What do you know about the company and the position and what experience do you have to fulfill the role? I answered each part sharing what I had learned from the website and job description and then identified specifics from the job duties and responsibilities that I had direct experience in performing or those that were very similar to my previous experience. The interviewer stated I had nothing that matched the position. I intended to interject a counter to the statement, but because she continued to talk I waited until she took a breath. She ended her discourse about how it really doesn't matter what my skill set is or what experience I have because the company is looking for just 3 qualities: Time Management, Coordination, and Prioritization. I did address the 3 and gave myself high marks for each, but frankly, I was prepared to ask why she took the time to contact me at all. Why did I have to complete 2 assessments prior to final application submission if nothing matters but 3 skills? Why ask me questions about my experience, degrees (I have 2), background and mention reviewing my CV several times, if nothing matters except 3 skills? I do have both matching and transferrable skills and experience for the role but my take away was firstly, that what I would bring to the table was really inconsequential to her and/or the company, and secondly, the interviewer was not skilled in understanding matching and transferrable skills . So, for someone with no experience, according to the interviewer, if you are a person who excels in time management, coordination, and prioritization, then theoretically, you should be a prime candidate.
