"Tell me of a time you were able to successfully negotiate with someone".

[IntrepidL]

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this interview question. What would be the best way to go about showing the steps and actions you implemented in the negotiation process?

 

[Jacob Miller]

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this interview question. What would be the best way to go about showing the steps and actions you implemented in the negotiation process?

Hi,

In terms of breaking down the steps/ process, etc, it depends a lot on the scenario. For example, if you're negotiating with a younger sibling to use the shower first, that negotiation will look a lot different to the sort of negotiation you would have if you were negotiating a tenancy issue with a landlord or a pay rise with an employer.

To that end, think through the example you're wanting to focus on first and then think through the steps you took to solve the issue and negotiate.

Personally, the points I would be trying to hit in this answer (in no particular order) are:
- research: both your side of the case and the counterparty's. Find both sets of strengths and weaknesses.
- communication: you communicated with the other party to arrange the negotiation
- planning: you put together a solid implementation plan for your negotiation strategy, you knew what points you wanted to make/ what you were prepared to concede/ etc
- listening: you actually took the time to listen to and understand the counterparty's position and points. This was both to strengthen your own case and to hear more from their perspective rather than just your assumptions about what they intended

I recently posted a guide to assessed negotiations in the Interviews Discussion forum. While the emphasis of this question is a little different, some of the info therein may still be helpful to you.