Joint Human Resources and Agri-Business Students Assignment

Position (check the correct box):

Farm Equipment Operator ☐ Agronomist Assistant ☐

Technical Sales Representative ☐ Office Assistant ☐
Marketing Communications Assistant ☐

Agri-Business Student’s Name _________________________________

Human Resources Student’s Name _______________________________

Please rate from 1-3 where 3 is Point

  Comments
‘great’ s
On time, introduces themselves, eye    
contact, smile
Introduction

Provided Resume and Cover letter via    

Resume and Cover email before the interview
Letter provided

Clean and appropriate; Gentleman – tie    

Proper Business
expected
Attire
Maintain eye contact, no fidgeting, no    
Appropriate Body slouching, no gum, no biting nails, etc.
Language/ Posture

Knew how to answer, used examples    

and stories, prepared questions, spoke
Questions/Answers clearly, with confidence, didn’t say
‘ummm’

Hands/nails/clean, brushed hair    

Grooming
Asked 1-2 questions at the end of the    
interview
Questions

Thanks Interviewer, maintains eye    

contact, smiles
Closing

Feedback for Agri-Business Student

Interview Guide – MGMT 6043 (Fall 2020) Page 1
 Please provide constructive suggestions for the student to use in their next interview
over and above what is included above:

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 Interview Questions

Introductory Questions:

1. Tell me about yourself.

 Probe:
i. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

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2. Tell us what you know about Great Lakes Cooperative.

 Probe:
i. Why did you decide to apply for this job?:

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3. Where do you see yourself professionally five years from now?

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Interview Guide – MGMT 6043 (Fall 2020) Page 3

Farm Equipment Operator Questions:

1. We are all faced with situations where we have to make an important decision on
the spot, especially working alone in a client’s field. How would you manage a
problem with not having the proper resources promised to the client, such as the
wrong fertilizer?

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2. When working closely with clients, we sometimes have to deal with complaints.
Let’s say that a farmer approaches you and is unhappy with the services provided
by the co-op. How would you direct and handle their comment?

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Interview Guide – MGMT 6043 (Fall 2020) Page 4

 3. In agriculture, patience is an important attribute to have. Name a time when your
patience was tested. How did you keep your emotions in check?

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Interview Guide – MGMT 6043 (Fall 2020) Page 5

Agronomist Assistant Questions:

1. Provide an example of a time when you’ve had to deliver a technical report. What did
you need to do to ensure your ideas were effectively communicated and understand by
your audience?

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2. How would you handle a situation where you detected a serious problem regarding soil
conditions, for example, and nobody was taking the initiative to improve the situation?

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Interview Guide – MGMT 6043 (Fall 2020) Page 6

 3. Due to the tight time constraints inherent to your position, employees in a similar role in
the past have stated that this job can be very stressful. What is the most stressful
situation you have ever been in, professionally speaking, and how do you manage your
stress?

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Interview Guide – MGMT 6043 (Fall 2020) Page 7

Technical Sales Representative Questions:

1. A client comes into Great Lake Co-op and is very upset with a product they purchased.
The client is very agitated, angry, and wants to terminate services with us and return
the product with full refund.
 Probes:
i. Explain the process you would take to recover the client relationship.
ii. What types of challenges have you encountered with clients in your previous
roles?
iii. How did you handle these challenges?
iv. What was the result?

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2. Sales growth is important to the success of a Technical Sales Representative. Tell us

about a time in your previous work experience where you helped to increase sales for
a business?

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Interview Guide – MGMT 6043 (Fall 2020) Page 8

 3. Sales representatives have to deal with tough goals and deadlines. Tell me about a
time when you could not meet a deadline or goal.
 Probes:
i. How did you meet deadlines/goals after that?
ii. What drives you towards achieving those deadlines/goals?
iii. What was the most challenging goal achieved by you in your previous jobs?

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Interview Guide – MGMT 6043 (Fall 2020) Page 9

Office Assistant Questions:

1. While your manager is in a meeting, an impatient customer comes in and demands to

see them. What would you do?

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2. Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where there are numerous tasks to

complete in limited time. Discuss a situation when you had numerous tasks, and you
were asked to get it all done.
 Probes:
i. How did you prioritize?
ii. Were you successful? What happened?
iii. If you were not successful? What did you do?
iv. What was the outcome?
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Interview Guide – MGMT 6043 (Fall 2020) Page 10

 3. Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult team member/co-worker.
 Probe:
i. How did you overcome those challenges?

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Interview Guide – MGMT 6043 (Fall 2020) Page 11

Marketing Communications Assistant Questions:

1. As a Marketing Communication Assistant, you will be given information to build a

campaign around. If your manager provides you with the wrong information that has
already been put onto marketing platforms, how would you handle the situation?

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2. Can you share with us an experience where you effectively handled budgeting
constraints?

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Interview Guide – MGMT 6043 (Fall 2020) Page 12

 3. Give me an example of a time where you were allowed to be creative in your work.
 Probes:
i. What was exciting about it?
ii. What was difficult about it?

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Interview Guide – MGMT 6043 (Fall 2020) Page 13

General Questions:

1. Please tell us about a time when you had to work in a difficult situation/or environment
(or with a difficult person/manager).
 Probes:
i. How did you cope?
ii. What was the result?

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2. Tell us about a time that you set a goal and you accomplished it.
 Probes:
i. What did you do to make sure that you accomplished the goal?

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Interview Guide – MGMT 6043 (Fall 2020) Page 14

 3. Sometimes we collaborate with other individuals who do not share the same levels of
motivation. Please share an example of a time where you were able to motivate co-
workers or teammates.
 Probes:
i. What steps did you take to reach success in motivating them?
ii. Were you working in a large group or with one partner?

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4. There are many candidates that have applied for this particular position. Tell me
something about yourself that will make us remember you:

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5. Do you have any questions for us?

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Interview Guide – MGMT 6043 (Fall 2020) Page 15