Describe a time when you took a calculated risk.
"Well, I was compiling a report, and there was missing information I needed from a supervisor who was out on leave. So I decided to start digging in unconventional sources, old records and archived information from data entry. From those I had several piece of a puzzle I was able to piece together. From that I was able to complete the picture from the missing pieces in a way that ensured me I was close enough. Then once I was able to do that, I was able to quantified the suspected missing data from other sources, which proved to be correct. It only set off our timeline by one day, still well within meeting our deadline for the project."
You can't grow if you're not willing to risk stepping outside of your comfort zone. Innovation is partly achieved by taking calculated risks. Often high-pressure decision making requires immediate action, in which case a good plan today is better than a better plan tomorrow, constituting taking a calculated risk.
For some, taking risks comes naturally. Others might take risks compulsively, which could turn costly for an individual, a family, or a company. Then there are those who are risk-averse, maintaining the status quo. You want to present yourself as someone who takes calculated risks as opposed to someone who is a habitual risk-taker. Taking a chance on innovation is different from being an obsessive gambler.
Provide an example that exhibits sound judgment, and an educated calculated risk, while thinking fast on your feet! Discuss the results of your course of action, what you learned, and how you've grown from your experience.
Another of Amazon's Leadership Principles applies here; "Bias for Action: Speed matters in business. Many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study. We value calculated risk taking." The assessment vendor will evaluate your non-verbal cues to determine how comfortable you are with risk taking. This will help them determine whether you are a risk taker or risk-averse. They are on the lookout for how intelligently you approach risk taking, or if you're a liability, promoting risk avoidance and inaction.
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