Interview

Business Services Assistant

Template:
Suggested Questions 1st Suggested Questions 2nd
Competency Expectations
Interview Interview
Develop Expertise: Demonstrate intellectual curiosity. Take *How would you go about building relationships with the people you'll be *Can you tell us about a particular process you improved
ownership of assignments. Seek out and participate in formal and supporting? and how you went about doing this?
informal training. Volunteers in broader team activities to develop *What motivates you to give your best effort? *How do you assess quality of service you provide? How
skillset. *Can you talk us through how you've communicated with other business do you monitor this?
*Protect the confidentiality of client and Firm information. Acts services teams previously to effectively deliver a particular project?
honestly and with integrity,. *What challenges do you face in your current position?
*Produce work to a high standard with good attention to detail that is *How would you go about estabilishing credibility with your client group?
error free How have you done this previously?

Trusted Advisor Client Service: Develop relationships and create a personal

connection. Be responsive and proactive. Develop a good
understanding of external market and office technology and uses
these effectively. Seeks to understand department goals and offer
own suggestions for improvement.

Quality Control: Pay keen attention to detail in work. Take *Can you give me an example of a time you have worked on a project? *How do you keep up to date with market trends and
responsibility for delivering work at the highest standard. Ensure How have you ensured its successful delivery? ensure your client group remains competitive?
management/client instructions are being followed. Understands the *Can you give us an example of a time when you have met resistance to *What are the key challenges you are expecting to face in
business planning and budgeting process. your advice/a suggestion that you have made. How did you respond to this role?
this? *What do you think has been your career highlight to date?
Time Management: Manage your time effectively & efficiently. *Can you tell us about a time you had to overcome an obstacle that stood
Prioritise your work; handle multiple demands and shifting priorities. in the way of accomplishing a piece of work?
Stay focused to prevent irrelevant issues or distractions from
Business
interfering with work completion and client delivery.
Manager
*Ensure that needs of multiple stakeholders are met in a timely
fashion. Recognises the value of administrative duties and
demonstrate a can do attitude

Support the Business: Work hard to exceed expectations.
Understand your own measureable goals to improve your
performance. Do what it takes to get the job done. Maintain progress
while retaining quality, particularly when handling multiple tasks and
competing deadlines. Communicate clearly verbally and in writing
*What tactics would you deploy if you were successful in the role in the *What has been the most rewarding part of your career to
first few weeks to make it a success? date? Why was this? *Can
*Can you think of an occasion when you have been met with a changing you tell us about a particular process you improved and
agenda? How did you respond to this? how you went about doing this?
*How have you gone about developing your business network?

Resilient: View mistakes as an opportunity to learn. Accept all

feedback in a constructive manner; work with manager to identify
lessons learned and look for opportunities to succeed. Maintain a
professional demeanour even in stressful and difficult situations.
Entrepeneur Self-
Confident: Present yourself with self-confidence and be self-
assured. Contributes appropriately in meetings . Develop broader
interests and demonstrate an interest in contributing to the firm

Collegiate: Understand the Firms vision & values. Treat others with *How would you go about building relationships with the people that you *Give us an example of a time when you feel that really
dignity and respect. Help others when they are under pressure work with? developed. What did you do?
providing support and assistance *If we were to talk to members of your previous team, how would they *What is your communication style? How do you interact
Value describe your style? with others?
Diversity: Be comfortable with diverse ideas, approaches and
people. Respect differences and opinions of others. Take steps to *Can you tell us about a time you have
improve your own diversity awareness. Matches personal style to the worked with a difficult individual; what strategies did you
audience. Treat others with dignity and respect. employ to make the relationship a success?
Be an
Leader Effective Team Member: Actively participate as a member of the
team. Maintain strong, personal connections with team members
and key stakeholders. Be clear, professional, and respectful in all
your communications.
*Is reliable and shows a commitment to getting the job done well.
Ensure that expectations are met.
Interview
Business Services Executive
Template:
Suggested Questions 1st Suggested Questions 2nd
Competency Expectations
Interview Interview
Expertise: Establish a reputation as the go-to-person. Lead and listen *How would you go about building relationships with the people you'll be *Can you tell us about a particular process you improved
effectively in meetings. Actively pursue continuous learning and new supporting? and how you went about doing this?
work opportunities. *What motivates you to give your best effort? *How do you assess quality of service you provide? How
*Adopt a high standard of behaviours and professionalism . *Can you talk us through how you've communicated with other business do you monitor this?
*Understands how own work links to service ultimately delivered to services teams previously to effectively deliver a particular project?
external clients. Propose solutions to business problems and helps to *What challenges do you face in your current position?
implement them. *How would you go about estabilishing credibility with your client group?
How have you done this previously?
Client Service: Develop relationships and create a personal
Trusted Advisor connection. Be responsive and proactive. Have a sound understanding
of the market, industries and geographies which impact your work
*Take account of others business objectives when proposing
actions/solutions. Challenge and question ideas appropriately.

