What does the record support?
A fictional pilot interview asks about a classroom workshop record.
The question
The candidate’s preparation sheet says they led 24 classroom workshop exercises. The attendance summary counts entries. The workshop owner can provide the register with the role for each entry.
- Preparation sheetLed 24 classroom workshop exercises.
- Attendance summary24 entries. The summary gives no role breakdown.
“What should you say about your contribution?”
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A strong answer, step by step
Open each step in turn. This is one strong answer, not the only one.
Step 1: Name the claim
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Separate the entry count from the claim about leading
The strong move. The summary gives a count only.
Use 24 as the led count
Tempting, but it misses something. The record gives no breakdown by role.
Drop all 24 entries from your explanation
Tempting, but it misses something. The total is useful once you label it correctly.
See how a strong candidate says it
“The summary shows 24 entries. I’d check the register before saying I led 24 exercises.”
Why it works: The same total can contain different roles.
Step 2: Ask for the register
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Ask for the record with the roles
The strong move. It can distinguish work led from work observed.
Ask for another copy of the attendance total
Tempting, but it misses something. That would still give no role breakdown.
Fill in a led count from memory
Tempting, but it misses something. The register is available and the claim can be checked.
See how a strong candidate says it
“I’d ask the workshop owner for the register. Until I have it, I’ll keep the personally led count open.”
Why it works: The register can support the role behind each entry.
Step 3: Correct the count
The workshop owner supplies the register. Of the 24 entries, 6 were observations. The other 18 record exercises the candidate led.
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Give the two categories and the total
The strong move. The register now supports the breakdown.
Keep saying you led 24 exercises
Tempting, but it misses something. Six entries record observation.
Report 18 total entries
Tempting, but it misses something. The six observations remain part of the total.
See how a strong candidate says it
“The register shows 18 led exercises and 6 observations. That accounts for all 24 entries.”
Why it works: The corrected counts preserve both types of participation.
Step 4: Explain the correction
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Name the old mistake, source and corrected counts
The strong move. The interviewer can follow the correction.
Say the source made the mistake
Tempting, but it misses something. The preparation sheet assigned the wrong category.
Give only the corrected number
Tempting, but it misses something. The reason for the discrepancy would still be unclear.
See how a strong candidate says it
“My preparation sheet treated all 24 entries as led exercises. I checked the workshop register. It shows 18 I led and 6 I observed.”
Why it works: This tells the interviewer what changed and which record supports it.
The answer, in short
- Decision
- Explain the correction with the workshop register.
- Because
- The register separates 18 led exercises and 6 observations.
- What would change it
- A corrected register could change the category counts.
Common traps
- Name the record.
- State the category as well as the count.
Check your answer
- I identified the claim.
- I asked for the role record.
- I separated the categories.
- I explained the original mistake.
Last reviewed Nov 11, 2026