What did you do at your last job?

This question is an opportunity for the interviewer to know more about your experiences, skills, and qualifications in detail, beyond what your resume provides. They are trying to understand not only what your duties were, but how you performed them, your way of working and how you interacted with your co-workers and superiors.

To answer this question effectively, consider the following:

• Describe the key responsibilities of your role at your previous job.
• Provide examples of how you performed these responsibilities successfully.
• Mention any challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
• Share specific accomplishments or important projects you were part of and the impact they had.
• Discuss any skills or tools you were using frequently in this role.
• Align your past responsibilities and achievements with the job role you’re applying for.

At my previous job, I was a Customer Service Manager for XYZ Company. My fundamental responsibility was to ensure client satisfaction through effective customer service. Each day, I would manage a team of 15 customer service representatives, monitor their performance and provide feedback during weekly one-on-ones. I also worked closely with the Sales and Marketing teams, using client feedback to contribute to product improvements. During my time in this position, I implemented a customer feedback system that led to a 20% reduction in customer complaints within just six months and successfully trained and mentored 3 new hires to achieve the best employee performance award in their first year.

In my last position as a Software Developer at ABC Company, my main role was to design, develop and implement software applications. I was part of a team that followed Agile methodologies, participating in regular scrum meetings and bi-weekly sprints. I wrote clean, scalable code using .NET programming languages, updated and debugged existing software, and constantly stayed abreast with the latest technologies. One particular project I am proud of is when I was a core developer for an application that improved the efficiency of our client's tracking process by 30%. I achieved this by extensively studying their requirements and working relentlessly to deliver the product on schedule. This experience has not only improved my technical skills but also polished my problem-solving and teamwork skills.