Business Acumen: Contribute to activities required in your team to *Can you give me an example of a time you have worked on a project? *How do you keep up to date with market trends and
achieve its business objectives. Know the financial levers driving the How have you ensured its successful delivery? ensure your client group remains competitive?
Firm’s success. Look to control costs and manage expectations. *Can you give us an example of a time when you have met resistance to *What are the key challenges you are expecting to face in
your advice/a suggestion that you have made. How did you respond to this role?
Quality Control: Take responsibility for delivering work at the highest this? *What do you think has been your career highlight to date?
standard. Ensure management/client instructions are being followed by *Can you tell us about a time you had to overcome an obstacle that stood
your team. Ensure all relevant actions are recorded and kept in good in the way of accomplishing a piece of work?
order.

Project Manager: Coordinate junior team members work schedules to

Business avoid conflict. Actively monitor project status, updating senior
Manager colleagues on progress, milestones and opportunities
*Prioritise your work; handle multiple demands and shifting priorities.
Stay focused to prevent irrelevant issues or distractions from
interfering with work completion and client delivery.

Self-Confident: Believe in your own capability to handle challenging
assignments. Express confidence and conviction when presenting
your ideas and perspectives, both verbally and in writing. Be interested
and interesting. Develop broader interests and professional
connections.
*What tactics would you deploy if you were successful in the role in the *What has been the most rewarding part of your career to
first few weeks to make it a success? date? Why was this? *Can
*Can you think of an occasion when you have been met with a changing you tell us about a particular process you improved and
agenda? How did you respond to this? how you went about doing this?
*How have you gone about developing your business network?

Resilient: Be open to different ideas and alternative approaches.

Treat change and new situations as opportunities for learning and
growth. Be optimistic. Support others when setbacks occur. Learn
Entrepeneur from your own setbacks.

Identify & Exploit Opportunities: Identify relationships - both

internally and externally—to develop your business network.
Understand the marketplace and the trends impacting it.

Collegiate: Demonstrate commitment by supporting others to deliver *How would you go about building relationships with the people that you *Give us an example of a time when you feel that really
the best-in-class client service. Provide willing assistance to others work with? developed. What did you do?
when they are in need of help. *If we were to talk to members of your previous team, how would they *What is your communication style? How do you interact
describe your style? with others?
Manage our people: Share important or relevant information with the
team. Flex your interpersonal style to reach outcomes that gain the *Can you tell us about a time you have
support and acceptance of others. Praise and credit members of the worked with a difficult individual; what strategies did you
team for their contributions. Deliver difficult messages sensitivity. Role employ to make the relationship a success?
model the firms vision and values
*Works cooperatively with other team members to actively participate
Leader
in meetings and project assignments. Maintain strong, personal
connections with team members and key stakeholders.

Value Diversity: Put others at ease even in difficult situations.

Appreciate diversity, welcome the unique contributions of others. Takes
steps to improve diversity awareness.
Interview
Business Services Manager Level
Template:
Suggested Questions 1st Suggested Questions 2nd
Competency Expectations
Interview Interview
Expertise: Seek and create a learning culture across your broader *How would you go about building relationships with the partners you'll be *Can you tell us about a particular process you improved
team, share your in-depth expertise with colleagues, sets high ethical supporting? and how you went about doing this?
standards of behaviour. Ensures professionalism of self and team *What motivates you to give your best effort? *How do you assess quality of service provided by your
members. *Can you talk us through how you've communicated with other business team? How do you monitor this?
services teams previously to effectively deliver a particular project?
Client Service: Develop relationships and create a personal *What interests you most about our vacancy?
connection with colleagues across the Firm. Be responsive and *What challenges do you face in your current position?
proactive. Take account of other teams business objectives when *How would you go about estabilishing credibility with your client group?
proposing actions/solutions. Propose improvements to service How have you done this previously?
Trusted Advisor delivery and contribute to problem solving.

