Angela Santana, fresh out of school with a degree in marketing, arrived at her interview for an associate

Question

buyer’s position with a large, successful company. She had already succeeded in the screening interview;
this was her final interview with the manager of the materials division. The interviewer, Ben Johntz,
would be her supervisor, if she were hired. Initially the interview went exceptionally well.
Suddenly Angela thought her chances were lost when Mr. Johntz probed into her knowledge in two
specialized areas. She responded with honesty and determination, admitting that while she had little
exposure to these topics, she would appreciate suggestions for appropriate reading and research. The
manager told her about three books on the subjects and lent her one of them. Angela asked if she could
have a few days to study and then schedule a return interview. Mr. Johntz agreed and they set the
interview for the next Thursday. Angela got the other books from the library and studied thoroughly for
five days. She also talked with one of her professors and with a person who worked in the specialty
areas to see how she applied the principles.
She returned for her follow?up interview and sailed through the questions, demonstrating a good
understanding of topics and principles she had previously known little about.
Four years later, Angela is the chief supervisor of several buyers and clerks at the company. Mr. Johntz
transferred to a different division of the company, and because of a hiring freeze, Angela is also the
interim manager of the materials division—Mr. Johntz’s position when he interviewed Angela for the
position of associate buyer.

Answer 1

Angela did not try to bluff her way through the first interview with Mr. Johntz. She indicated that
she was genuinely interested in the acquiring the specialized knowledge that the position required—
and she followed through. She demonstrated intelligence, commitment, perseverance, motivation,
enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn.