Emphasis on efficiency, motivation, ergonomics, or mental processing

List two jobs you have held in the past.
How were you recruited for each of these jobs?
Consider a job you hold now or have held recently. Discuss one of the following questions:
How would you want this job to be redesigned to place more emphasis on efficiency, motivation, ergonomics, or mental processing?
Why would you not want the job to be redesigned?

Full Answer Section

    Job 2: Customer Service Representative
  • Recruitment Method: This role could be advertised online through job boards or the company's careers page. You might also find opportunities through networking or attending job fairs.
  • Application Process: You would likely submit a resume and cover letter emphasizing your communication skills, ability to problem-solve, and experience in providing excellent customer service. The interview process might involve a phone screening, followed by one or more in-person interviews with customer service representatives or managers.
Job Redesign: User Experience (UX) Researcher Let's consider a UX Researcher role and how it could be redesigned: Emphasis on Efficiency:
  • Current Workflow: A UX researcher might spend a significant amount of time scheduling and conducting user interviews, manually transcribing the interviews, and then analyzing the data.
  • Redesign for Efficiency: The job could be redesigned to utilize online scheduling tools and automated transcription services to free up time for analysis and reporting.
Benefits of Redesign: This redesign would allow the UX researcher to focus on the core aspects of the job – understanding user needs and translating them into actionable insights for product development. Why Not Redesign? While there are benefits to increased efficiency, some aspects of the job might be negatively impacted by an over-reliance on automation.
  • Human Touch: The ability to build rapport with users during interviews and to pick up on subtle cues can be crucial for gathering rich data.
  • Critical Thinking: While automated tools can aid in data analysis, the ability to critically evaluate the findings and identify key themes is still essential.
Therefore, a well-designed job might find a balance between automation for repetitive tasks and human expertise for areas requiring critical thinking and social interaction.    

Sample Answer

     

Job 1: Retail Sales Associate

  • Recruitment Method: You might see a job posting for a retail sales associate on the store's website, on a general job board, or even advertised in the window of the store itself.
  • Application Process: You would likely submit a resume and cover letter highlighting your customer service skills, experience with similar products, and any sales experience you might have. You might then be called in for an interview with the store manager or another supervisor.