Deliver the Whole Firm: Facilitate diverse and effective working

practices across the firm. Promotes the firms strategy, values and
client service. Is aware of how these relate to the department.

*Describe a project that you have taken responsibility for from start to *How do you keep up to date with market trends and
finish? How did you manage the process? What methodology was used, ensure your client group remains competitive?
Business Acumen: Ensure your team can deliver its business successes/failures, what did you learn? *What are the key challenges you are expecting to face in
objectives. Help to deliver a strategically focused business plan; *Can you give us an example of a time when you have met resistance to this role?
Delegate tasks and assignments to the right people. your advice/a suggestion that you have made. How did you respond to *What do you think has been your career highlight to date?
this?
Quality Control: Manage and take responsibility for workload of *Can you tell us about a time you had to overcome a major obstacle that
team members. Takes corrective action quickly and decisively as stood in the way of accomplishing a piece of work?
needed. Maximise use of technology to increase efficiency. Propose *What is it about [X] that appeals to you? Why have you built your career
Business
improvements to service delivery. in this area?
Manager
Project Leader: Scope projects, assign clear responsibility,
communicate regularly, coordinate with colleagues to deliver high
quality, timely and cost effective results. Helps to implement cross-
department projects.
*Manage change effectively; manage budgets appropriately

Business Driver: Deliver your objectives with passion, persistence *What are the first three things you would do if you joined Taylor Wessing? *What has been the most rewarding part of your career to
and determination; develop innovative solutions for your teams. *How do you organise your own team? date? Why was this?
Regard obstacles as challenges *How would you help your team to organise their own time?
*Can you talk us through the last time you worked under pressure, and
Resilient: Learn from setbacks, seek solutions and be optimistic in how you managed it?
difficult situations. Persevere with ideas. Be self aware, recognise
how your emotions affect your thoughts and behaviour. Focus on
what is important and keep your team calm in uncertain or
Entrepeneur complicated situations.

Identify & Exploit Opportunities:. Seek out, seize and persevere

in bringing in new opportunities. Analyse market trends to be able to
suggest new ideas and approaches in the firm. Support new
initiatives and adopt new working practices.

Collegiate: Protect the Firm’s brand; create a great place to work,
trusting and empowering others and keeping them informed as
needed. Be curious. Explore new ideas, interests, passions. Share
what you discover.
Put
the Firm First: Put what's best for the firm ahead of your own
personal interests. Be a steward safeguarding the firm's interests
and regulatory risks.
Leading People: Be a role model; inspire people to achieve at the
highest levels; adjust your own personal style to lead; set and
achieve high standards, hold people accountable for their actions.
Leader Confront issues quickly and directly.
*Coach, mentor and develop our people so that they are able to
flourish in their careers; recognise strengths across teams and make
connections for success
*How would you go about building relationships with your team? *Give us an example of a time when you feel that really
*If we were to talk to members of your previous team, how would they helped a member of your team to develop. What did you
describe your management style? do?
*What is the most challenging people management issue you've faced? *With your direct reports, how do you decide upon and
How did you overcome it? Is there anything you'd do differently in the communicate the points at which you need to provide
future? feedback and progress reports?
*As a manager, one of your roles is to provide direction and leadership for
a work unit. Describe how you have accomplished this in the past
*What attributes do you look for when you hire into your team?* *What do
you expect from your manager?
*How do you define success in your own career?
*Can you talk to us about how you've managed conflict before, either
within the team or between teams?

Value Diversity: Put others at ease even in difficult situations.

