Behavior-Based Interview Questions Guide

With over 70 categories of competencies and characteristics

Behavioral Based Interviewing focuses on experiences, behaviors, knowledge, skills and abilities that are job related. It
is based on the belief that past behavior and performance predicts future behavior and performance.
Behavioral interviewing revolves around questions designed to solicit examples of when/how a candidate demonstrated
the skill you are looking for, instead of traditional questions such as Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses,
which are easily rehearsed by candidates..

For example:
To determine project management skills, you could say, "Describe two situations where you faced tight project
deadlines, what the situation was and how you approached it."
For communications skills, say, "Describe a situation where you had an important recommendation to sell to
senior management. What was the recommendation? Who did you have to sell it to? What were the obstacles
and how did you overcome them?"
For supervisory skills, say, "Part of management is dealing with problem employees. Describe a problem you had
with an employee, what you did about the problem and what resulted?" About stress management, you could
ask, "What was one of the most stressful job situations you had to deal with? Describe the situation and how
you dealt with it."
To assess the candidate's flexibility and adaptability, ask, "Describe a situation you faced on your last job when
your boss suddenly changed your work priorities. What did you do to adapt to this change?"

Competencies and Characteristics

Adaptability
Ambition
Analysis
Analytical Thinking
Business Management
Building Relationships
Business Systems Thinking
Caution
Coaching & Developing Others
Commitment
Communication
Communication -Written
Composure
Courage
Creativity
Customer Focus
Dealing with Ambiguity
Decision Making
Delegation
Detail-Oriented
Developing Partnerships
Evaluating Alternatives
Flexibility
Follow-up and Control
Formal Presentations
Influencing
Initiative
Innovation
Integrity
Interpersonal Skills
Introducing Change
Leadership
Learning
Listening
Managing Change
Motivating Others

Motivation
Negotiating
Organizational
People Management
Performance Management
Personal Effectiveness
Persuasion
Planning & Organizing
Problem Solving
Problem Resolution
Project Management
Relate Well
Removing Obstacles
Resolving Conflict
Resource Management
Resourcefulness
Results Orientation
Sales / Sales Ability
Scheduling
Self Assessment
Selecting and Developing People
Setting Goals
Setting Performance Standards
Setting Priorities
Sound Judgment
Staffing
Strategic Planning
Stress Management
Supporting Diversity
Teamwork & Collaboration
Time & Priority Management
Toughness
Variety
Values Diversity
Work Standards

Adaptability
1.

Tell me about a time when you got frustrated or irritated because something kept changing on you.

2.

Describe an environment/situation where you had to adapt to changes. How did you handle it? What was
the most difficult/enjoyable part?

3.

Describe a situation in which you had to remain flexible and open-minded in order to succeed at something.

4.

Describe a situation in which you had a challenge adapting to a new duty, responsibility, person, or process.

5.

Describe a situation in which you had a challenge adapting to a new duty, responsibility, person, or process.

6.

Can you tell me about a situation in which you had to change your initial approach to a project or
assignment in order to achieve your goal?

7.

Tell me about some situations in your job at ____when you had to abruptly change what you were doing?
What did you do? How did it affect you?

8.

Tell me about a time when you had to take on a new assignment when you were heavily involved with
another? What happened?

9.

Tell me about a time when you had to meet scheduled deadlines and your work was being continually
disrupted? What caused you the most difficulty, and why? How did you handle it?

10.

Tell me about a situation in which you had to adjust quickly to changes in organizational or departmental
priorities. How did the changes affect you?

11.

Describe a major change that occurred in a job that you held. How did you adapt to this change?
Tell us about a situation in which you had to adjust to changes over which you had no control. How did you
handle it?

12.

Tell us about a time that you had to adapt to a difficult situation.

13.

What do you do when priorities change quickly? Give one example of when this happened.

Ambition
14.

Describe a project or idea that was implemented primarily because of your efforts. What was your role?
What was the outcome?

15.

Describe a time when you made a suggestion to improve the work in your organization.

16.

Give an example of an important goal that you set in the past. Tell about your success in reaching it.

17.

Give two examples of things you've done in previous jobs t hat demonstrate your willingness to work hard.

18.

How many hours a day do you put into your work? What were your study patterns at school?

19.

Tell us about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.

20.

Tell us about a time when a job had to be completed and you were able to focus your attention and efforts
to get it done.

21.

Tell us about a time when you were particularly effective on prioritizing tasks and completing a project on
schedule.

22.

Tell us about the last time that you undertook a project that demanded a lot of initiative.
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23.

Tell us how you keep your job knowledge current with the on going changes in the industry.

24.

There are times when we work without close supervision or support to get the job done. Tell us about a
time when you found yourself in such a situation and how things turned out.

25.

What impact did you have in your last job?

26.

What is the most competitive work situation you have experienced? How did you handle it? What was the
result?

27.

What is the riskiest decision you have made? What was the situation? What happened?

28.

What kinds of challenges did you face on your last job? Give an example of how you handled them.

29.

What projects have you started on your own recently? What prompted you to get started?

30.

What sorts of things have you done to become better qualified for your career?

31.

What was the best idea that you came up with in your career? How did you apply it?

32.

When you disagree with your manager, what do you do? Give an example.

33.

When you have a lot of work to do, how do you get it all done? Give an example?

Analytical Thinking
34.

Describe the project or situation which best demonstrates your analytical abilities. What was your role?

35.

Developing and using a detailed procedure is often very important in a job. Tell about a time when you
needed to develop and use a detailed procedure to successfully complete a project.

36.

Give a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and login in solving a problem.

37.

Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.

38.

Give me an example of when you took a risk to achieve a goal. What was the outcome?

39.

How did you go about making the changes (step by step)? Answer in depth or detail such as "What were
you thinking at that point?" or "Tell me more about meeting with that person", or "Lead me through your
decision process".

40.

Relate a specific instance when you found it necessary to be precise in your in order to complete the job.

41.

Tell us about a job or setting where great precision to detail was required to complete a task. How did you
handle that situation?

42.

Tell us about a time when you had to analyze information and make a recommendation. What kind of
thought process did you go through? What was your reasoning behind your decision?

43.

Tell us about your experience in past jobs that required you to be especially alert to details while doing the
task involved.

Analysis
44.

Tell me about a time that you had to review several proposals and make a recommendation. What factors
did you consider in your analysis?

45.

Tell me about a time when you had to analyze detailed numeric or financial information. What were you
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looking for and what did your analysis reveal?

46.

Describe a complicated problem that you have had to solve at work. What did you identify as potential
causes and solutions?

47.

What types of information have you had to analyze in the past? Describe some specific projects.

48.

Tell me about a project you have worked on that required detailed research and analysis of information
before proceeding.

49.

Give me an example of how you have looked past the obvious when solving a problem and probed for more
detail to uncover the true cause.

50.

Describe a situation where you had to integrate information from many sources in order to make a
decision. How did you approach the situation and what decision did you make?

Building Relationships
51.

Give a specific example of a time when you had to address an angry customer. What was the problem and
what was the outcome? How would you assess your role in diffusing the situation?

52.

It is very important to build good relationships at work but sometimes it doesn't always work. If you can,
tell about a time when you were not able to build a successful relationship with a difficult person.

53.

Tell us about a time when you built rapport quickly with someone under difficult conditions.

54.

What, in your opinion, are the key ingredients in guiding and maintaining successful business relationships?
Give examples of how you made these work for you.

Business Management
55.

What was the biggest risk you had to take while at your current/last company? Why was it risky? Why did
you take it? What was the outcome?

56.

How much involvement have you had in financial decisions? Specifically, what was your role? What kinds of
data did you use in making decisions?

57.

How did you control your department's budget? What action did you take when expenses exceeded it?
Give an example.

58.

Describe a situation in which you had to translate a manager's general directive into specific goals. Explain
how you did this and the goals you established.

59.

What system have you used for keeping track of the progress team members are making on a project? How
effective has it been?

60.

Select a recent project that you helped manage and describe the resources you had to allocate (time,
money, people, equipment, etc.)

61.

What are the most significant changes you have brought about in your organization?

62.

When your job has been affected by situations beyond your control in other parts of the organization, what
have you done about it? Give an example.

63.

Describe a situation that required knowledge of the organization in order to be handled successfully.
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64.

Describe an accomplishment that illustrates your ability to apply technological advances to the financial
services industry.

65.

Describe a recent meeting in which you helped solve a business problem. What was the problem and what
did you do?

66.

What were the most important business issues you have addressed in the last year? Tell me what you did
about them. What was the result?

67.

Describe your role in the credit process. How did you ensure that your employees were adhering to the
credit guidelines?

68.

How have you assessed the credit worthiness of a customer? What factors did you consider? Give me an
example.

69.

How have you kept up-to-date on key competitors? What have you done in response?

70.

Tell me about a situation where you had to decline a customer loan request. What did you do? What
happened?

71.

What have you done in response to market changes? Tell me about a specific situation.

72.

Based on your professional/technical expertise, what have you seen as opportunities for improvement in
your organization? What have you done (if anything) about these opportunities?

73.

Describe a time when you identified a problem with a work process or task. How did you involve others in
solving the problem? What was the result?

Business Systems Thinking

74.

Describe how your position contributes to your organization's/unit's goals. What is the unit's
goals/mission?

