This document provides tips and sample answers for common interview questions for a procurement role. It addresses questions such as "Tell me about yourself", "What are your biggest strengths?", "What have you learned from mistakes?", "Why did you leave your last job?", "What is your greatest weakness?", and "What have you done to improve your knowledge?". For each question, it offers steps to formulate an effective answer, including connecting your experience to the role and providing evidence. Sample answers are provided along with links to additional resources on interview tips.
Key Trends Shaping the Future of Infrastructure.pdfCheryl Hung
Keynote at DIGIT West Expo, Glasgow on 29 May 2024.
Cheryl Hung, ochery.com
Sr Director, Infrastructure Ecosystem, Arm.
The key trends across hardware, cloud and open-source; exploring how these areas are likely to mature and develop over the short and long-term, and then considering how organisations can position themselves to adapt and thrive.
GraphRAG is All You need? LLM & Knowledge GraphGuy Korland
Guy Korland, CEO and Co-founder of FalkorDB, will review two articles on the integration of language models with knowledge graphs.
1. Unifying Large Language Models and Knowledge Graphs: A Roadmap.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2306.08302
2. Microsoft Research's GraphRAG paper and a review paper on various uses of knowledge graphs:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/graphrag-unlocking-llm-discovery-on-narrative-private-data/
"Impact of front-end architecture on development cost", Viktor TurskyiFwdays
I have heard many times that architecture is not important for the front-end. Also, many times I have seen how developers implement features on the front-end just following the standard rules for a framework and think that this is enough to successfully launch the project, and then the project fails. How to prevent this and what approach to choose? I have launched dozens of complex projects and during the talk we will analyze which approaches have worked for me and which have not.
Slack (or Teams) Automation for Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Soluti...Jeffrey Haguewood
Sidekick Solutions uses Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Solutions Apricot) and automation solutions to integrate data for business workflows.
We believe integration and automation are essential to user experience and the promise of efficient work through technology. Automation is the critical ingredient to realizing that full vision. We develop integration products and services for Bonterra Case Management software to support the deployment of automations for a variety of use cases.
This video focuses on the notifications, alerts, and approval requests using Slack for Bonterra Impact Management. The solutions covered in this webinar can also be deployed for Microsoft Teams.
Interested in deploying notification automations for Bonterra Impact Management? Contact us at sales@sidekicksolutionsllc.com to discuss next steps.
Key Trends Shaping the Future of Infrastructure.pdfCheryl Hung
Keynote at DIGIT West Expo, Glasgow on 29 May 2024.
Cheryl Hung, ochery.com
Sr Director, Infrastructure Ecosystem, Arm.
The key trends across hardware, cloud and open-source; exploring how these areas are likely to mature and develop over the short and long-term, and then considering how organisations can position themselves to adapt and thrive.
GraphRAG is All You need? LLM & Knowledge GraphGuy Korland
Guy Korland, CEO and Co-founder of FalkorDB, will review two articles on the integration of language models with knowledge graphs.
1. Unifying Large Language Models and Knowledge Graphs: A Roadmap.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2306.08302
2. Microsoft Research's GraphRAG paper and a review paper on various uses of knowledge graphs:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/graphrag-unlocking-llm-discovery-on-narrative-private-data/
"Impact of front-end architecture on development cost", Viktor TurskyiFwdays
I have heard many times that architecture is not important for the front-end. Also, many times I have seen how developers implement features on the front-end just following the standard rules for a framework and think that this is enough to successfully launch the project, and then the project fails. How to prevent this and what approach to choose? I have launched dozens of complex projects and during the talk we will analyze which approaches have worked for me and which have not.
Slack (or Teams) Automation for Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Soluti...Jeffrey Haguewood
Sidekick Solutions uses Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Solutions Apricot) and automation solutions to integrate data for business workflows.
We believe integration and automation are essential to user experience and the promise of efficient work through technology. Automation is the critical ingredient to realizing that full vision. We develop integration products and services for Bonterra Case Management software to support the deployment of automations for a variety of use cases.
This video focuses on the notifications, alerts, and approval requests using Slack for Bonterra Impact Management. The solutions covered in this webinar can also be deployed for Microsoft Teams.
Interested in deploying notification automations for Bonterra Impact Management? Contact us at sales@sidekicksolutionsllc.com to discuss next steps.
