1. Can you tell me about yourself and your background?

"I am Harnet Mwakyelu, a finance and administration professional with a background in

accounting and project support. I have experience working in both educational and community-
based organizations, where I’ve handled budgeting, reporting, procurement processes, and
financial documentation. I’m passionate about contributing to initiatives that make a tangible
difference in people’s lives."

2. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

"My strengths include strong attention to detail, integrity in handling financial information, and
effective time management. A weakness I’ve worked on is being overly self-critical. I’ve learned
to view mistakes as learning opportunities and to focus on progress rather than perfection."

3. What motivates you in your work or career?

"I’m motivated by knowing that my work supports meaningful change in the community.
Whether it’s helping youth access skills training or ensuring that project funds are used
transparently, I feel fulfilled when my efforts contribute to a greater purpose."

4. Can you describe a significant accomplishment you're proud of outside of

work?

"I helped organize a youth financial literacy workshop in my community. It was voluntary, and
we managed to train over 30 young people on budgeting, saving, and small business
management. Seeing them apply what they learned was very rewarding."

5. How do you handle stress or pressure in your personal life?

"I prioritize tasks, take breaks when needed, and talk to trusted friends or mentors. I also use
prayer, reading, and sometimes short walks to reset and stay grounded."

6. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

"I enjoy reading personal development books, volunteering in my church, gardening, and
occasionally writing articles or reflections."

7. Can you share a challenge you've overcome in your personal life and how it
has influenced you?

"After losing a close family member, I had to take on more responsibility at home while
balancing work and studies. It taught me resilience, emotional strength, and the value of time and
family."

8. Do you have any hobbies or interests that you're passionate about?

"Yes, I’m passionate about community service and financial literacy education. I enjoy helping
people understand how to manage their finances better, especially youth and small business
owners."

9. Can you describe a role model or someone who has influenced your personal
development?

"My mother has been my greatest role model. Her work ethic, compassion, and ability to handle
multiple responsibilities with grace have always inspired me to stay focused and humble."

10. How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?

"I plan ahead and create a daily routine that separates work tasks from personal time. I also
ensure I take breaks during the day and weekends to recharge."

11. Why do you want to work for our company?

"I admire your organization's commitment to community development and empowerment. I

believe my background in finance and administration aligns well with your mission, and I’m
eager to contribute to impactful work."
12. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

"In five years, I see myself in a more senior finance or project coordination role, possibly
mentoring junior staff and contributing to strategy development. I also hope to pursue further
studies in project management or development finance."

13. What do you know about the role you're applying for?

"This role involves supporting project finances, ensuring compliance with donor and internal
guidelines, assisting in procurement and reporting, and working closely with the program team to
ensure successful implementation of activities."

14. Tell me about a time when you worked in a team.

"In my previous role, I was part of a team managing a youth skills project. I worked with
trainers, administrators, and procurement staff to ensure smooth delivery. I was responsible for
financial reporting and making sure all expenses were documented and within budget."

15. What is your preferred work style and work environment?

"I prefer a collaborative environment where team members support one another. I value clear
communication and well-defined roles, but I also appreciate flexibility and mutual trust in getting
work done."

16. Why are you leaving your current job/employer?

"I’m looking for new challenges and opportunities to grow professionally. I believe this role
offers more scope to contribute to larger projects and broaden my experience."

17. Do you have any questions for us?

"Yes, I’d love to know more about the team I’ll be working with and how success in this role is
measured."
18. What is your greatest professional achievement so far?

"While working with a technical college, I successfully streamlined the financial documentation
system, reducing reporting errors by over 40% and improving audit outcomes."

19. What makes you stand out from other candidates?

"My combination of hands-on finance experience, passion for development work, and strong
sense of accountability make me a unique fit. I’m not just task-oriented; I care deeply about the
mission behind the work."

20. How do you handle constructive criticism?

"I welcome it. I believe feedback is essential for growth. I listen carefully, reflect, and make
improvements based on the advice. It helps me become more effective and reliable."

1. Tight Deadline

Q: Can you describe a situation where you had to meet a tight deadline and how you managed
it?
A:
Situation: While working on a monthly financial report, we received an unexpected request to
submit an updated version within 24 hours.
Task: I had to gather, verify, and analyze data quickly and accurately.
Action: I broke down tasks, delegated some duties to team members, and worked late to ensure
everything was completed. I also used Excel templates to speed up the process.
Result: The report was submitted on time, and our supervisor commended the accuracy and
timeliness.