75.

Tell us about a politically complex work situation in which you worked.

Caution
76.

Have you ever worked in a situation where the rules and guidelines were not clear? Tell me about it. How
did you feel about it? How did you react?

77.

Some people consider themselves to be "big picture people" and others are "detail oriented". Which are
you? Give an example of a time when you displayed this.

78.

Tell us me about a situation when it was important for you to pay attention to details. How did you handle
it?

79.

Tell us me about a time when you demonstrated too much initiative.

Coaching & Developing Others

80.

How often have you had development discussions with your employees? Walk me through a conversation
you have had recently.
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81.

What development opportunities or assignments have you provided for your staff members? Give me some
specific examples.

82.

How have you identified development needs for your employees? Give me a specific example.

83.

What training have you personally provided to your staff?

84.

Describe for me how you have worked with an employee to improve his or her job performance.

85.

Tell me about a particularly challenging employee you have worked with. What was challenging and what
approach did you take in working with the person?

86.

Give me an example of how you have assisted an employee in advancing their career or developing new
skills.

87.

What creative/innovative ways have you found to reward excellent performance or results?

88.

Tell me about a time when you had to coach someone around a sensitive topic. How did you address the
situation? How did it work out?

89.

Tell me about someone who has moved up or on from your area and how you encouraged or supported
their development.

90.

Describe a recent coaching session you have had with an employee. Walk me through the process you
used.

91.

It is sometimes difficult to find the time to coach and develop your staff. Tell me about a situation in which
you wish you had taken the time when you hadn't?

92.

How have you found ways to leverage the strengths of you people? Give me one or two specific examples.

Commitment
93.

Tell me about a situation when you would have received a better grade on an assignment if you had put in
more effort.

94.

Tell me about a school project that took a significant effort to complete. What did you do to complete it?

95.

Describe a time when you were particularly committed to a project or task. What was it and why were you
so committed?

96.

Give me an example of when you worked the hardest and felt the greatest sense of achievement.

97.

Tell me about the best example of a recent project on which you achieved a level of quality above and
beyond normal expectations. In what ways did you put out extra effort to achieve that level?

98.

Tell me about a time when you might have gotten better results on a task or goal if you had put in more
effort.

99.

Give me an example of a project or task that needed extra time and effort to complete.

100. What are the standards of success in your current/last job? What have you done to meet those standards?
Give a recent example.
101. Tell me about a time that you persisted with a project long after others would have quit.
102. Tell me about the last time that you did something because it needed to be done, even though it was not
your responsibility.
103. Tell me about the most sustained long-term effort you've put into completing a task.
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104. Tell me about a time when you decided the effort needed to complete a project was too great and you
chose to abandon it.

Communication
105. Describe some tough or tricky situations in which you had to talk to people to obtain information you
needed to make an important decision or recommendation.
106. At one time or another, we have all had problems getting our point across when talking on the telephone.
Give me an example when this happened to you.
107. Tell me about a situation in which you had to present complex information to someone. How did you
ensure that the person understood what you were saying?
108. How have you kept employees informed of what is going on in the organization? What is the worst
communication problem you have experienced?
109. Tell me about a time that you misunderstood directions. What action did you take?
110. What different approaches have you used in talking with different people? How did you know you were
getting your point across? Provide a specific example.
111. What was the vision for your current/last company/department? How did you communicate that vision to
you team?
112. Sometimes leaders have to deliver unpopular messages. Tell me about a time when you had to do this and
how you handled it. How was the message received?
113. Give me an example of how you have modified you style or approach in order to work or communicate
more effectively with someone.
114. How often do you meet with your employees as a group? How do you prepare for these meetings? What is
your role? Give an example.
115. Tell me about a situation in which you had to present complex information to a client. How did you ensure
that the client understood what you were saying?
116. Tell me about a situation where you encouraged a subordinate/peer to express a viewpoint that differed
from yours. How did you do it? What was the result?
117. Describe a situation in which you were able to effectively "read" another person and guide your actions by
your understanding of their individual needs or values.
118. Describe a situation when you were able to strengthen a relationship by communicating effectively. What
made your communication effective?
119. Describe a situation where you felt you had not communicated well. How did you correct the situation?
120. Describe a time when you were able to effectively communicate a difficult or unpleasant idea to a superior.
121. Describe the most significant written document, report or presentation which you had to complete.
122. Give me an example of a time when you were able to successfully communicate with another person, even
when that individual may not have personally liked you , or vice versa.
123. Give me an example of a time when you were able to successfully communicate with another person, even
when that individual may not have personally liked you.
124. Have you ever had to "sell" an idea to your co-workers or group? How did you do it? Did they "buy" it?
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125. Have you had to "sell" an idea to your co-workers, classmates or group? How did you do it? Did they "buy"
it?
126. How do you keep subordinates informed about information that affects their jobs?
127. How do you keep your manager informed about what is being done in your work area?
128. How do you go about explaining a complex technical problem to a person who does not understand
technical jargon? What approach do you take in communicating with people?
129. What kinds of communication situations cause you difficulty? Give an example.
130. Tell us about a recent successful experience in making a speech or presentation. How did you prepare?
What obstacles did you face? How did you handle them?
131. Tell us about a time when you and your current/previous supervisor disagreed but you still found a way to
get your point across.
132. Tell us about a time when you had to present complex information. How did you ensure that the other
person understood?
133. Tell us about a time when you had to use your verbal communication skills in order to get a point across
that was important to you.
134. Tell us about a time when you were particularly effective in a talk you gave or a seminar you taught.
135. Tell us about an experience in which you had to speak up in order to be sure that other people knew what
you thought or felt.
136. Tell us me about a situation when you had to speak up (be assertive) in order to get a point across that was
important to you.
137. Tell us me about a time in which you had to use your written communication skills in order to get an
important point across.
138. What challenges have occurred while you were coordinating work with other units, departments, and/or
divisions?
139. What have you done to improve your verbal communication skills?
140. How have you persuaded people through a document you prepared?
141. What are the most challenging documents you have done? What kinds of proposals have your written?
142. What kinds of writing have you done? How do you prepare written communications?

Communication Written
143. Give me a specific example of how you have adapted your writing style for different audiences.
144. What types of writing projects have you done? Provide examples. What feedback have you received on
them?
145. What was you most challenging writing assignment and why was it challenging? How did you do on it?
146. What has been your worst experience in sending out a formal letter or written communication?
147. What was one of the most difficult writing assignments you have been given or have taken on yourself?
Explain. What feedback did you receive?
148. Have you ever written sales proposals for customers? Tell me about the best one you ever wrote. Why was
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it the best? How did you know?

149. What types of forms do you regularly complete on the job? Tell me about a difficult or important form that
you have completed.
150. What type of formal correspondence have you authored? Tell me about one you are proud of.
151. We have all had the experience of sending out a memo that required specific action and then found out
people didn't get the message we intended. Can you share an experience like that that happened to you?
152. What technical writing have you done? Describe a project in detail for me.
153. What types of papers did you have to write for school? Provide some specific examples.

Composure
154. Describe a highly stressful work situation you have been in and how you handled it.
155. What things or situations seem have caused you the greatest amount of stress? Why? Describe a time
when your workload was particularly heavy. How did you respond?
156. Describe a particularly demanding or rush situation (changed deadline, emergency, etc.). How did you
react?
157. Tell me about a situation where another individual lost his or her temper with you without reason. How did
you handle it? How would you describe that relationship today?
158. What was the highest-pressure situation you have been under in recent months? How did you
manage/cope with it?
159. Have you been asked a question you couldn't answer or been confronted in public? How did you respond?
160. Tell me about some situations in which you became frustrated or impatient when dealing with customers,
subordinates, a boss, or co-workers. What did you do?
161. Tell me about a situation when a client has become angry with you. What happened? How did you handle
it?
162. Describe a time when you were totally frustrated with an employee. What happened?
163. Tell me about a time when you had to present a challenging or difficult message to your staff. How did you
do it and how did it turn out?
164. Tell me about a time when you were under extreme pressure or stress to study for exams or complete
projects. How did you react?
165. Tell me about at time when you felt that you were treated unfairly or unethically. What did you do?
166. Tell me about a crisis that you have been involved in at work. What happened and what was your role in
working through it?
167. Describe a time where you were able to maintain professionalism when others might not have been.
168. Sometimes it is hard to keep our cool when things get crazy at work. Tell me about a time when you had
trouble maintaining your composure. What was the situation and what happened?
169. What are the most chaotic working conditions you have been in? How did you react? What did you do?
How did you feel about it?
170. Give me some examples of when one of your ideas was strongly opposed in a discussion. How did you
react?
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171. Tell me about a time when you were way outside your comfort zone in doing something (going somewhere,
giving a presentation, etc.). How did you react and what happened?