Connector Corner: Automate dynamic content and events by pushing a buttonDianaGray10
Here is something new! In our next Connector Corner webinar, we will demonstrate how you can use a single workflow to:
Create a campaign using Mailchimp with merge tags/fields
Send an interactive Slack channel message (using buttons)
Have the message received by managers and peers along with a test email for review
But there’s more:
In a second workflow supporting the same use case, you’ll see:
Your campaign sent to target colleagues for approval
If the “Approve” button is clicked, a Jira/Zendesk ticket is created for the marketing design team
But—if the “Reject” button is pushed, colleagues will be alerted via Slack message
Join us to learn more about this new, human-in-the-loop capability, brought to you by Integration Service connectors.
And...
Speakers:
Akshay Agnihotri, Product Manager
Charlie Greenberg, Host
LF Energy Webinar: Electrical Grid Modelling and Simulation Through PowSyBl -...DanBrown980551
Do you want to learn how to model and simulate an electrical network from scratch in under an hour?
Then welcome to this PowSyBl workshop, hosted by Rte, the French Transmission System Operator (TSO)!
During the webinar, you will discover the PowSyBl ecosystem as well as handle and study an electrical network through an interactive Python notebook.
PowSyBl is an open source project hosted by LF Energy, which offers a comprehensive set of features for electrical grid modelling and simulation. Among other advanced features, PowSyBl provides:
- A fully editable and extendable library for grid component modelling;
- Visualization tools to display your network;
- Grid simulation tools, such as power flows, security analyses (with or without remedial actions) and sensitivity analyses;
The framework is mostly written in Java, with a Python binding so that Python developers can access PowSyBl functionalities as well.
What you will learn during the webinar:
- For beginners: discover PowSyBl's functionalities through a quick general presentation and the notebook, without needing any expert coding skills;
- For advanced developers: master the skills to efficiently apply PowSyBl functionalities to your real-world scenarios.
The Art of the Pitch: WordPress Relationships and SalesLaura Byrne
Clients don’t know what they don’t know. What web solutions are right for them? How does WordPress come into the picture? How do you make sure you understand scope and timeline? What do you do if sometime changes?
All these questions and more will be explored as we talk about matching clients’ needs with what your agency offers without pulling teeth or pulling your hair out. Practical tips, and strategies for successful relationship building that leads to closing the deal.
PHP Frameworks: I want to break free (IPC Berlin 2024)Ralf Eggert
In this presentation, we examine the challenges and limitations of relying too heavily on PHP frameworks in web development. We discuss the history of PHP and its frameworks to understand how this dependence has evolved. The focus will be on providing concrete tips and strategies to reduce reliance on these frameworks, based on real-world examples and practical considerations. The goal is to equip developers with the skills and knowledge to create more flexible and future-proof web applications. We'll explore the importance of maintaining autonomy in a rapidly changing tech landscape and how to make informed decisions in PHP development.
This talk is aimed at encouraging a more independent approach to using PHP frameworks, moving towards a more flexible and future-proof approach to PHP development.
Essentials of Automations: Optimizing FME Workflows with ParametersSafe Software
Are you looking to streamline your workflows and boost your projects’ efficiency? Do you find yourself searching for ways to add flexibility and control over your FME workflows? If so, you’re in the right place.
Join us for an insightful dive into the world of FME parameters, a critical element in optimizing workflow efficiency. This webinar marks the beginning of our three-part “Essentials of Automation” series. This first webinar is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to utilize parameters effectively: enhancing the flexibility, maintainability, and user control of your FME projects.
Here’s what you’ll gain:
- Essentials of FME Parameters: Understand the pivotal role of parameters, including Reader/Writer, Transformer, User, and FME Flow categories. Discover how they are the key to unlocking automation and optimization within your workflows.
- Practical Applications in FME Form: Delve into key user parameter types including choice, connections, and file URLs. Allow users to control how a workflow runs, making your workflows more reusable. Learn to import values and deliver the best user experience for your workflows while enhancing accuracy.
- Optimization Strategies in FME Flow: Explore the creation and strategic deployment of parameters in FME Flow, including the use of deployment and geometry parameters, to maximize workflow efficiency.
- Pro Tips for Success: Gain insights on parameterizing connections and leveraging new features like Conditional Visibility for clarity and simplicity.
We’ll wrap up with a glimpse into future webinars, followed by a Q&A session to address your specific questions surrounding this topic.
Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your FME expertise and drive your projects to new heights of efficiency.
Builder.ai Founder Sachin Dev Duggal's Strategic Approach to Create an Innova...Ramesh Iyer
In today's fast-changing business world, Companies that adapt and embrace new ideas often need help to keep up with the competition. However, fostering a culture of innovation takes much work. It takes vision, leadership and willingness to take risks in the right proportion. Sachin Dev Duggal, co-founder of Builder.ai, has perfected the art of this balance, creating a company culture where creativity and growth are nurtured at each stage.
