Interview Question with Clinton Farley

July 3, 2024

Interview Question: How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends and changes in the sector?

The Interviewer’s perspective:

When asking this question, you are not just interested in the laundry list of industry news sources. You are seeking to gauge the individual’s genuine passion for the field and their proactive approach to continuous learning. Is this something they could talk about for hours or are they just echoing the latest Google news headline? Are they going to be a source for fresh ideas and meaningful perspectives? If they are a novice in your industry, can they still pivot to show you how they’ve curated industry insights in the past via newsletters, networking, or professional development courses? Passion and initiative is not often found in candidates that solely rely on internal company memos to keep them informed.

Moreover, how the candidate answers offers a glimpse into their daily work habits.  When they arrive for work do they scroll LinkedIn, immerse themselves in industry blogs, or are they social, chatting with your team as they arrive for the day? This insight is vital for assessing cultural fit on your team.

 

What to convey as an Interviewee:

As the interviewee, seize this opportunity to showcase your commitment beyond the job. Don’t just name-drop generic industry publications. Give examples of active learning through various channels – written word, sponsored events, and your network. Demonstrate you are not only aware of current trends but you can apply this knowledge to your work. Interviewers are looking for talent that will improve the role, bring in diversity of thought, and contribute meaningfully to work.

You’re letting them into your world. Do you get your information from reading, networking, online courses, or social media? You might even teach them something! For extra credit, share examples where you’ve contributed thought leadership in internal meetings or industry panels.

 

Industry Expert: Clinton Farley – General Manager Hotel Britomart

Our guest, Clinton, shares how he answers this question:

“An interesting question that I haven’t given a lot of thought about in the past, however I naturally love learning, developing, and stretching myself. Some examples would be active participation in tradeshows, conferences, maintaining membership in industry associations, and networking at events with peers and the broader business community. Continuous personal development through various board roles, online courses, combined with reading industry newsletters and publications which provide a good understanding of market dynamics. I’m fairly active on social media, LinkedIn being my main go to as a professional platform where personal brand is vitally important to build strong connections and love the power of collaboration where two groups come together to share ideas and learnings. As a business, meticulous analysis of guest feedback contributes significantly to identifying evolving preferences and trends of our guests and our commitment to staying ahead in the ever-changing hospitality landscape is reinforced by a strong focus on employee training and the use of technology.”

Clinton’s Top Tip: “Challenge yourself to embark on a continual learning journey, exploring realms beyond your everyday responsibilities. This will not only broaden your knowledge and expertise but also expand your network of connections.”

 

Conclusion

This question isn’t a mere formality; it’s a window into a candidate’s mindset and commitment. It unveils genuine enthusiasm and potential workday habits. Candidates, remember, don’t just say you make an effort – provide concrete examples of exactly how you do it.