How do I answer "What is quality?" on a job application?

Question

I have a job application here and one of the questions (Should be a paragraph or two answer) is What is quality?

Any ideas? Suggestions? Answers to this?


Thanks so much!

I think I should add that I am applying for a telemarketing job. I am guessing they are refering to the customer service. But .. I could be wrong.

Thank you for your help everyone! There are so many good answers.. it is out of my hands. I have no choice but to submit this to voting!

Answer 1

marked by a concentrated expenditure of involvement, concern, or commitment

an accomplishment or attainment

An achievement or excellence of ones service that was provided

a degree or grade of excellence or worth

Answer 2

Quality is subjective. Quality depends on an individual's own standard. For example you think that if there is a 100 marks in a test paper, you would say that is quality. For others, quality is more than 80 marks. Another example if you get a promotion, people would say you must be a person of quality. But on close observation, you are not a person of good character. Can you still be considered as a person of quality ? When we buy something, what is our expectations of the items we bought ? Do we expect the item to function for at least 5 years without breaking down ? Do we expect the item to work as good as new for the next 10 years ? Many items these days last for 5 years including new cars. Slowly things will start coming off. So can we say that these 5 years have been quality time ? Or may be the clients should know all about what they are buying; the good and the bad, to avoid giving a false expectation.

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

Quality has several definitions (according to Merriam-Webster) but for a job application the most relevant would probably be "a degree of excellence" and "superiority in kind". But quality can also mean the essential character of a person/object. i.e. you are a person of many fine qualities.

Bottom line: by asking questions like this the hiring manager/company is trying to hire someone "of quality" that will make his/her life easier because they care about doing a good job. They want to fill that slot with someone that will contribute to the department which in turn will relieve some of the burden on them. So find out specifics about the job they need and emphasize those qualities in yourself that would fill that need.

On your application and during the interview keep the answers short and to the point - they are also looking to see how well you can communicate. I would emphasize that quality means you will always strive to provide the best possible (excellent) service to the customers, that you will always look for ways to improve service. This will ensure the company provides a superior customer experience for their clients. Again, try to add in details that relate to the specific job you are applying for, i.e. for phone customer service: answering the phone before it rings more than twice, not leaving the customer on hold, etc.

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

The classic answer from quality training I received is, "Meeting requirements". Every task has a supplier and a customer, if you are the supplier then quality is meeting the requirements of your customer. This doesn't mean that you must agree with everything a customer says. It is your job as a supplier to make sure that you understand the customers' requirements and make sure that you set their expectations before you start the job. For instance, if the customer asked you to do a three hour job in five minutes, then quality would not be to say, "OK" to be agreeable and make them think it could be done, while hoping that an apology would make everything OK. You would discuss the need for the five minutes, what could be done in that time frame, and together come up with a solution. Once you've agreed to the requirements, then Quality is meeting them every single time.

Answer 6

I would say something really neutrel, but also something that will stand out. (As in a unique answer that won't offend anyone.)

I would say, since the job is telemarketing,

"Quality is a combination of determination and making the customer happy. It is hard work and good outcome. Quality is good service and good qualitites. Quality is honest people that get the job done. I think that quality is what I have to offer your company."

With this type of answer, it conveys to the big guys that you value "quality, and honesty, and integrity" but also that you are a businessperson and will sell. You are not above business, but you are not below quality service to customers.

Wow, quality is a weird word, isn't it? After typing it so many times? :D


Good luck, hope you get the job.

Answer 7

Quality is sometimes equal to having class. If you are a "quality" employee then you behave with class, stay calm in the midst of chaos. Show respect to everyone around you, keep any negative feelings to yourself. Being on time, work all shifts even if you don't really want to. Display loyalty to the company, don't be a know it all, just be there on time, every time, and do the job requested of you. Loud mouth, loud music, foul language, have no place at work, in any job. You wnat to impress the person on the phone, personally if I get someone who is chewing something, or talking to their neighbor instead of paying attention to me, the customer, I will hang up. If I called them I will call again and mention to the new person why I hung up previously.

If you are speaking of the 'quality' of your product then you must decide if the product you are sellling is really quality and if you can convince others that it is a quality product. In this case it means the product is well made, that price is not to high for the product.

Answer 8

Quality is defined as, quality - The totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs. Not to be mistaken for "degree of excellence" or "fitness for use" which meet only part of the definition.

also, Quality can refer to: ... quality, including SPC, Zero Defects, Six Sigma, Malcolm Baldrige National ... Kano and others)- A two-dimensional model of quality

I think you are best to refer to the first definition. However, since I do not know the title of the position you are applying for it is hard to outline for you exactly what the intention is.

But I am sure you should know the company and product very well and describe to the best of your knowledge what Quality means to this company, be it product manufactured or service delivered by them.

You will represent the company in some capacity, it is obvious that Quality is large part of their image, go with that and build a good couple of paragraphs about how to achieve this goal.
Stress your own commitment to Quality.
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Answer 9

lol
telemarketing (i been there)
quality use the dictionary definition, but remember ur in customer service, but with a twist.

customers percieve quality in service and in product, such as how well you talk to the customer or how well the product performs the task it was designed for.
employers percieve quality in manner and action as it applies to the work ur to be carrying out. how well you talk a customer into buying the product, and how much of the product you manage to sell.

"the customer is always right", applies to the way u handle the customers wants and needs, the reality is that the customer does not know what he/or she wants or needs, as a telemarketer it is ur job to "help " the customer "realise" that he/or she NEEDS ur product.

to succeed as a telemarketer you must quickly build a speel for ur product, have all relevant information on ur product at hand to answer any question a customer might have, identify and target the customers that will either want or need the product, and tailor the speel to them. if ur lucky you wont be cold calling.

put the products best foot forward
dont ask if they want it, tell them the points of sale
what it does(why they need it)
how safe and or easy to use
you love it
you have one

etc

(telemarketing isn't easy or neccassarily a good job, but its ur job, if u make it urs and strive for quality in ur work (as it applies to how ur employer sees ur job) then you cant help but succeed)

Answer 10

They arent interested in a dictionary definition and however you answer, make sure you answer in your own "voice", which means if you like any of these answers dont write it verbatim unless that is the way you talk. You may be asked during your interview to clarify something you wrote so be prepared.
Since it is telemarketing, then weed out the descriptions of "quality" that arent specific to the job.
You might begin your paragraph: "Quality, as it applies to a telemarketer, is the ability to establish such repore with a customer that both parties develop mutual respect, trust and interest with one another condusive to the telemarketer's sale of the product and doing so having gained the full confidence of the customer.
You might end your paragraph as: "While true that time is valuable and the telemarketer's goal should be to effectively manage time in order to reach as many customers as possible, the quantity of a telemarketer's calls should never exceed the quality of the telemarketer as representative of the company.
Good Luck.

Answer 11

No, it does not matter how long it has been since your conviction. Some jobs to background checks, others don't. While it does not always depend on the type of job you are applying for, the chances of them doing a background check will often be related to the job you are applying for (like if you will be handling money). I know a few people who have been convicted and did not say it on their application, and they all did not get a background check, but I CAN'T say that is a good idea! Granted, they may not check, but if they do you definitely will not be getting the job. Also, keep in mind that your offense may play a factor as well. Chances are that if you were convicted of a felony drug offense and not one of theft, you have a better chance of getting a job that requires you handle money. Of course, if you lie, you won't be arrested or anything, but if they decide to run a check your screwed.