Courage
172. Tell me about the most challenging or difficult conversation that you have had to have with someone. What
was challenging and how did it turn out?
173. Tell me about a situation in which you had to deal with a controversial topic at work. Describe the biggest
professional risk you have taken. How did it turn out?
174. Tell me about the last time that you took a stand on an issue that others disagreed with. What were the
merits in the other person's viewpoints?
175. Tell me about a decision that you have made that you knew might receive negative reactions. What
happened?
176. Tell me about a challenge or problem you confronted head on, and one where you waited to see if the
situation would change without intervention. What happened in each case and how had you decided on
your approach?
177. Tell me about a time when you had to share difficult news with your boss or someone else higher up in the
organization.
178. No matter how hard we try, we all occasionally make mistakes. Tell me about a mistake that you have
made and what you did when you realized it was a mistake.
179. Tell me about a time when you took a stand for something you believed in even if it was an unpopular
position. What happened?
180. Describe a risk you have taken that worked out well and one that didn't work out so well. Have you had to
fire an employee? Describe the circumstances around the situation.
181. Tell me about a work-related situation you have been in that took a lot of courage to work through. Be
specific.
182. Tell me about something you have done that stood out or was contrary to what everyone else was doing.

Creativity
183. Unfortunately, not all our new ideas are good ones. Tell me about a time when you thought you had a good
idea and it didn't turn out to be so good.
184. Describe for me how you have come up with a new or innovative way to solve a business problem. What
was the idea and what happened with it?
185. What is one of the most imaginative or innovative things you have done in your present position?
186. Give me an example of a time when your frustration with a product or process led to making positive
changes.
187. Relate an approach that you have used that is different from your normal approach to solve a problem.
How did you come up with the approach? What other options did you consider?
188. Tell me about ways that you have improved the efficiency or effectiveness of your work unit. What
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creative/innovative ways have you found to reward excellent performance or results?

189. In what ways have you helped your team to become more creative or innovative? Give me some specific
examples.

Customer Focus
190. Describe a situation where you put in extra effort to build a relationship with an internal or external
customer.
191. Cross-departmental cooperation can be a challenge. Tell me about a time when you faced this challenge
with an internal customer and what you did about it.
192. Share with me some of the things that you have done in the past to gain someone's trust. How did it work
out?
193. What experience have you had in serving others? Tell me about a time when you did it well and another
time when it didn't go so well.
194. Tell me about a positive experience you have had in being served by someone - at a store or restaurant.
What made it positive? Tell me about a poor service experience you have had and what made it bad.
195. Have you gone above and beyond to please a customer? What was the situation and what did you do?
196. Describe a time when one of your employees was not providing the best possible service. What did you do?
197. What have you done to model good service to your employees? Provide a specific example of when you
have done this.
198. What have you done to ensure your employees provide top quality service? Give me some specific
examples.
199. Tell me about a specific time when you turned a dissatisfied customer into a satisfied one.
200. No matter how hard we try, we sometimes make a mistake, which, if left unresolved can lead to a
dissatisfied customer. Tell me about a time when this happened to you.
201. Tell me about a time when you referred clients to other services that they may not have been aware of.
How did you become aware of these services?
202. Tell me about a difficult customer (internal or external) that you had to deal with. Why was he/she difficult?
What did you do?
203. Has a client ever asked a question about a product or service that you couldn't answer? What did you do?
204. Tell me about a situation when you handled a customer complaint. How did you respond? What steps did
you take to improve their satisfaction level?
205. Tell me about a time when you handled a customer complaint effectively, and a time when had a complaint
that you might have handled more effectively. What were the differences?
206. How do you handle problems with customers? Give an example.
How do you go about establishing rapport with a customer? What have you done to gain their confidence?
Give an example.
207. What have you done to improve relations with your customers?

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Dealing with Ambiguity

208. How have you helped your employees deal with change or ambiguity? Give me a specific example.
209. Tell me about a time when you had to act quickly on something and didn't have time to gather as much
information as you wanted before making a decision.
210. Describe a time when your goals or objectives were not clearly laid out for you. What did you do? Tell me
about a time when your job changed significantly and what you did to work through it.
211. Tell me about a time when you were put in a new or different situation and didn't know quite what to do.
212. Tell me about a time when you had to move forward on a project without having all the details you would
have liked. How did you feel about it and how did the project work out?

Decision Making
213. Tell me about a decision that you made where you involved others and one where you didn't. What
determined your course of action in each situation?
214. Tell me about the toughest decision you have had to make. Why was it tough and how did you decide what
to do.
215. Give me an example of a good decision you made recently. What alternatives did you consider? Why was it
a good decision?
216. We all have made decisions that later turned out to be mistakes. Describe some work decisions you have
made that you wish you could rethink. Explain.
217. Describe some tough or tricky situations in which you had to talk to people to obtain information you
needed to make an important decision or recommendation.
218. Sometimes we make decisions based on facts and logic and sometimes with our instinct or intuition. Tell
me about a decision you made each way and why you made it that way. Results?
219. Tell me about a decision you had to make quickly, without much time to research it. What happened?
220. What was a challenging business decision you have recently faced? How did you decide what to do? What
was the result?
221. How did you decide where to attend school? What factors did you consider when making your decision?
222. On what decisions have you consulted with your staff and on what decisions have you not? Provide
examples of each.
223. How have you decided what information to share with your team and what not to? Tell me about a time
that you feel you made the right decision about what to share and a time you didn't.
224. When making decisions, how much consideration have you given the needs/feelings/opinions of team
members? Give examples.
225. Describe a decision you had to make that required gathering a lot of data or information. Walk me through
the steps you took and the decision you made.
226. Discuss an important decision you have made regarding a task or project at work. What factors influenced
your decision?
227. Everyone has made some poor decisions or has done something that just did not turn out right. Has this
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happened to you? What happened?

228. Give an example of a time in which you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision.
229. Give an example of a time in which you had to keep from speaking or not finish a task because you did not
have enough information to come to a good decision. Give an example of a time when there was a decision
to be made and procedures were not in place?
230. Give an example of a time when you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision.
231. Give me an example of a time when you had to keep from speaking or making a decision because you did
not have enough information.
232. How did you go about deciding what strategy to employ when dealing with a difficult customer?
233. How do you go about developing I information to make a decision? Give an example.
234. How do you involve your manager and/or others when you make a decision?
235. How have you gone about making important decisions?
236. How quickly do you make decisions? Give an example.
237. In a current job task, what steps do you go through to ensure your decisions are correct/effective?
238. Tell us about a time when you had to defend a decision you made even though other important people
were opposed to your decision.
239. What kind of decisions do you make rapidly? What kind takes more time? Give examples.
240. What kinds of problems have you had coordinating technical projects? How did you solve t hem?
241. What was your most difficult decision in the last 6 months? What made it difficult?
242. When you have to make a highly technical decision, how do you go about doing it?

Delegation
243. Sometimes when we delegate, things don't get done quite the way we would have done them. Tell me
about a time when this happened and how you handled it.
244. How have you decided what to delegate and to whom to delegate it? How have you assessed results? Give
me some specific examples.
245. Describe how you have empowered your staff. Be specific.
246. How have you made sure that due dates and work standards are met for work that you delegate? Give
some examples.
247. When assigning work to employees, how have you determined the amount of instruction to provide? Give
me a specific example when it worked well and when it didn't.
248. How have you monitored your employees' progress on projects or tasks you delegate? Give some specific
examples.
249. Most of us have had the experience of assigning work to another person, and they didn't do what was
intended. Can you tell me about a time when this happened? Why did it happen? What did you do about it?
250. Tell me about a time when you delegated too much responsibility or authority to an employee who wasn't
ready for it.
251. Sometimes managers have difficulty giving up control or authority when passing out duties or projects to
14

their team. How have you dealt with this?

252. Tell me about a recent task you delegated. What steps or process did you follow? How did it go?
253. Tell me about a time you delegated successfully - how did you do it? Tell me about a time when your
delegation was not so successful - what was done differently that time?
254. Do you consider yourself a macro or micro manager? How do you delegate?
255. How do you make the decision to delegate work?
256. Tell us how you go about delegating work?
257. What was the biggest mistake you have had when delegating work? The biggest success?

Detail-Oriented
258. Describe a situation where you had the option to leave the details to others or you could take care of them
yourself.
259. Do prefer to work with the "big picture" or the "details" of a situation? Give me an example of an
experience that illustrates your preference.
260. Have the jobs you held in the past required little attention, moderate attention, or a great deal of attention
to detail? Give me an example of a situation that illustrates this requirement.
261. Tell us about a difficult experience you had in working with details.
262. Tell us about a situation where attention to detail was either important or unimportant in accomplishing an
assigned task.

Developing Partnerships
263. Tell me about an uncooperative person that you have had to work with. What did you do?
264. Describe a situation where there was a conflict between you and a group you had to work with. What steps
did you take to resolve it?
265. Tell me about a group project you worked on at school that went well and one that didn't. What were some
of the differences. What did you do in each case?
266. Describe a time when you were working in a team and integrating others' work was important. What was
your role? What were the best and worst outcomes of the experience?
267. When working with clients, how have balanced their requests with risk to the organization? Walk me
through a specific example.
268. Tell me about a time when looking back, you wished you would have tried harder to improve a work
relationship.
269. Occasionally, other people's work priorities conflict with our own. Tell me about a time when you faced this
situation and how you handled it.
270. Tell me how you have sought input and feedback on how things were going from a group that you have
worked with.
271. Tell me about a time when you collaborated with other employees or departments to reach mutual goals.
15

272. It is not always easy to work with other employees or departments to get things done. Tell me about a
difficult partnership you have had at work and how you handled it.
273. Tell me the steps you have taken to build partnerships with other departments that you have worked with.
274. We don't always work with people we'd consider ethical or honest. Tell me about a time when another
employee did something that you thought was inappropriate? What did you do?
275. How important is it in your current position to interact with other departments? How have you gone about
developing and maintaining relationships in those areas? Provide specific examples.
276. Tell me about some of the steps that you have taken to establish long-term, collaborative relationships with
groups or individuals.
277. How have you encouraged your staff to develop partnerships with other groups they work with? Give me
some specific examples.
278. Sometimes it is difficult to understand each person's responsibility in a work partnership. Tell me how you
have worked with a partner to clarify what each party would do.