Appreciate diversity, welcome the unique contributions of others.
Encourages others to take steps to improve diversity awareness.
Interview
Business Services Head Of
Template:
Suggested Questions 1st Suggested Questions 2nd
Competency Expectations
Interview Interview
Expertise: Seek and create a learning culture across your broader *How would you go about building relationships with the partners you'll be *Can you tell us about a particular process you improved
team, share your in-depth expertise with colleagues, sets high ethical supporting? and how you went about doing this?
standards of behaviour. Ensures professionalism of self and team *What motivates you to give your best effort? *How do you assess quality of service provided by your
members. *Can you talk us through how you've communicated with other business team? How do you monitor this? *How would you go about
services teams previously to effectively deliver a particular project? building relationships across the international firm?
Client Service: Develop relationships and create a personal *What interests you most about our vacancy?
connection with colleagues across the international Firm. Be *What challenges do you face in your current position?
responsive and proactive. Take account of other teams business *How would you go about estabilishing credibility with your client group?
objectives when proposing actions/solutions. Challenge and How have you done this previously?
question ideas appropriately.
Trusted Advisor
Deliver the Whole Firm: Facilitate diverse and effective working
practices across the international firm. Promotes the firms strategy,
values and client service principles. Communicate the departments
strategic direction, including how this helps to drive the firm's
international network.
*Increase profitable revenues and market share across the
international network by driving cross-selling.

Business Acumen: Ensure the delivery of sustainable long-term
business services teams;. Delivers a strategically focused business
plan; Delegate tasks and assignments to the right people.
Quality Control: Manage competing priorities, ensuring the optimal your advice/a suggestion that you have made. How did you respond to
use of the firm's resources. Takes corrective action quickly and
decisively as needed. Maximise use of technology to increase
efficiency.
Business
Manager Project Leader: Scope projects, assign clear responsibility,
communicate regularly, coordinate with clients to deliver high quality,
timely and cost effective results.
*Manage change effectively; recognise the journey that individuals
are on; manage budgets appropriately
*Describe a project that you have taken responsibility for from start to *How do you keep up to date with market trends and
finish? How did you manage the process? What methodology was used, ensure your client group remains competitive?
successes/failures, what did you learn? *What are the key challenges you are expecting to face in
*Can you give us an example of a time when you have met resistance to this role?
*What do you think has been your career highlight to date?
this?
*Can you tell us about a time you had to overcome a major obstacle that
stood in the way of accomplishing a piece of work?
*What is it about [X] that appeals to you? Why have you built your career
in this area?

Business Driver: Deliver your objectives with passion, persistence *What are the first three things you would do if you joined Taylor Wessing? *What has been the most rewarding part of your career to
and determination; develop innovative solutions for your teams. *How do you organise your own team? date? Why was this?
Regard obstacles as challenges *How would you help your team to organise their own time?
*Can you talk us through the last time you worked under pressure, and
Resilient: Learn from setbacks, seek solutions and be optimistic in how you managed it?
difficult situations. Persevere with ideas. Be self aware, recognise
how your emotions affect your thoughts and behaviour. Focus on
what is important and keep your team calm in uncertain or
complicated situations.
Entrepeneur
Identify & Exploit Opportunities:. Seek out, seize and persevere
in bringing in innovative ideas and approaches. Be willing to make
difficult decisions. Analyse market trends to be able to suggest
opportunities for new initiatives aligned with our strategy. Embrace
change.

Collegiate: Protect the Firm’s brand; create a great place to work, *How would you go about building relationships with your team? *Give us an example of a time when you feel that really
trusting and empowering others and keeping them informed as *If we were to talk to members of your previous team, how would they helped a member of your team to develop. What did you
needed. Be curious. Explore new ideas, interests, passions. Share describe your management style? do?
what you discover. *What is the most challenging people management issue you've faced? *With your direct reports, how do you decide upon and
How did you overcome it? Is there anything you'd do differently in the communicate the points at which you need to provide
Foster a Culture of Inclusion: Advocate and act upon the value of future? feedback and progress reports?
diversity, promote inclusion as a competitive advantage. *As a manager, one of your roles is to provide direction and leadership for
a work unit. Describe how you have accomplished this in the past
Put the Firm First: Put what's best for the firm ahead of your own *What attributes do you look for when you hire into your team?* *What do
personal interests. Be a steward safeguarding the firm's interests you expect from your manager?
and regulatory risks. *How do you define success in your own career?
Leader *Can you talk to us about how you've managed conflict before, either
Leading People: Be a role model; inspire people to achieve at the within the team or between teams?
highest levels; adjust your own personal style to lead; set and
achieve high standards, hold people accountable for their actions.
Confront issues quickly and directly.
*Identify individual talents and interests. Coach, mentor and develop
our people so that they are able to flourish in their careers; recognise
strengths across teams and make connections for success