Deftly explaining how you handle difficult work situations will help take you from interviewee to new hire. Show
One of the more creative ways employers learn about a candidate's abilities and experience is with open-ended questions requiring detailed answers. Often-used queries include, “Describe a difficult situation or project and how you overcame it,” and “Tell me how you handled a difficult situation.” Regardless of how the question is asked, here are some tips to help you ace the answer and get the job. Why employers ask this questionAs part of a behavioral-based interview, this is an effective way for a hiring manager to learn a great deal about an applicant without using multiple questions. It also helps in assessing your emotional intelligence, a deciding factor for many companies today. Asking this question gives an interviewer insight on many key traits including:
People with these behavioral traits already intact can immediately handle the unforeseen challenges that come with the job, making them desirable candidates — especially for high-level positions. That's why it's critical to answer this question effectively. Note: The interviewer may decide to ask about a specific situation rather than leaving that up to you. If so, you can state that you haven't handled that particular issue and offer to describe how you would deal with it. You may be asked about that particular scenario for a reason, so do your best to answer it rather than trying to use a different example. How to respond to “Tell me how you handled a difficult situation”Because this is likely part of a behavioral interview, use the STAR method to prepare a great answer beforehand so you can confidently respond during the interview. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result, the four areas you want to touch on when answering this type of question:
Following the STAR technique will help make sure you answer this question effectively so that the interviewer clearly sees that you have everything they desire in a qualified candidate. Sample responses to get you startedSome general topic areas to focus on when developing your answers for a behaviorial interview include:
Use the following sample answers to help you:
Add all the specific actions and thought-processes that apply to your example, and try to make it sound like you're telling a story versus rattling off facts. Avoid these mistakesWhen answering this type of behavioral-based interview question, try to avoid topics that make you or anyone else look bad. Examples include:
The more you prepare for your job interviews, the more confident you'll be in describing how you handled a difficult work situation — and that greatly increases your chance of getting hired. When it comes to acing the job interview, it's all about practice. That's where our coaches come in. Recommended Reading:
Related Articles:How do you answer tell me how you handled a difficult situation?Detail your job and responsibility to overcome the challenge. Detail the steps you took to rectify the issue. Talk about the "action" you took to overcome the situation. Explain your thought process for choosing the actions you did, being as specific as possible.
Can you give me an example of when you have dealt with a challenging situation?Some examples of situations you can discuss include: A time when you dealt with a lot of customer complaints and how you rectified the issue. A time when you had to work long hours to meet a deadline. A time when you had to deal with a difficult colleague when working on a project.
How do you answer tell us about a time it was difficult to work with someone?How to answer "Tell me about a time you worked with difficult people". Consider an instance in which you experienced a specific challenge with a coworker. ... . Speak objectively while explaining the premise of the situation. ... . Reflect on the experience and take ownership of your own actions.. |