Tell me about a time when you did not have enough time to complete all assigned tasks. How did you prioritize?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Answer Example

Start by telling the interviewer that you are typically an organized person and prioritize adhering to deadlines. Give your interviewer concrete examples of how you maintain organization within your workflow, particularly related to your experience in the food and beverage industry. Your interviewer wants to know that you will stay organized and prepare orders quickly, even amidst a busy environment.

After establishing yourself as an organized worker who completes tasks efficiently, share a time when you failed to get something done on time due to something outside of your control. Perhaps you were sick, an emergency arose, or someone else called off of work for the day, and you had to change your priorities accordingly. Share how you prioritized your time to achieve the deadline, and then explain why you could not reach it on time.

"I am always diligent when it comes to deadlines. However, once I remember having an abnormally large order from a big table when working in a restaurant. We were understaffed, and I was juggling more tables than usual. As a result, my service was slower, and I couldn't check in with tables as often as I would have liked. However, my main priority was getting orders out to all of my tables, which I could do. I can better handle larger volumes now that I am more experienced."

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How to Answer: Tell me about a time when you did not have enough time to complete all assigned tasks. How did you prioritize?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Starbucks job interview.

29. Tell me about a time when you did not have enough time to complete all assigned tasks. How did you prioritize?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Start by telling the interviewer that you are typically an organized person and prioritize adhering to deadlines. Give your interviewer concrete examples of how you maintain organization within your workflow, particularly related to your experience in the food and beverage industry. Your interviewer wants to know that you will stay organized and prepare orders quickly, even amidst a busy environment.

After establishing yourself as an organized worker who completes tasks efficiently, share a time when you failed to get something done on time due to something outside of your control. Perhaps you were sick, an emergency arose, or someone else called off of work for the day, and you had to change your priorities accordingly. Share how you prioritized your time to achieve the deadline, and then explain why you could not reach it on time.

Written by Rachelle Enns on December 26th, 2021

Answer Example

"I am always diligent when it comes to deadlines. However, once I remember having an abnormally large order from a big table when working in a restaurant. We were understaffed, and I was juggling more tables than usual. As a result, my service was slower, and I couldn't check in with tables as often as I would have liked. However, my main priority was getting orders out to all of my tables, which I could do. I can better handle larger volumes now that I am more experienced."

Written by Rachelle Enns on December 26th, 2021

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