How do you prioritize multiple projects when they all seem equally important?
Prioritizing is a skill that requires practice. Your ability to do so effectively will impact the quality of your work and how much you're able to get done. Hiring managers want to make sure you have the skillset in place to effectively differentiate the important from the not so important.
There are many approaches you can take to prioritizing multiple projects. Here are some suggestions:
1) Make a list. By thinking through and writing down each item that needs to be completed, you can see it on paper.
2) Mark what is urgent or essential. Take into account deadlines and meetings.
3) Order each task based on effort and estimated value. Considering due dates and how long it will take to do each item (also considering how much time you have).
While answering this question, show the interviewer that you have a system in place that helps you to think through what needs to happen and when. The better you can prioritize, the more productive you will be, making you an asset to ADP!
"I make lists of things that need to be done and what priority they are. I have a color-coding system in Sheets that I utilize when making my lists. I have weekly touchpoints with my manager for accountability and recalibration of the current priorities. I also collaborate with peers to share best practices and ensure we're all being as effective as we can be with templates and documents, etc."
"My job is fast-paced, and it's not uncommon to have multiple projects with conflicting priority levels. Typically, I plan my week out and create time blocks to ensure I have time to do certain tasks without interruption. As soon as I feel overwhelmed or fall behind, I meet with my manager to communicate my concerns. We discuss the current projects, and I get their feedback on priority and see if other team members can support some of the work."
"I will determine which project requires my attention by the number of hours we are behind and then the project size. I am comfortable delegating tasks when needed but I am also aware that these times will require an additional commitment of hours from me. Never have I underdelivered on a deadline."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
In payroll, it seems many things are equally important especially if they all have deadlines. However, being organized and being on top of things is really important. Knowing what to prioritize helps me succeed.
Jaymie's Feedback
Excellent!
