Introduce Yourself

Hello, my name is Suleiman Aliyu, and I'm thrilled to be here today to talk with you
about my background and how it relates to the role at GTBank. and thank you for
giving me the opportunity to be interviewed for this position again.

I graduated with a first-class degree in Industrial Chemistry, where I honed my skills

in problem-solving, critical thinking, and attention to detail.
After graduation, I worked as a Quality Assurance Officer at Aspira Nig Ltd a soap
producing company. In this role, I ensured that all products met strict quality
standards and developed a deep understanding of regulations and compliance
standard.

I then moved on to work as a Project Manager/HR at a Dulux color center, where I

developed my communication and leadership skills, as well as my ability to work
under pressure and meet tight deadlines. In this role, I also gained a deeper
understanding of the importance of financial management and budgeting in running
a successful business.

Most recently, I worked as a Graduate Assistant in Biochemistry at a university, where

I conducted research and taught undergraduate students. This experience allowed
me to further develop my critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as my
ability to communicate complex ideas to a diverse audience.

Overall, I believe that my diverse experiences have equipped me with a strong

foundation of skills that are highly applicable in the financial industry. I'm excited to
continue learning and growing in my career and believe that GTBank would be an
ideal place for me to do so. Thank you for considering my application.

What is your greatest professional achievement?

"My greatest professional achievement was when I managed a home painting project
for a high-profile client. The project involved repainting the entire interior of a large,
multi-story home with intricate designs and details.

To achieve our goal, I first focused on creating a detailed project plan that identified
each step required to complete the project. I then worked with the client to ensure
that we were able to deliver on their specific design requests.

Throughout the project, I made sure to communicate regularly with my team of

painters to keep everyone informed of our progress and any challenges we were
facing. We also developed contingency plans in case unexpected issues arose, such
as inclement weather or supply shortages.
Our hard work and dedication paid off when we successfully completed the project
on time and within budget, exceeding the client's expectations. Our team's attention
to detail and commitment to quality resulted in a stunning finish that earned us
positive reviews and recommendations from the client.

This achievement not only demonstrated my leadership skills but also showed my
ability to manage complex projects, work under pressure, and deliver exceptional
results. I'm proud of what my team and I accomplished and excited to bring these
skills and experiences to the role at [Company Name]."

What is your preferred method for dealing with high-pressure situations?

"My preferred method for dealing with high-pressure situations is to remain calm
and focused. I've found that taking a step back and assessing the situation
objectively allows me to make better decisions and take more effective action.

One technique I use to maintain focus is to break down the problem into smaller,
more manageable parts. By prioritizing and tackling one issue at a time, I can stay
organized and avoid becoming overwhelmed.

Another strategy I employ is to communicate clearly and frequently with team

members and stakeholders. This not only keeps everyone informed but also helps to
build trust and foster a collaborative environment, which can be crucial in high-
pressure situations.

I also make sure to take care of myself, both physically and mentally. I try to get
enough sleep, exercise regularly, and practice mindfulness techniques like deep
breathing and meditation. This helps me to stay balanced and grounded, even in the
face of challenging situations.

Overall, my preferred method for dealing with high-pressure situations is to stay

calm, stay focused, and stay connected. By relying on these strategies, I've been able
to successfully navigate many challenging situations and deliver positive outcomes
for my team and my organization."
Tell me about a time at a prior job when you were forced to make a difficult
decision. How did the results of your decision play out?

"During my time as a project manager at a previous job, I was faced with a difficult
decision that ultimately impacted the project timeline and budget. One of my key
team members had unexpectedly resigned, leaving a critical gap in our team.

I had to decide whether to try and fill the position quickly with a new hire or to
reorganize the project and redistribute the work among the existing team members. I
weighed the pros and cons of each option and consulted with the HR department to
evaluate our recruitment timeline.

Ultimately, I decided to redistribute the work among the remaining team members,
knowing that it would require everyone to work harder and potentially impact the
project timeline. However, I also knew that it would give us the best chance to
maintain the project's quality and stay on budget.

The results of my decision were mixed. On the one hand, we were able to complete
the project successfully, and the client was satisfied with the final product. On the
other hand, we did experience delays, which caused some frustration among team
members and impacted the overall timeline.

Looking back, I still believe that my decision was the right one given the
circumstances. I was able to maintain the project's quality and stay within budget,
which were both key priorities for the project. While the decision was difficult, I
learned a lot from the experience and have continued to develop my decision-
making skills in subsequent roles."

• How do you prefer to do your work?

"I prefer to do my work in a structured and organized manner, while also

remaining flexible and adaptable to changes as they arise.

