Travel experiences give you the edge in job interviews

Interviewers can ask different types of questions ranging all the way from fact-checking your CV e.g. “What were your responsibilities in your last position?” to some that seem completely out of the box e.g. “If you were a TV show, what TV show would you be?” Whilst we can’t help you with those, you can harness your Be Kiwi travel experiences to answer behavioural and competency based questions like these:

• Tell me about a time when you faced a challenging situation and how did you resolve it?
• This role requires you to think on your feet, give me an example of your problem-solving skills.
• Tell me about a time when you felt out of your comfort zone and how did you handle it?
• How do you cope with ambiguity or uncertainty?
• Do you cope well with change?
• Tell me about a time you had to learn something new, how did you approach it?
• This role requires you to effectively communicate with different stakeholders, give me an example of when you have had to vary your communication style and approach with different people?
• Talk to me about a time when you showed flexibility and adaptability.
• We pride ourselves on creating and maintaining a welcoming, friendly and social environment, what can you bring to our team?

How your BeKiwi experiences demonstrate key skills

Spending time in a foreign country with people from a different cultural background gives you the opportunity to develop many different life skills that employers look for.

Were there cultural differences you needed to learn and adapt to? Well, that shows flexibility and adaptability. Were there cultural sensitivities you needed to be mindful of? Well, that shows open-mindedness and sensitivity. Did being a foreigner in another country, or trying to make friends in a new country, make you more understanding and patient towards others in the same situation? Those are exactly the kind of attributes that help employers feel confident that someone will fit into the company and team culture.

Spending time away from home, without your usual support network of friends and family, and without all of the familiar resources around you pushes you out of your comfort zone. It builds independence, resilience, and resourcefulness.

Did experiencing a new culture, discussing your ideas and experiences with others change your opinions or change how you see the world? We hope so, that’s one of the best things about travelling, and it also demonstrates observation and critical thinking to potential employers.