Evaluating Alternatives
279. Have you ever had a situation where you had a number of alternatives to choose from? How did you go
about choosing one?
280. How did you assemble the information?
281. How did you review the information? What process did you follow to reach a conclusion?
282. What alternatives did you develop?
283. What are some of the major decisions you have made over the past (6, 12, 18) months?
284. What kinds of decisions are most difficult for you? Describe one?
285. Who made the decision?

Flexibility
286. Have you ever had a subordinate whose performance was consistently marginal? What did you do?
287. How have you adjusted your style when it was not meeting the objectives and/or people were not
responding correctly?
288. What do you do when you are faced with an obstacle to an important project? Give an example.
289. When you have difficulty persuading someone to your point of view, what do you do? Give an example.

Follow-up and Control

290. How did you keep track of delegated assignments?
291. How do you evaluate the productivity/effectiveness of your subordinates?
292. How do you get data for performance reviews?
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293. How do you keep track of what your subordinates are doing?
294. What administrative paperwork do you have? Is it useful? Why/why not?

Formal Presentations
295. Tell me about a time when something unexpected happened just before or during a presentation you were
making. What happened and how did you react to the situation?
296. How have you handled a person who wasn't participating or dominated the discussion while you were
leading a meeting? What was the situation and what did you do?
297. Think of a meeting that you have led recently and walk me through the steps you took to ensure that you
were adequately prepared.
298. Tell me about a presentation that you didn't feel you had enough time to prepare for. How did it go?
299. Describe some of the techniques you have used to engage an audience in your topic and when you have
used them.
300. What have you done before a presentation to understand your audience? Give me a few specific examples.
301. What type of training have you done? How did you know if people were learning what you hoped they
would?
302. Tell me about a recent presentation you have made. Walk me through how you prepared and what you did
during the presentation.
303. What is the highest level of audience you've had to speak to? How did you feel about it and what feedback
did you receive?
304. Tell me about a presentation that you wish you could do over. What happened and why do you think it
didn't go so well?
305. Tell me about your most challenging presentation. What made it difficult and how did it turn out? Tell me
about a presentation you are especially proud of and why.
306. What type of formal presentations or training have you done? Give me a few specific examples.
307. Describe a training or presentation situation where you had a difficult person in the group. What was the
person doing? How did you handle the situation and what happened?

Influencing
308. Tell me how you have had a positive influence on a staff member. What specifically did you do?
309. Describe a situation when you had to convince your peers/co-workers/manager of your opinion. Tell me
what you said to convince them.
310. Tell me about a time that you were able to use your personal influence to get something you wanted.
311. Tell me about a specific experience of yours that illustrates your ability to influence another person
verbally. Feel free to use an example that changed an attitude or sold a product or service.
312. Tell me about an idea or change you wanted at work and how you went about gaining support for
implementing it.
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313. Describe a situation in which you have led or influenced others towards achieving a goal. What was the
situation and how did you do it?
314. Tell me about a staff member that you tried to influence and were not able to.
315. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we need others to do things for us and we do not have
any authority over them. Tell me about a time when you had to use influence in a situation like that to
accomplish your goal
316. Give me some examples of ideas you've presented that required your team's "buy in". How did you modify
your behavior to influence team members' opinions?
317. Tell me about a team member from whom it was tough to gain cooperation. How did you handle this
sensitive situation?
318. Tell me about a time that you used facts and reason to persuade another person to take action. Be specific.
319. Describe how you have influenced your peers to get your way when making a group decision?
320. Give me an example of an idea you tried to present to your team members, but were unable to gain
acceptance. What was your approach?

Initiative
321. Tell me what things you have done to learn about your job or company.
322. Tell me about the last time that you did something because it needed to be done, even though it was not
your responsibility.
323. Tell me about a time when you volunteered to help out with a project at school or in the community. What
was it and why did you volunteer?
324. Describe a time when you identified a problem and took action to correct it.
325. Tell me about any ideas or suggestions for improvement in your department that you have made to your
supervisor.
326. Sometimes we see something and know we should act on it, but don't. Describe a time like this and why
you decided not to act.
327. Tell me about a time when you did more than was required by your job?
328. Tell me about a time when you volunteered to help out a coworker or take on a new responsibility without
being asked.
329. Tell me about a time when you did more for a school project than was expected? Why did you put in the
extra effort and what feedback did you receive?
330. Describe some examples of work that you have done independently or with little direction.
331. Tell me about a situation or problem that you discovered before others and what you did about it.
332. Tell me about a situation in which you perceived or generated an opportunity to further increase your
customer base or a customer relationship.
333. Tell me about a project you generated on your own. What prompted you to do it? Describe a situation
where you showed initiative. What was the outcome?
334. Give me an example of when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.
335. Give me examples of projects/tasks you started on your own.
18

336. Give some instances in which you anticipated problems and were able to influence a new direction.
337. How did you get work assignments at your most recent employer?
338. What changes did you develop at your most recent employer?
339. What kinds of things really get your excited?
340. What sorts of projects did you generate that required you to go beyond your job description?
341. What sorts of things did you do at schools that were beyond expectations?

Integrity
342. Tell me about a time when you were asked to do something that you didn't think was right? What did you
do?
343. Describe a time when you faced an ethical or values conflict in your job? Explain. How did you react?
344. It is often easy to blur the distinction between confidential information and public knowledge. Tell me
about a time you were faced with this? What did you do?
345. Describe a time when you were asked to keep information confidential.
346. Give examples of how you have acted with integrity in your job/work relationship.
347. If you can, tell about a time when your trustworthiness was challenged. How did you react/respond?
348. On occasion we are confronted by dishonesty in the workplace. Tell about such an occurrence and how you
handled it.
349. Tell us about a specific time when you had to handle a tough problem which challenged fairness or ethnical
issues.
350. Trust requires personal accountability. Can you tell about a time when you chose to trust someone? What
was the outcome?

Interpersonal Skills
351. Describe a recent unpopular decision you made and what the result was.
352. Describe a situation in which you were able to effectively "read" another person and guide your actions by
your understanding of their needs and values.
353. Tell us about the most difficult or frustrating individual that you've ever had to work with, and how you
managed to work with them.
354. What have you done in past situations to contribute toward a teamwork environment?
355. What have you done in the past to contribute toward a teamwork environment?

Innovation
356. Can you think of a situation where innovation was required at work? What did you do in this situation?
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357. Describe a situation when you demonstrated initiative and took action without waiting for direction. What
was the outcome?
358. Describe a time when you came up with a creative solution/idea/project/report to a problem in your past
work.
359. Describe something that you have implemented at work. What were the steps used to implement this?
360. Describe the most creative work-related project which you have carried out.
361. Give me an example of when you took a risk to achieve a goal. What was the outcome?
362. Sometimes it is essential that we break out of the routine, standardized way of doing things in order to
complete the task. Give an example of when you were able to successfully develop such a new approach.
363. Tell us about a problem that you solved in a unique or unusual way. What was the outcome? Were you
satisfied with it?
364. Tell us about a suggestion you made to improve the way job processes/operations worked. What was the
result?
365. There are many jobs in which well-established methods are typically followed. Give a specific example of a
time when you tried some other method to do the job.
366. There are many jobs that require creative or innovative thinking. Give an example of when you had such a
job and how you handled it.
367. What have been some of your most creative ideas?
368. What innovative procedures have you developed? How did you develop them? Who was involved? Where
did the ideas come from?
369. What new or unusual ideas have you developed on your job? How did you develop them? What was the
result? Did you implement them?
370. When was the last time that you thought "outside of the box" and how did you do it?

Introducing Change
371. Have you ever had to introduce a policy change to your work group? How did you do it?
372. Have you ever met resistance when implementing a new idea or policy to a work group? How did you deal
with it? What happened?
373. When is the last time you had to introduce a new idea or procedure to people on this job? How did you do
it?

Leadership
374. Give an example of a time in which you felt you were able to build motivation in your co-workers or
subordinates at work.
375. Give an example of your ability to build motivation in your co-workers, classmates, and even if on a
volunteer committee.
376. Have you ever had difficulty getting others to accept your ideas? What was your approach? Did it work?
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377. Have you ever been a member of a group where two of the members did not work well together? What did
you do to get them to do so?
378. What is the toughest group that you have had to get cooperation from?
379. What is the toughest group that you have had to get cooperation from? Describe how you handled it. What
was the outcome?
380. Tell me about a time when you took on an informal leadership role with a group when it was not in your job
description. What prompted you to take the lead?
381. Tell me about a situation in which you had to coordinate several people to achieve a goal. How did you go
about coordinating and leading the group? How did they respond?
382. Tell me about a team member from whom it was tough to gain cooperation. How did you handle this
sensitive situation?
383. Tell me about a time when you tried to lead a group and were not as successful as you'd have liked. What
happened? What did you learn from the experience?
384. Give me some examples of how you have acted as a role model for your team - be specific.
385. Give me some examples of ideas you've presented that required your team's "buy in". How did you modify
your behavior to influence team members' opinions?
386. Tell me about the toughest group that you have had to get working as a productive team.
387. How have you evaluated your effectiveness as a leader? What have the results been?
388. Give me an example of an idea you tried to present to your team members, but were unable to gain
acceptance. What was your approach?
389. When have you inspired someone to work hard to do a better job? How did you do that?