To start, I like to set clear goals and priorities for each project or task, and
break them down into smaller, actionable steps. This allows me to stay focused and
on track, and also helps to ensure that I'm meeting deadlines and delivering quality
work.

I also like to maintain open lines of communication with my team members

and stakeholders, which helps to ensure that everyone is aligned and working
towards the same goals. Regular check-ins and status updates help to keep everyone
on the same page and can prevent misunderstandings or miscommunications.

At the same time, I'm also flexible and adaptable to changes that may arise
during the course of a project. I understand that unexpected issues can come up, and
I'm always willing to adjust my approach or priorities as needed to ensure that we're
still able to meet our goals.

Overall, I prefer to work in a structured, organized, and collaborative manner,

while also remaining flexible and adaptable to changes as they arise. This approach
has allowed me to deliver high-quality work and build strong relationships with my
colleagues and clients."

What are you passionate about away from work?

"Outside of work, I'm passionate about fitness and staying active. I believe that
staying physically active is not only good for my overall health and well-being, but it
also helps me to stay mentally sharp and focused.

I enjoy trying out different types of workouts and activities, from weightlifting
to yoga to hiking. I find that mixing things up keeps me engaged and motivated, and
it also helps me to push myself out of my comfort zone.

In addition to fitness, I'm also passionate about traveling and exploring new
places. I love experiencing different cultures, trying new foods, and seeing historical
landmarks and natural wonders. Whether it's a weekend road trip or an international
adventure, I always try to make time for travel and exploration.

Overall, I'm passionate about staying active and healthy, exploring new places
and cultures, and giving back to my community through volunteer work."

When was the last time you found an unusual/unconventional solution to a

problem?

Situation: At my previous job, we had a month-long paint promotion where we

offered discounts and vouchers based on the quantity of paint purchased. We
wanted to promote it and create awareness about the promo to our existing
customers in a more personalized way. However, our existing email platform did not
allow us to send personalized emails to a large number of recipients.
Task: As the project manager in charge of marketing and the front desk, it was my
responsibility to find a solution to this problem. I had to come up with a tool that
would enable us to send personalized emails to a large number of recipients.

Action: As we were brainstorming solutions, I remembered a tool called Streak that I

had used for personal email tracking. I decided to explore it further and discovered
that it had a feature that allowed us to send personalized emails to a large number of
recipients. I proposed the idea to my team and suggested that we test the feature.

Result: After testing the feature, we decided to use Streak for our paint promotion.
We were able to segment our customer database and create personalized email
content for each customer, which significantly increased our open and conversion
rates. We were able to promote the paint promotion in a more targeted and effective
manner. As a result, we saw a significant increase in the number of customers who
purchased paint during the promotion period. This resulted in increased sales and
customer satisfaction, which was a big win for our team and the company.

Tell me about a time you failed

Situation: As a quality assurance officer in a soap production company, I was

responsible for ensuring that all products met the highest standards of quality before
being released to customers. One day, I discovered a batch of soap that did not meet
our quality standards.

Task: The decision to dispose of the entire batch was a difficult one as it would result
in a significant financial loss for the company. I had to make a tough decision on how
to proceed.

Action: I took a sample of the soap to the lab for testing to confirm that it did not
meet our quality standards. After confirming the result, I consulted with my team and
the production department to determine the root cause of the problem.

After identifying the problem, we developed a corrective action plan that involved
modifying our production process to ensure that the issue would not occur again.
We also initiated a recall of the affected products from the market to prevent
customers from purchasing subpar products.
Result: Although the decision to dispose of the batch resulted in a significant
financial loss for the company, our swift action and collaboration with other
departments helped to prevent further losses. The recall also showed our customers
that we prioritize their safety and satisfaction, which improved the company's
reputation.

Through this experience, I learned the importance of taking swift action and working
collaboratively to solve problems. It also taught me that sometimes difficult decisions
need to be made for the long-term benefit of the company and its customers.

Tell me about a time when you had to adapt to a new situation or process.

Situation: As a new employee working as a front desk at Dulux Color Center, I was tasked
with learning how to use Sage 50, a software program the company used for accounting and
inventory management.

Task: My role at the front desk involved a lot of interaction with customers, so I knew that it
was crucial to learn the software quickly to be able to provide accurate information about
products, pricing, and availability.

Action: To adapt to the new situation, I took the initiative to learn Sage 50 by taking
advantage of the resources available to me. I attended training sessions provided by the
company, read through the user manuals, and asked questions to more experienced
colleagues whenever I encountered something I didn't understand. I also spent extra time
practicing on the software during my lunch break and after work to build my confidence.

Result: My hard work paid off, and I was able to quickly become proficient in using Sage 50.
This allowed me to provide accurate and timely information to customers, which led to
increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. Additionally, my knowledge of the software
helped me identify and report a few discrepancies in the inventory management system,
which led to more efficient operations and cost savings for the company.

