Give an example of a time you learned a new skill or process by shadowing a senior colleague. How did you make the most of that opportunity?

Situation

During a college organization fund-raising project, I was assigned to assist our treasurer, who had years of experience in financial tracking.

Task

I needed to quickly learn how to record and categorize expenses using the org's spreadsheet template so I could eventually take over some reconciliation tasks.

Action

I sat with her during two sessions, taking detailed notes on the formulas she used and the approval process for each expense type. I asked clarifying questions whenever I was unsure, and I volunteered to input data for a small sub-event under her supervision. After she reviewed my work, I practiced on sample data until I felt confident.

Result

By the event's end, I was able to handle expense tracking for one booth independently, and the overall financial report was accurate and submitted on time.