Learning
390. What formal training did you receive in your last job? Give me a specific example of how you applied what
you learned back on the job.
391. Which courses were easiest for you and which were most difficult and why?
392. What steps have you taken in the past year to improve your skills or performance in some area? Describe
them to me.
393. How have you gone about learning new tasks? Walk me through how you've used the process recently.
394. Give me an example of a time when your frustration with a product or process led to making positive
changes.
395. What part of your last job was most difficult to learn and why?
396. What is the most technical thing you have had to learn? Walk me through how you learned what you
needed to.
397. What is the most challenging or complex thing you have had to learn. How did you learn it?
398. Tell me about a time when no matter how hard you tried, you just couldn't get the hang of something.
399. Tell me about something you have learned from a mistake. Be specific.
400. Tell me about a time when you had to learn new information about changing products, markets, or
21

procedures. How did you learn the new information?

Listening
401. Tell me about a time when you misunderstood directions. What action did you take?
402. Give me examples from past experiences when you had to rely on information given to you orally to get the
job done.
403. It can be a challenge trying to understand someone for whom English is not the primary language. Tell me
about a time when you were interacting with such a person and how you ensured that you understood
them.
404. How have you shown your manager/customer/peers you were listening to them? Please describe a specific
situation.
405. Give an example of a time when you made a mistake because you did not listen well to what someone had
to say.
406. How often do you have to rely on information you have gathered from others when talking to them? What
kinds of problems have you had? What happened?
407. What do you do to show people that you are listing to them?
408. When is listening important on your job? When is listening difficult?

Managing Change
409. Describe the most unpleasant directive you've had to implement in your area of responsibility. What was
your approach? What was the result?
410. Tell me about a significant change you have experienced at work and how it impacted you.
411. What have you done to recognize or reward those on your team who have taken a positive and proactive
approach to change? Provide a specific example.
412. Describe a change you have had to explain to other people. What approach did you take and how did they
react?
413. Tell me about a time when you have helped employees to gain an understanding of a change and lead them
to support it. Be specific.
414. Many people resist change. Tell me about a change that you have resisted and why you resisted it.
415. Tell me about a time when you had to support a change that you did not necessarily agree with and how
you handled it.
416. What methods have you used to ensure that changes were implemented in your work area? Give me a
recent example.
417. Describe a situation when you initiated a change that would affect many people. How did you involve those
who would be affected by the change?

22

Motivating Others
418. Tell me about the manager who has most inspired or motivated you. What specifically did that individual
do?
419. What steps have you taken to create a positive environment for employees in your current/last job?
420. What was the turnover rate or retention level in the last group you managed? To what do you attribute
that number/percent?
421. Tell me about some of the most creative reward or recognition ideas you have used with your work group.
422. Give me some specific examples of how you have motivated different employees in different ways.
423. Describe the steps you have taken to motivate your employees. Give me some specific examples of how
you did this.
424. Tell me about an employee that you were able to motivate and inspire to achieve his or her goals and one
that no matter how you tried, you could not inspire.
425. Have you ever had a subordinate whose work was always marginal? How did you deal with that person?
What happened?
426. How do you deal with people whose work exceeds your expectations?
427. How do you get subordinates to produce at a high level? Give an example.
428. How do you get subordinates to work at their peak potential? Give an example.
429. How do you manage cross-functional teams?

Motivation
430. Describe a situation when you were able to have a positive influence on the actions of others.
431. Give an example of a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty.
432. Give me an example of a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty.
433. How would you define "success" for someone in your chosen career?
434. Tell us me about an important goal that you set in the past. Were you successful? Why?

Negotiating
435. We don't always get our way when there's a dispute. Describe your most satisfying/disappointing
experience when deciding a dispute.
436. Tell me about a specific time that you had to bring a group to consensus. What process or steps did you
use? How did it work out?
437. Tell me about a time when you had to negotiate to get what you wanted. How did you do it and what
resulted?
23

438. Tell me about a time when you felt you received a grade that was unfair. How did you handle the situation?
439. Tell me about a time when someone pushed you to your limit. What happened?
440. Sometimes there is just no room to compromise in a situation. Tell me about a time when you felt that way
and what happened.
441. Sometimes it is easier to ignore a situation or just give in rather than try to work through the issue. Tell me
about a time when you made this decision and why? What happened in the end?
442. In what negotiations have you been involved? What was your role? How did you prepare? How did you use
your data?
443. When negotiating with others, we often compromise on certain issues. Tell me about a time when you used
strategy for giving in, or standing firm, on an issue to achieve the desired outcome.
444. Describe a situation in which you negotiated with customers, vendors, or suppliers to obtain a good deal for
your company.
445. Tell me about a time when there was conflict between members of your work group. What did you do?
446. Describe a recent situation that required negotiating. What were your approach and the result?
447. Describe a recent conflict you have found yourself in with a boss, customer, or colleague. What was the
situation and how did you work towards resolution? What was the result?
448. What was the most difficult work related conflict you have been involved in? Why was it difficult? What
happened?
449. Describe the most challenging negotiation in which you were involved. What did you do? What were the
results for you? What were the results for the other party?
450. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to bargain with someone? How did you feel about this?
What did you do? Give an example.
451. How did you prepare for it?
452. How did you present your position?
453. How did you resolve it?
454. Tell us about the last time you had to negotiate with someone. What was the most difficult part?

Organizational
455. Describe a time when you had to make a difficult choice between your personal and professional life.
456. Give me an example of a project that best describes your organizational skills.
457. How do you decide what gets top priority when scheduling your time?
458. What do you do when your schedule is suddenly interrupted? Give an example.

People Management
459. What specific things have you done to celebrate the success of a team that you were leading?
460. How have you decided on performance goals for your subordinates? What did you do to establish these
24

goals? Give a recent example.

461. Describe a recent example of how you have provided feedback and assistance about poor performance?
What did you do? How did you do this? What happened next?
462. How have you handled giving employees positive feedback and rewards? Provide a recent example.
463. Tell me about your most memorable performance improvement discussion.
464. What have you learned about managing people in the last few years? Give some specific examples of how
you have applied this knowledge.
465. Tell me about an employee who needed skill development. What did you do to develop their skills? What
was the result?
466. Walk me through a recent goal-setting discussion you have had with your team. Provide specific examples.
467. When were your last two staff meetings? What was on the agenda for each one?
468. Tell me about an employee that was not meeting his or her goals. What did you do and what was the
result?
469. What processes have you used to monitor and measure the results of your team? Be specific. How have
you oriented and trained your new employees? Give me a few recent examples.
470. How have you involved subordinates in identifying performance goals and expectations? Give an example.
471. How have you monitored your employees' progress on projects or tasks you delegated? Give a specific
example.
472. Provide a recent example of how you have determined the amount of instruction to provide when assigning
work to employees.
473. Give an example of how you have used feedback to encourage good performance.
474. How have you ensured that your area meets its goals? Describe a specific situation where you fell short of
the goal. What did you do?

Performance Management
475. Give an example of a time when you helped a staff member accept change and make the necessary
adjustments to move forward. What were the change/transition skills that you used.
476. Give an example of how you have been successful at empowering either a person or a group of people into
accomplishing a task.
477. How do you handle a subordinate whose work is not up to expectations?
478. How do you coach a subordinate to develop a new skill?
479. How do you handle performance reviews? Tell me about a difficult one.
480. How often do you discuss a subordinate's performance with him/her? Give an example.
481. Tell us about a specific development plan that you created and carried out with one or more of your
employees. What was the specific situation? What were the components of the development plan? What
was the outcome?
482. Tell us about a time when you had to take disciplinary action with someone you supervised.
483. Tell us about a time when you had to tell a staff member that you were dissatisfied with his or her work.
25

484. Tell us about a time when you had to use your authority to get something done. Where there any negative
consequences?
485. There are times when people need extra help. Give an example of when you were able to provide that
support to a person with whom you worked.
486. What have you done to develop the skills of your staff?
487. When do you give positive feedback to people? Tell me about the last time you did. Give an example of
how you handle the need for constructive criticism with a subordinate or peer.

Personal Effectiveness
488. Give an example of a situation where others were intense but you were able to maintain your composure.
489. It is important to maintain a positive attitude at work when you have other things on your mind. Give a
specific example of when you were able to do that.
490. Keeping others informed of your progress/actions helps them fell comfortable. Tell your methods for
keeping your supervisor advised of the status on projects.
491. Tell us about a recent job or experience that you would describe as a real learning experience? What did
you learn from the job or experience?
492. Tell us about a time when you took responsibility for an error and were held personally accountable.
493. Tell us about a time when your supervisor criticized your work. How did you respond?
494. Tell us about some demanding situations in which you managed to remain calm and composed.
495. There are times when we are placed under extreme pressure on the job. Tell about a time when you were
under such pressure and how you handled it.
496. What have you done to further your own professional development in the past 5 years.
497. When you have been made aware of, or have discovered for yourself, a problem in your work performance,
what was your course of action? Can you give an example?