Overall, the experience taught me the value of being proactive in adapting to new situations
and using all available resources to learn and improve my skills.

Describe a time when you had to work under pressure. How did you handle the stress,
and what was the result?

Situation: I was working as a front desk officer at Dulux Color Center, and one of my
colleagues resigned. As a result, I had to handle the workload of handling customers and
raising invoices by myself.
Task: With my colleague's departure, there was a significant increase in the number of
customers that I had to attend to. In addition, I had to learn how to use the accounting
software, Sage 50, to generate invoices, which added to my workload.

Action: I knew that I had to manage my time effectively and stay focused on the tasks at
hand. I created a schedule to prioritize my tasks, which involved attending to customers first,
and then generating invoices. To make sure that I was able to handle the increased
workload, I stayed focused, minimized distractions and interruptions, and made sure to take
breaks to prevent burnout.

Result: Despite the increased workload and pressure, I was able to handle all of my tasks
effectively. However, one of the biggest challenges was that many customers were making
late payments, which delayed the servicing of their orders. To address this, I began following
up with customers to ensure that they made their payments on time. This proactive
approach helped to reduce the delay in servicing orders, and also helped to build better
relationships with customers, who appreciated the personalized follow-up.

In the end, I was able to successfully adapt to the new situation and handle the pressure
effectively, by managing my time, staying focused, and taking proactive steps to address the
challenges that arose.

Tell me about a time when you had to take a risk or try something new. What was the
outcome?

In my previous job as a project manager in a painting company, we had a client who requested a
unique paint color that we didn't have in stock. We usually ordered our paints from a reliable
supplier, but they didn't have the specific color we needed. Our client was adamant about getting
that exact shade, so we had to come up with a solution.

After doing some research, I found out that we could mix two different paint colors to create the
shade our client wanted. However, this was a risky move as we had never tried this before and didn't
know how it would turn out. I discussed this with my team, and we decided to give it a shot since we
didn't want to disappoint the client.

We carefully mixed the two paint colors, and after some trial and error, we were able to get the exact
shade our client wanted. They were thrilled with the outcome, and it ended up being one of our
most successful projects. From then on, we added this new shade to our inventory, and it became a
popular choice among our clients.
Taking that risk and trying something new paid off in the end, and it taught me the importance of
being innovative and adaptable in finding solutions for our clients' needs.

What motivates you

I am motivated by a combination of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. On the intrinsic side, I find
satisfaction in knowing that I have done a good job and contributed to the success of a project or
task. I enjoy learning new things and improving my skills, and the feeling of accomplishment that
comes with achieving a goal.

On the extrinsic side, I am motivated by the recognition and appreciation of others, whether that be
through verbal praise, promotions, or other forms of recognition. I also find motivation in the
financial rewards that come with performing well, as it allows me to support myself and my family,
and plan for the future.

Overall, I am driven by a desire to excel and make a positive impact, both for myself and for those
around me.

1. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult coworker or
teammate. How did you handle the situation?
2. Can you describe a time when you went above and beyond what was
expected of you in your job?
3. Describe a situation where you had to make a tough decision. How did you go
about making the decision, and what was the outcome?
4. Have you ever had to deal with a difficult customer? How did you handle the
situation?
5. Tell me about a time when you had to adapt to a new situation or process.
6. Describe a time when you had to work under pressure. How did you handle
the stress, and what was the result?
7. Tell me about a time when you had to motivate others to achieve a common
goal.
8. Have you ever had to deal with a conflict within a team? How did you
approach the situation, and what was the outcome?
9. Can you describe a time when you had to learn a new skill or technology
quickly?
10. Tell me about a time when you had to work with someone with a different
work style or personality than your own. How did you manage the situation?
11. Describe a situation where you had to prioritize competing demands on your
time.
12. Tell me about a time when you had to handle a difficult project or task. How
did you approach it, and what was the result?
13. Can you describe a time when you had to manage a team or project with
limited resources?
14. Tell me about a time when you had to take a risk or try something new. What
was the outcome?
15. Describe a situation where you had to communicate a difficult message to
someone. How did you approach the conversation?
16. Tell me about a time when you had to work with a team to solve a complex
problem.
17. Can you describe a time when you had to deliver a project or task under a
tight deadline?
18. Describe a situation where you had to handle a difficult customer service
issue. How did you approach the situation, and what was the outcome?
19. Tell me about a time when you had to manage conflicting priorities within a
project or task.
20. Can you describe a time when you had to provide feedback to a colleague or
supervisor on their performance or behavior? How did you approach the
conversation?