Epistemic Interaction - tuning interfaces to provide information for AI supportAlan Dix
Paper presented at SYNERGY workshop at AVI 2024, Genoa, Italy. 3rd June 2024
https://alandix.com/academic/papers/synergy2024-epistemic/
As machine learning integrates deeper into human-computer interactions, the concept of epistemic interaction emerges, aiming to refine these interactions to enhance system adaptability. This approach encourages minor, intentional adjustments in user behaviour to enrich the data available for system learning. This paper introduces epistemic interaction within the context of human-system communication, illustrating how deliberate interaction design can improve system understanding and adaptation. Through concrete examples, we demonstrate the potential of epistemic interaction to significantly advance human-computer interaction by leveraging intuitive human communication strategies to inform system design and functionality, offering a novel pathway for enriching user-system engagements.
Accelerate your Kubernetes clusters with Varnish CachingThijs Feryn
A presentation about the usage and availability of Varnish on Kubernetes. This talk explores the capabilities of Varnish caching and shows how to use the Varnish Helm chart to deploy it to Kubernetes.
This presentation was delivered at K8SUG Singapore. See https://feryn.eu/presentations/accelerate-your-kubernetes-clusters-with-varnish-caching-k8sug-singapore-28-2024 for more details.
2. Interview questions and answers- Page 2
1. Tell me about yourself
Steps to answer interview questions:
Step 1: Give a brief introduction about yourself:
For example: My name is Peter. I graduated from XYZ
University with bachelor degree in Sales. After 5 years
working as a Sales Manager, I have well experienced in
training, mentoring and motivating other sales personnel
to achieve the goals of the Company.
Step 2: Give a brief summary of your experience in
your latest positions:
Give a summary of 2-3 latest companies that you have
worked for and companies that have helped you succeed
with your new jobs.
For example: recently, I have worked for ABC Company
as Sales Manager for North-East Region. With my skills
from training courses, I developed many sales campaigns
which contributed much to the development of new
customers and maintenance of current customer base.
After 6 months, my sales force and I did regain the
company’s market and promote the sales revenue up by
37%.
3. Interview questions and answers- Page 3
1. Tell me about yourself - continue
Step 3: Connect your ability to the employer’s
requirements:
Never assume that the employer will by himself be able to
connect all of your abilities to the job requirements.
Step 4: Make a concerning question:
With a concerning question, it will help you gain “control”
of the interview. You may reduce the stress of the
interview with such questions.
For example: I would like to know the strong points of
your company’s current Sales force.
4. Interview questions and answers- Page 4
2. What are your biggest strengths?
This question will help polishing your qualification to the
requirements of the employer.
Steps to answer this question:
a) Identify which you are good at:
• Knowledge;
• Experience;
• Skills;
• Abilities.
b) Prepare a list of your strong points:
c) Review the recruitment requirements:
You should review carefully the recruitment requirements
to know for sure which requirements are the most
important to the employer.
5. Interview questions and answers- Page 5
2. What are your biggest strengths? - continue
d) Make a list of your strong points in your resume/cover
letter:
List and describe your strong points in your resume and
cover letter orderly.
You should make descriptions to those points in your
resume.
e) Prepare persuasive answers to the question of the
employer about strong points:
You do not only state your strong points to the employer
but must also provide evidence for them by references or
records attached with your application form.
Useful source: List of strong points:
http://interview-tips-123.blogspot.com/2013/05/list-of-
strong-points.html
6. Interview questions and answers- Page 6
3. What have you learned from mistakes on the Procurement field?
a. Answer tips
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a
positive lesson learned. An example would be working too
far ahead of colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.
Everyone makes mistakes, of course, but some companies
are more willing to learn from them than punish those
involved.
You’ve learned that when you do make mistakes, someone
is usually disappointed in the choice you made, but you have
to figure it out for yourself, they might help you decide what
‘s right and what ‘ss wrong, but you’ll be the decider on
which you choose. You’ve learned that people do care about
you, and to not do it again if you don’t want to.
b. Answer samples
Every one makes mistakes but only few people can realize
there mistakes and they don’t want to repeat those mistakes
again….. I am the one in those few people, I don’t want to
repeat the mistakes which had done by me in my job/work.
7. Interview questions and answers- Page 7
4. What have you done to improve your Procurement knowledge in the last year?
a. Answer tips
• Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as positive self-
improvement. Have some good ones handy to mention.