Persuasion
498. Describe a situation in which you were able to positively influence the actions of others in a desired
direction.
499. Describe a situation where you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things
your way.
500. Describe a time when you were able to convince a skeptical or resistant customer to purchase a project or
utilize your services.
501. Have you ever had to persuade a group to accept a proposal or idea? How did you go about doing it? What
was the result?
502. Have you ever had to persuade a peer or manager to accept an idea that you knew they would not like?
Describe the resistance you met and how you overcame it.
503. How do you get a peer or colleague to accept one of your ideas?
26

504. In selling an idea, it is sometimes useful to use metaphors, analogies, or stories to make your point. Give a
recent example of when you were able to successfully do that.
505. Tell us about a time when you had to convince someone in authority about your ideas. How did it work
out?
506. Tell us about a time when you used facts and reason to persuade someone to accept your
recommendation.
507. Tell us about a time when you used your leadership ability to gain support for what initially had strong
opposition.
508. Tell us about a time when you were able to successfully influence another person.

Planning & Organizing

509. Give me an example of when you were effective in dealing with the constant "emergencies" and surprises
in your work environment. How did you deal with the unexpected?
510. In planning a project/event etc., how have you allowed for unanticipated setbacks? Tell me about a specific
project and what happened.
511. Describe a work situation that required you to perform several tasks, or work on several projects at the
same time. What did you do?
512. When organizing a project, how have you determined which resources to use? Give an example of a specific
project and how you made those decisions.
513. What procedures have you used to organize information in your work area? Tell me about a time when the
procedures worked and when they didn't work.
514. We all have had times when we couldn't complete everything on time. When and how has this happened to
you?
515. What types of scheduling have you done on your job? Tell me about some of the specific things that you've
had to schedule.
516. Tell me about a very complex or detailed assignment or project that you have worked on. Walk me through
how you accomplished it?
517. Describe how you have organized your work or work area to ensure maximum efficiency.
518. Tell me about a time when you were very busy with clubs, sports, school, and/or family commitments. How
did you cope with it?
519. Give me an example of a time that you were overloaded with work. What did you do?
520. Walk me through how you have planned and scheduled a recent project that your team had to accomplish.
521. Describe a task that has required you to attend to a large number of details. What was required? How did
you go about handling the details? What details were missed? How did the task turn out?
522. Give me some specific examples of how have you helped your team get more organized around their work.
523. Tell me about a situation where you received a lot of last minute assignments? How did you stay organized
amid the requests and interruptions?
524. Tell me about a time that you wish you had spent more time in planning before starting on a project. What
happened?
27

525. Tell me about a time when you had several assignments or projects due at the same time. How did you plan
out your work to get everything done?
526. Describe how you develop a project team's goals and project plan?
527. How do you schedule your time? Set priorities? How do you handle doing twenty things at once?
528. What do you do when your time schedule or project plan is upset by unforeseen circumstances? Give an
example.
529. What have you done in order to be effective with your organization and planning?

Problem Solving
530. What complicated problems have you had to address on your job? Describe how you identified or gained a
better understanding of the problem(s). Give examples.
531. Describe a time when you identified a problem with a work process or task. How did you involve others in
solving the problem? What was the result?
532. Give me an example of how anticipating, or not anticipating, the wider effect of your actions has made a
difference for you.
533. Describe the biggest work-related problem you have faced in the past six months. How did you handle it?
534. What sources of information have you used to stay aware of problems in your work area? Tell me about a
situation in which you used one of these sources.
535. Describe a recent problem you have been faced with and walk me through the steps you took to solve it.
536. Describe a time when something unexpected occurred that had to be figured out and understood. How did
you first find out about the situation? How did you determine exactly what the problem was?
537. Sometimes our instinct or common sense tells us to do something different that the facts of the situation.
Tell me about a time they were in conflict for you and what you did.
538. In many problem situations, it is tempting to jump at a solution quickly, perhaps before fully understanding
the situation. Tell me about a time when this happened to you. What happened?
539. Describe a time when you weren't sure what a customer wanted. How did you handle the situation?
540. Describe a situation when you faced obstacles to reaching a goal. How did you handle it?
541. Describe the most difficult working relationship you've had with an individual. What specific actions did you
take to improve the relationship? What was the outcome?
542. Give me an example of a situation where you had difficulties with a team member. What, if anything, did
you do to resolve the difficulties?
543. Have you ever been caught unaware by a problem or obstacles that you had not foreseen? What
happened?
544. Tell us about a time when you did something completely different from the plan and/or assignment. Why?
What happened?
545. What are some of the problems you have faced; such as between business development and project
leaders, between one department and another, between you and your peers? How did you recognize that
they were there?
546. When was the last time something came up in a meeting that was not covered in the plan? What did you
28

do? What were the results of your judgment?

Problem Resolution
547. Describe a situation where you had a conflict with another individual, and how you dealt with it. What was
the outcome? How do you feel about it?
548. Describe a time in which you were faced with problems or stresses which tested your coping skills. What
did you do?
549. Describe a time when you facilitated a creative solution to a problem between two employees.
550. Give a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.
551. Give an example of a problem which you faced on any job that you have had and tell how you went about
solving it.
552. Give an example of when you "went to the source" to address a conflict. Do you feel trust levels were
improved as a result?
553. Problems occur in almost all work relationships. Describe a time when you had to cope with the resentment
or hostility of a subordinate or co-worker.
554. Some problems require developing a unique approach. Tell about a time when you were able to develop a
different problem-solving approach.
555. Sometimes the only way to resolve a defense or conflict is through negotiation and compromise. Tell about
a time when you were able to resolve a difficult situation by finding some common ground.
Sometimes we need to remain calm on the outside when we are really upset on the inside. Give an example
of a time that this happened to you.
556. Tell us about a recent success you had with an especially difficult employee/co-worker.
557. Tell us about a situation in which you had to separate the person from the issue when working to resolve
issues.
558. Tell us about a time when you identified a potential problem and resolved the situation before it became
serious.
559. There is more than one way to solve a problem. Give an example from your recent work experience that
would illustrate this.

Project Management
560. Describe a situation in which you had to translate a manager's general directive into specific goals. Explain
how you did this and the goals you established.
561. Describe the biggest project you have had to manage in your department from beginning to end. How did
you coordinate activities and monitor the progress?
562. What barriers or challenges have you run into on a project? What did you do about them? Think of a recent
project, how did you determine the best sequence of activities?
563. How have you decided to assign work to team members on a project? Walk me through a specific example.
564. Occasionally, we all miss a due date on a project? Tell me about a time when this happened for you or your
29

team. What were the consequences?

565. What tactics or techniques have you used to ensure adequate communication and collaboration on a team
project? Tell me about a time when they worked and when they didn't.
566. Tell me about a project that you managed that did not go well (past due, over budget, etc.). What
happened? What have you learned from that experience?
567. Walk me through how you decided to break down and accomplish your last project. Why did you decide to
do it that way?
568. When organizing a project, how have you determined which resources to use? Give an example of one
particular project.
569. Describe the resources you had to allocate (time, money, people, equipment, etc.) for a recent project.
570. What kind of system have you used for keeping track of the progress team members are making on a
project? Tell me about ways it worked well and ways it didn't.
571. Tell us about a time when you influenced the outcome of a project by taking a leadership role.
572. Using a specific example of a project, tell how you kept those involved informed of the progress.

Relate Well
573. Describe a situation where you had to use conflict management skills.
574. Describe a situation where you had to use confrontation skills.
575. Give me an example of a time when a company policy or action hurt people. What, if anything, did you do
to mitigate the negative consequences to people?
576. How do you typically deal with conflict? Can you give me an example?
577. Tell us about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision.
578. What would your co-workers (or staff) stay is the most frustrating thing about your communications with
them?

Removing Obstacles
579. Have you ever dealt with a situation where communications were poor? Where there was a lack of
cooperation? Lack of trust? How did you handle these situations?
580. What do you do when a subordinate comes to you with a challenge?
581. What have you done to help your subordinates to be more productive?
582. What have you done to make sure that your subordinates can be productive? Give an example.

Resolving Conflict
583. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to settle an argument between two friends (or people you
knew)? What did you do? What was the result?
30

584. Have you ever had to settle conflict between two people on the job? What was the situation and what did
you do?
585. Tell us about a time when you had to help two peers settle a dispute. How did you go about identifying the
issues? What did you do? What was the result?

Resource Management
586. Tell us about a time when you organized or planned an event that was very successful.

