and your emotions as you learn to appropriately express your concerns instead of bottling up those concerns. Aside from personal benefits,
assertiveness has a direct positive effect on your relationships. When you are appropriately assertive in your relationships, you will find that others respect you, that conflict is minimized, that others trust you because you have established boundaries and certainty about what to expect. Assertiveness with others increases the chances that they will give you honest and genuine feedback that will help you grow in your own life as
well. Assertive behaviors also allow others to grow because you are able to give them open and honest feedback.

Without being assertive and letting others know of your skills and accomplishments, you will miss out many opportunities. Since no one is perfect, you will make mistakes occasionally. Own up to them and learn from them, then move on.
Even if you mess up once in a while, you will be respected far more for giving it your best shot than by not trying at all. As Wayne Gretzky, the hockey player said, You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

Evaluate the answer and try to see if the job seeker is intimidated by authority figures; are they prepared to protest something they do not believe in; are they able to see things from someone else's perspective.