• Employers look for applicants who are goal-oriented. Show
a desire for continuous learning by listing hobbies non-work
related. Regardless of what hobbies you choose to
showcase, remember that the goal is to prove self-
sufficiency, time management, and motivation.
b. Answer samples
• Every should learn from his mistake. I always try to consult
my mistakes with my kith and kin especially with elderly and
experienced person.
8. Interview questions and answers- Page 8
5. What are your career goals?
a. The reasons of this question:
This question will test your ability and ambition to develop
yourself as well as the ability to plan for the future.
b. Levels of career goals:
• You are not sure about your goals, then answer: I’m rather
busy with my duties and goals of the Company; as a result, I
haven’t focused much on my long-term personal goals.
• You have goals not or very little relating to the current job:
For example, you are applying for a sales manager, but your
career goal is to become the head of marketing department
in the next 5 years.
• Current job oriented career goals: For example, you are
working as a sales manager, you goal is to become the area
sales manager in the next 2 years and in the next 5 years,
you will be the regional sales manager.
Useful source: list of 50 career goals:
http://interview-tips-123.blogspot.com/2013/05/list-of-career-
goals.html
9. Interview questions and answers- Page 9
6. Why did you leave your last job?
a. Some sample answers to the interview question:
“Why are you leaving your last job?”
• There is no opportunity to promote in my current job and
I’m ready to face a new challenge;
• I have worked there for 04 years with much experience and
skills. I want to be promoted but the Company do not offer
me that opportunity;
• The company has cut down with its focus on the business
line my job is responsible for;
• My family transferred to another region, or, my current
workplace is too far away from my home;
• My old company often paid late and had inadequate
compensation policy.
b. You should avoid answers that:
• Speak ill of your old boss, colleague, etc.;
• They punished me many times for…
• I did not complete my job.
10. Interview questions and answers- Page 10
7. What is your greatest weakness?
Ways to answer:
a) First way: Turning your strong point into weak point.
For example: I am a perfectionist and therefore, I rarely
believe in anyone who can work as well as me. As a result, I
am afraid to delegate important tasks to others.
This approach has a weak side as that if you are not clever,
you will cause the employer to believe that you are cheating
him.
b) Second way: Solving your weakness absolutely.
A better approach is that you state one point which was once
your weakness, but you have done well to resolve it.
For example: I tended to be a perfectionist, therefore I didn’t
like to delegate to others. But I have found out that in order
to develop the organization, everyone in the organization
must be experienced with many tasks and this is very good
for an efficient team work.
11. Interview questions and answers- Page 11
8. What do you know about this organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on the
organization before the interview. Find out where they have
been and where they are going. What are the current issues
and who are the major players?
Sample answers:
a. A good organization with perfect management. I heard that in
this organization i can gain knowledge and good atmosphere.
b. If its for a good renowned company then its better to go
through the company website and know what’s the company
profile and what’s their achievements/successes and branches
& other details.
c. According to me this is one of the best company. It has a
good Environment, We feel good working in companies, which
has good growth in the IT Industries. This Organization has all
the qualities like good growth, good Environment, maintaining a
best level in the IT Industries, etc.
Other materials: Top 10 interview questions to ask employers.
http://interview-tips-123.blogspot.com/2013/05/top-10-interview-
questions-to-ask.html
12. Interview questions and answers- Page 12
9. What have you done to improve your Procurement knowledge in the last year?
a. Answer tips
• Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as positive self-
improvement. Have some good ones handy to mention.
• Employers look for applicants who are goal-oriented. Show
a desire for continuous learning by listing hobbies non-work
related. Regardless of what hobbies you choose to
showcase, remember that the goal is to prove self-
sufficiency, time management, and motivation.
b. Answer samples
• Every one should learn from his mistake. I always try to
consult my mistakes with my kith and kin especially with
elderly and experienced person.
• I enrolled myself into a course useful for the next version of
our current project. I attended seminars on personal
development and managerial skills improvement.
13. Interview questions and answers- Page 13
Useful interview materials
• Top 10 interview secrets to win every job interview:
http://interview-tips-123.blogspot.com/2013/05/top-10-secrets-to-win-every-job.html
• 13 types of interview questions and how to face them:
http://interview-tips-123.blogspot.com/2013/05/13-types-of-interview-questions-and-how.html
• Top 12 common mistakes in job interviews:
http://interview-tips-123.blogspot.com/2013/05/top-12-common-mistakes-in-job-interviews.html