Give an example when...

Sometimes companies send you a questionnaire and ask you to give specific examples of situations. They can seem really daunting (especially if you don't have a lot of work experience), but here are a few examples of how guiding can help.

Give an example of how you have resolved a conflict within a team.

I am a volunteer leader for Girlguiding UK, with a group of young women aged between 10 and 14 (Guides).

The Guides work together in smaller groups of about six girls. In these smaller groups, conflicts arise due to friendship issues, problems arising from school and so on. I facilitate resolving these conflicts by enabling everyone to have a chance to explain their side of the conflict with the other side listening. We then work together to reach a compromise situation which may involve rearranging the split of the overall group into different, smaller groups; agreeing a group charter emphasising the right of every member to have their own opinion; and sometimes running team building activities.

So far, no one has left the group as a result of unresolved conflicts within the teams. I believe the principles I have used within Girlguiding UK also apply to the workplace. It is important to listen to everyones point of view, work towards a compromise for everyone involved and not be afraid to change the structure in order to enable everyone to perform to the best of their ability.

Give an example of how you have had to use your own initiative to resolve a problem.

I am a member of Girlguiding UK and belong to my local Senior Section group for girls aged 14 to 26.

Last year, we planned to attend a Girlguiding UK pop concert at Wembley Arena, London. We had booked a coach to take us to the event unfortunately, it didnt arrive. Phone calls revealed that it had broken down. I knew some other Guiding friends were also travelling to the concert by coach from another County. I phoned them, and they had spare places available providing we could get to the motorway service station by 3pm. More phone calls, and I managed to get hold of two people-carriers with drivers who would drive us to the motorway. We arrived just in time, and had a fabulous time at the concert.

I believe this is the same in business, where unplanned events sometimes require you to use connections elsewhere in the company or industry and find a less direct route to achieving the same goal.

Give an example of a significant achievement you have had in the workplace.

Although it is a voluntary position and therefore unpaid, the most significant achievement I have had is in Girlguiding UK.

I decided to undertake the Leadership training in order to become a warranted Leader. The training covers all aspects including child protection and health and safety issues as well as programme planning, unit organisation, finances and legal requirements.

It took me a year to complete all elements of the training, and I was extremely proud to receive my warrant card (equivalent to a licence) when I had finished.