How do you determine priorities when you have multiple tasks at hand?
Attest to your time management skills, and explain how effective you are at estimating time frames, meeting deadlines, and knowing when to shift from your big-picture goals to more pressing short-term goals. When you feel torn between multiple projects or tasks, detail how you determine which needs your attention. Assure the interviewer you're diligent and, as they state in many of their job postings, that you have an "ability to prioritize and execute with a sense of urgency and preciseness."
"When I had multiple priorities simultaneously in college, I'd ask my professor which aspects of any assignment or projects they'd rank based on their necessity, strengths, merits, or which they'd deem as most urgent. This professor was a mentor and taught me how to manage my time and multitask. Eventually, I adapted what I learned from them and developed my own methods to help focus my energies and priorities appropriately, identifying necessity and concentrating my efforts appropriately on the greater needs of the team effort or the big picture."
"I determine which project requires my attention by the number of hours we have to work with, as well as the size of the project. I'm comfortable delegating tasks when needed and am willing to put in extra hours when necessary, but that's rare. Normally I can estimate my timeframes while being resourceful and can keep every ball in the air, always hitting my deadlines. I've never missed 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
I figure out what is most urgent, then time permitting I work hard at finishing each task and, if needed, don't have a problem delegating jobs and working as a team to complete by the deadline.
Rachelle's Feedback
Analyzing urgency is a great first step for determining priorities. It's nice that you added in your willingness to delegate and collaborate when needed.