Resourcefulness
587. Learning your way around a large organization can be a challenge. Tell me how you have done this in the
past.
588. What have you done to manage your department budget? Be specific. How have you used your staff in
creative ways to accomplish your goals?
589. Describe what you have done to ensure that your people and resources have been leveraged in the best
way possible?
590. Describe for me some creative solutions that you have come up with for work problems or tasks. Be
specific.
591. Most companies have a formal way to get things done, and an informal way that some people discover. Tell
me about any creative or informal ways that you have found to get things done in the past
592. What have you done to conserve or leverage resources in your current/past job? Provide a few specific
examples.
593. What time or money saving ideas have you put into place in your work group?
594. What creative or innovative things have you done to ensure you meet your goals or deliver the results
expected? Provide some specific examples.
595. What timesaving or cost-saving ideas have you come up with in your current/past job? What savings were
realized because of your ideas?
596. Tell me about a time when you had to be creative about how to get a project or assignment done. What
exactly did you do to accomplish it?
597. What have you done to save yourself time or money? Give me some specific examples.

Results Orientation
598. Describe how you have set goals for your own performance or for your department. What have you done in
the past six months to ensure meeting these goals?
599. What has been your most challenging goal? Tell me specifically what you did to achieve the goal.
600. Describe a management challenge you have had to work through and walk me through how you did it.
601. What have you felt was your most significant accomplishment and how did you achieve it?
31

602. What clubs or extra-curricular activities did you join during school? Why did you choose those particular
activities? How did you juggle getting all your work done while participating in those activities?
603. What have been the biggest barriers or challenges you have experienced In getting to where you are today?
How did you overcome them?
604. What goals have you set for yourself as a leader? How have you been working towards them?
605. What do you feel has been your greatest achievement as a manager? Why? What did you do to achieve it?
606. What has been your most challenging assignment during school? Why was it challenging? How did you
approach the assignment and how did you do on it?
607. Describe a situation that demonstrates your sense of urgency in getting things done.
608. We all suffer from procrastination from time to time. Tell me about a time when you did and it prevented
you from achieving the results you wanted.
609. There comes a time for everyone when he or she has to admit defeat and can not reach a goal or complete
a project. Tell me about a time when you experienced that.
610. Tell me about a situation in which you persisted in working on a project after others had quit. What kept
you going?
611. What has been your biggest disappointment in your career and why?
612. Describe a time when you had very difficult goals to reach. What did you do in pursuit of them? What
results did you attain?

Sales / Sales Ability

613. Tell me about a time when you could have done just a little more to make the sale. What did you do?
614. Tell me about one of your most satisfying sales experiences.
615. Tell me about a time when you were able to provide your own motivation to produce even though you
were working alone. What were the circumstances and how did you motivate yourself?
616. Sales jobs differ in the extent to which salespeople must make cold calls. Tell me about a time when you
had to make cold calls. What did you like or dislike about it? Why?
617. Contrast a sale that you made with a sale that you lost. What did you do differently in these two situations?
618. Tell me about a time when you continued to call a prospective customer until a sale was made or was no
longer possible.
619. Tell me about some sales situations in which gathering information effectively was crucial. How were your
sales this year compared to last year? What factors have influenced your sales?
620. Tell me about a time when you could have done just a little more to make the sale. What did you do?
621. How were your sales this year compared to last year? What factors influence your sales? No salesperson
makes a sale every time. What did you do after your last big sale fell through?
622. Describe how you prepare for a sales call for a new client.
623. How do you go about making cold calls?
624. How have your sales skills improved over the past three years.
625. Tell us about your most difficult sales experience.
32

626. Tell us about your sales volume over the past three years. What have you done to influence it?
627. What specific techniques have you used in your current position to develop sales? What were your results?
628. Give me some examples of when you have cross-sold products or services to customers. Describe any sales
experience you may have had working in the community or on a school project.
629. Think of a major sales presentation you made. What was your approach? Explain how the sale developed.
630. What was the most unexpected objection you ever got from a prospect? How did you handle it?
631. What have you learned about sales in the past year? How have you applied that knowledge? What effect
has it had on your sales?
632. Tell me about when you have had to learn new information about changing products, markets, or
procedures? How did you learn the new information.
633. What type of sales goals have you had to achieve and what did you do to accomplish them? What results
did you achieve?
634. How have you prepared to meet with anew prospect? Walk me through a specific example.
635. Think of a recent customer or prospect you have met with. How did you discover or identify what their
needs were?
636. Tell me about how you have modified your approach for different customers or prospects. Give me specific
examples.
637. Tell me about your most challenging sales situation. What was challenging about it and what did you do?
638. What techniques have you used to build interest in your products and services among a target audience?
What was the most successful?
639. Tell me about a time when you persisted in overcoming objections to show how products or services met
the customer's needs.
640. What is an objection that you have gotten that you just didn't know how to respond to? What happened?
641. Tell me about a time when you referred clients to other services that they may not have been aware of.
642. Give me some examples of when you have cross-sold products or services to customers.
643. Describe a time when you weren't sure what a customer wanted. How did you handle the situation?
644. Describe for me how you have "sold" an idea to a peer or teacher.
645. Tell me about the product that you have sold during your career that you most enjoyed selling. Why? What
techniques did you use and how successful were you?
646. Tell me about a product that you have sold during your career that you did not enjoy selling. Why?
647. How successful were you? What techniques did you use? What could you have done to be more successful?
648. Share with me a time when you were able to turn a customer service problem around into a sale of a
product or service. How did you identify the customer's need?

Scheduling
649. Describe the most difficult scheduling problem you have faced.
650. How did you assign priorities to jobs?
33

651. How did you go about making job assignments?

652. When all have been over-loaded, how do your people meet job assignments?

Self Assessment
653. Can you recall a time when you were less than pleased with your performance?
654. Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see
things your way.
655. Give me a specific occasion in which you conformed to a policy with which you did not agree.
656. Give me an example of an important goal that you h ad set in the past and tell me about your success in
reaching it.If there were one area you've always wanted to improve upon, what would that be?
In what ways are you trying to improve yourself?
657. Tell us about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.
658. What do you consider to be your professional strengths? Give me a specific example using this attribute in
the workplace.
659. What goal have you set for yourself that you have successfully achieved?
660. What was the most useful criticism you ever received?

Selecting and Developing People

661. How do you coach an employee in completing a new assignment?
662. What have you done to develop your subordinates? Give an example.
663. What have you done to improve the skills of your subordinates?
664. What was your biggest mistake in hiring someone? What happened? How did you deal with the situation?
665. What was your biggest success in hiring someone? What did you do?

Setting Goals
666. Did you have a strategic plan? How was it developed? How did you communicate it to the rest of your staff?
667. How do you communicate goals to subordinates? Give an example.
668. How do you involve people in developing your unit's goals? Give an example.
669. What company plans have you developed? Which ones have you reached? How did you reach them?
670. Which goals have you missed? Why did you miss them?
671. What goals have you met? What did you do to meet them?
672. What were your annual goals at your most current employer? How did you develop these goals?
673. What were your long-range plans at your most recent employer? What was our role in developing them?

34

Setting Performance Standards

674. How do you go about setting goals with subordinates? How do you involve them in this process?
675. How do you let subordinates know what you expect of them?
676. What performance standards do you have for your unit? How have you communicated them to your
subordinates?

Setting Priorities
677. Have you ever been overloaded with work? How do you keep track of work so that it gets done on time?
678. How do you manage your time?
679. How do you schedule your time?
680. When given an important assignment, how do you approach it?

Sound Judgment
681. Describe a situation when you had to exercise a significant amount of self-control.
682. Give me an example of a time in which you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision.
683. Give me an example of when you were able to meet the personal and professional demands in your life yet
still maintained a healthy balance.
684. Give me an example of when you were responsible for an error or mistake. What was the outcome? What,
if anything, would you do differently?
685. If you were interviewing for this position what would you be looking for in the applicants?
686. We work with a great deal of confidential information. Describe how you would have handled sensitive
information in a past work experience. What strategies would you utilize to maintain confidentiality when
pressured by others?
687. When have you had to produce results without sufficient guidelines? Give an example.

Staffing
688. What recruiting methods have you used to find candidates for open positions in the past?
689. How have you determined what skills to hire for in the past few positions you have filled?
690. When reviewing applicants, how have you made your selection decision? What criteria have you used?
691. Describe how you hired your last subordinate. How well is the person doing on the job?
692. Tell me about a time when you were very comfortable making a hiring decision and a time when you were
not as comfortable. What were the differences in the decision?
693. Describe the process you have used for interviewing/selecting staff. Walk me through the steps you've
35

taken.
694. Tell me about a time someone you hired did not succeed in the job. What do you think went wrong?
695. What have you done to increase the diversity of your team? Provide specific examples.
696. Walk me through the steps in the staffing process at your current/last job.
697. What decision criteria have you used in your last two or three selections? How did they work out?
698. Tell me how you have looked strategically at you long-term staffing needs when you had a position open.

Strategic Planning
699. Describe what steps/methods you have used to define/identify a vision for your unit/position.
700. How do you see your job relating to the overall goals of the organization?
701. In your current or former position, what were your long and short-term goals?
702. Tell us about a time when you anticipated the future and made changes to current
responsibilities/operations to meet future needs.

Stress Management
703. How did you react when faced with constant time pressure? Give an example.
704. People react differently when job demands are constantly changing; how do you react?
705. What kind of events cause you stress on the job?
706. What was the most stressful situation you have faced? How did you deal with it?