2. Difficult Coworker

Q: Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult coworker or team member.
A:
Situation: A coworker regularly dismissed others’ ideas during team meetings.
Task: I needed to maintain team cohesion and ensure everyone felt heard.
Action: I spoke to them privately, expressing how their approach was affecting morale. I
encouraged them to give others space to contribute.
Result: They appreciated the feedback, improved their communication, and team dynamics
became more collaborative.

3. Adapting to Change

Q: Describe a situation where you had to adapt to a significant change in the workplace.
A:
Situation: Our department shifted from manual record-keeping to a digital financial system.
Task: I had to learn the new system quickly while continuing with my regular duties.
Action: I attended training sessions, practiced after hours, and even helped others learn the
system.
Result: I became one of the most proficient users and was later asked to assist in training new
staff.

4. Team Conflict

Q: Can you share an example of a time when you had to resolve a conflict within a team?
A:
Situation: Two team members disagreed on how to allocate tasks for a joint project.
Task: I needed to find a fair resolution and keep the project on track.
Action: I facilitated a short meeting where each person explained their view. We reallocated
tasks based on strengths and mutual agreement.
Result: The project was completed smoothly and ahead of schedule.

5. Prioritizing Tasks

Q: Tell me about a time when you had to prioritize multiple tasks or projects.
A:
Situation: I was managing financial reporting, handling a procurement process, and preparing
for an audit—all at once.
Task: I needed to decide what to focus on first without compromising quality.
Action: I created a priority matrix, started with tasks with strict deadlines (audit prep), delegated
where possible, and set daily goals.
Result: All three tasks were completed efficiently, and the audit went well.

6. Taking Initiative
Q: Describe a situation where you had to take initiative or lead a project without direct
supervision.
A:
Situation: Our supervisor was away, and a donor report needed finalizing.
Task: I had to complete the report and ensure it met all compliance requirements.
Action: I reviewed previous reports, gathered data from colleagues, and ensured accuracy. I then
submitted it for review.
Result: The report was approved without revisions, and the donor expressed satisfaction.

7. Dissatisfied Client

Q: Can you give me an example of a time when you had to deal with a dissatisfied customer or
client?
A:
Situation: A client was unhappy due to a delay in receiving a financial statement.
Task: I needed to resolve the issue and restore trust.
Action: I apologized, investigated the delay, expedited the process, and provided a clear
explanation.
Result: The client appreciated the transparency and continued their partnership with us.

8. Making a Mistake

Q: Tell me about a time when you made a mistake at work.

A:
Situation: I once sent a payment to the wrong vendor due to similar account names.
Task: I had to correct the mistake and prevent it from recurring.
Action: I informed my supervisor immediately, contacted the bank to reverse the payment, and
followed up. Then, I helped introduce a double-check procedure.
Result: The funds were recovered, and we reduced payment errors significantly.

9. Convincing Others

Q: Describe a situation where you had to persuade others to adopt your approach.
A:
Situation: During budget planning, I suggested shifting to a digital tool for tracking expenses.
Task: I had to convince the team it would improve efficiency.
Action: I demonstrated how it worked, compared results with the old method, and addressed
their concerns.
Result: The team agreed, and the tool reduced time spent on expense tracking by 30%.
10. Problem Solving

Q: Can you share an example of a time when you demonstrated excellent problem-solving
skills?
A:
Situation: We noticed discrepancies in our inventory records.
Task: I was asked to identify the cause and recommend a solution.
Action: I reviewed stock records, traced transactions, and found a system entry issue. I corrected
it and trained staff on accurate entry.
Result: Inventory accuracy improved, and we avoided further discrepancies.

11. Handling Multiple Urgent Tasks

Q: Describe a time when you had to handle multiple urgent tasks at once.
A:
Situation: One day, I had to handle urgent payment processing, respond to donor inquiries, and
prepare a report.
Task: All tasks were time-sensitive and high priority.
Action: I listed tasks by deadline and impact, communicated timelines with stakeholders, and
stayed focused using time blocks.
Result: I completed all tasks by the end of the day without errors.

12. Working with Limited Resources

Q: Can you give an example of a time when you had to work with limited resources to achieve a
goal?
A:
Situation: We had to organize a community outreach program with a very limited budget.
Task: I had to ensure the event was impactful despite financial constraints.
Action: I negotiated discounts with vendors, used free community spaces, and involved
volunteers.
Result: The event was successful, attendance was high, and we stayed within budget.