Supporting Diversity
707. In what ways have you modified your approach to managing your team members in order to accommodate
their differences? Provide some specific examples.
708. Describe a time when you needed to deal with someone very different from yourself. What was the
difference? What actions did you take? What was the outcome?
709. Tell me how you have promoted an acceptance of diversity in the workplace. What was has been the
result?
710. One of the ways people are different is in their style of relating with each other. Give some examples of
different types of people you have worked with, and how you got along with each.
711. Tell me about a diversity situation that you wish you had handled differently? What happened?
712. Sometimes it can be challenging to understand people who speak little English or with a heavy accent. Tell
me about a time when you encountered this situation and what you did?
713. Have you worked with colleagues or served customers with disabilities? How did you respond to them?
714. Have you had staff members who did not work well together? What have you done to get them to improve
36

their working relationship?

715. What steps have you taken to increase the diversity of your team?
716. How have you tried to create an inclusive and supportive environment for your work team? Give some
specific examples.
717. What different approaches have you used in talking with different people? How did you know you were
getting your point across?
718. Tell me about a class or club you were in where there you worked with people that were very different than
you. How did you relate to them?
719. What, if any, diversity training have you received? What did you get out of it?
720. Working with people from different backgrounds or cultures can be a real challenge. Tell me about a time
when you had problems adapting to people from different backgrounds or cultures? What did you do?
What was the result?

Teamwork & Collaboration

721. Describe a situation at work where someone criticized you. How did you react?
722. Tell me about a time when you had difficulty getting along with a co-worker? What was the situation and
how did you handle it?
723. We don't always work with people we'd consider ethical or honest. Describe a time when you have seen
another employee do something that you thought was inappropriate? What did you do?
724. Tell me about some situations in which you became frustrated or impatient when dealing with a co-worker.
What did you do?
725. Tell me about the best example of your willingness to help out another person. What was the situation?
What was the outcome?
726. Tell me about a time you had to work on a team and it was particularly challenging or didn't work well.
727. Tell me about the best example of your willingness to help out another person. What was the situation?
What was the outcome?
728. We all have ways of showing our consideration for others. What are some things you've done?
729. Describe a time when you were working in a team and integrating others' work was important. What was
your role? What were the best and worst outcomes of the experience?
730. Describe a time when you helped a peer learn something new? How did you teach this person?
731. Give me an example of a time when you worked with team members in deciding how to split up work that
had to get done.
732. Tell me about a co-worker that you had difficulty getting along with? How did you handle the situation?
733. Many times to service a customer we need teamwork. Tell me about a time when your skill at teamwork
helped to deliver premium service to the customer.
734. Tell me about a team member from whom it was tough to gain cooperation. How did you handle this
sensitive situation?
735. Give me an example of a time when you worked with team members in deciding each person's task.
736. Tell me about a time when you needed someone's cooperation to complete a task and the person was
37

uncooperative. What did you do? Why?

737. Describe a situation in which you had to arrive at a compromise or help others to compromise. What was
your role? What steps did you take? What was the end result?
738. Describe a team experience you found disappointing. What would you have done to prevent this?
Describe a team experience you found rewarding.
739. Describe the types of teams you've been involved with. What were your roles?
740. Describe your leadership style and give an example of a situation when you successfully led a group.
741. Give an example of how you have been successful at empowering a group of people in accomplishing a
task.
742. Give an example of how you worked effectively with people to accomplish an important result.
743. Have you ever been a project leader? Give examples of problems you experienced and how you reacted.
744. Have you ever been in a position where you had to lead a group of peers? How did you handle it?
745. Have you ever participated in a task group? What was your role? How did you contribute?
746. Please give your best example of working cooperatively as a team member to accomplish an important
goal. What was the goal or objective? To what extent did you interact with others on this project?
747. Some people work best as part of a group - others prefer the role of individual contributor. How would you
describe yourself? Give an example of a situation where you felt you were most effective.
748. Tell us about a time that you had to work on a team that did not get along. What happened? What role did
you take? What was the result?
749. Tell us about a work experience where you had to work closely with others. How did it go? How did you
overcome any difficulties?
750. Tell us about the most difficult challenge you faced in trying to work cooperatively with someone who did
not share the same ideas? What was your role in achieving the work objective?
751. Tell us about the most difficult situation you have had when leading a team. What happened and what did
you do? Was it successful? Emphasize the "single" most important thing you did?
752. Tell us about the most effective contribution you have made as part of a task group or special project team.
753. Think about the times you have been a team leader. What could you have done to be more effective?
754. What is the difficult part of being a member, not leader, of a team? How did you handle this?
755. What role have you typically played as a member of a team? How did you interact with other members of
the team?
756. When is the last time you had a disagreement with a peer? How did you resolve the situation?
757. When working on a team project have you ever had an experience where there was strong disagreement
among team members? What did you do?

Time & Priority Management

758. What have you done when you were overloaded with work? Give me an example of a situation.
759. Give me an example of when you were effective in dealing with the constant "emergencies" and surprises
in your work climate. How did you deal with the unexpected?
38

760. We've all had times when we just couldn't complete everything within a deadline. When and how has this
happened to you?
761. When scheduling your time, how have you determined what constitutes a priority? Give examples.
762. Walk me through yesterday (or last week) and tell me how you planned the day's (or week's) activities.
763. Tell me about a personal or professional goal you have set and what you have done towards achieving it.
764. Describe a time when you worked in a situation where you received a lot of last minute assignments? How
did you stay organized amid the requests and interruptions?
765. Describe a task that has required you to attend to a large number of details. What was required? How did
you go about handling the details? What details were missed? How did the task turn out?
766. When involved in a complex project, how have you decided where to focus your attention?
767. How have you been involved in structuring the tasks of others? What techniques have you used to help
others become better organized? Describe the most effective example of this.
768. When work gets complex, with several things happening at once, what have you found to be effective for
you in keeping track of detail and keeping current? Give me an example.
769. How have you adapted from business as usual to a peak demand or sudden shift? An example?
770. When organizing a project, how have you determined which resources to use? Give an example of one
particular project.
771. When you have had to meet scheduled deadlines when your work was being continually disrupted, w hat
caused you the most difficulty, and why?
772. Describe a situation that required you to do a number of things at the same time. How did you handle it?
What was the result?
773. How do you determine priorities in scheduling your time? Give an example.
774. How do you typically plan your day to manage your time effectively?
775. Of your current assignments, which do you consider to have required the greatest amount of effort with
regard to planning/organization? How have you accomplished this assignment? How would you assess your
effectiveness?

Toughness
776. On many occasions, managers have to make tough decisions. What was the most difficult one you have had
to make?
777. Tell us about setbacks you have faced. How did you deal with them?
778. What has been your major work related disappointment? What happened and what did you do?
779. What is the most competitive situation you have experienced? How did you handle it? What was the
result?
780. What was your major disappointment?

39

Variety
781. How many projects do you work on at once? Please describe.
782. When was the last time you made a key decision on the spur of the moment? What was the reason and
result?
783. When was the last time you were in a crisis? What was the situation? How did you react?
784. Which of your jobs had the most rapid change? How did you feel about it?

Values Diversity
785. Give a specific example of how you have helped create an environment where differences are valued,
encouraged and supported.
786. Tell us about a time that you successfully adapted to a culturally different environment.
787. Tell us about a time when you had to adapt to a wide variety of people by accepting/understanding their
perspective.
788. Tell us about a time when you made an intentional effort to get to know someone from another culture.
What have you done to further your knowledge/understanding about diversity? How have you
demonstrated your learning?
789. What have you done to support diversity in your unit?
790. What measures have you taken to make someone feel comfortable in an environment that was obviously
uncomfortable with his or her presence?

Work Standards
791. How have you dealt with an employee who was not meeting quality standards for work output? Walk me
through what you did.
792. What work standards have you established? How did you ensure that the standards are being met? Give
me an example.
793. Tell me what project or assignment you've done that you were most proud of and why?
794. How have you used data to identify problems? Tell me about a specific time. What did you do after
identifying the problem?
795. How have you monitored the quality of your employees' work? Give me a specific example.
796. Tell me about a time when you missed a deadline. Why was the deadline missed?
797. What steps have you taken to ensure customer satisfaction? Give some specific examples.
798. Tell me about a time when some of the details in your work slipped through the crack. What happened and
what did you do?
799. Tell me about a time when you were proud of the quality of your work and a time when you were not.
What was the difference?
800. Tell me about a time when your work required close attention to details. What process did you follow to
ensure nothing was missed or got through incorrectly?
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801. There comes a time for everyone when you have to sacrifice quality in order to meet a deadline. Tell me
about a time when you had to cut some corners and what resulted.
802. Tell me about a time when you had numerous assignments due at the same time. How would you describe
the quality of each?
803. Tell me about a project or paper you handed in that you wish had been better? Why did you hand it in that
way?
804. What standards of performance were required at your current/past job? How have you done with meeting
those standards? Tell me about a specific time that you met them and a time when you failed to meet the
desired standards. What made the difference?
805. Describe a situation or process that required your close attention or adherence to a prescribed procedure.
806. Tell me about a time when the details of something you were doing were especially important. How did you
attend to them?
807. Describe a very detailed or complex project you had to complete for school. How did you approach it? How
did it turn out?
808. We have all had to miss a day of work from time to time. Tell me how you have handled this in the past.

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