When have you been asked to perform a function or complete a task in which you had little or no experience in doing?
Apple looks for employees who have a history of taking the initiative when it comes to being successful. Think about a time when you were asked to take on a task or a role that you felt was over your experience level. Discuss how you dealt with the situation, and the outcome you were able to generate. Also, share what you learned from the experience.
"When my manager went on unexpected medical leave for three months last year, I was asked to step into her position in the interim. I knew the basics of her role but was certainly not trained on specifics. I was able to take it on successfully by leaning on my team, reading a lot of company manuals, and asking many questions. Once my manager returned, she was pleased with the progress that I made, and I received a promotion."
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 do this a lot and it’s what keeps me excited and growing!
For example, I was called in to help with a banking customer that complained that Basel II regulations prevented them from using our software the way we suggested. My task was to get them engaged and using the software. Note that the task wasn’t to force them to do what we said. By the time I got involved, the customer relationship was tense. So I just asked a lot of questions. Some were open questions, while others were leading questions. Whenever I tried to press for details they dodged answering. That made me realise the problem was fear of the new, not any specific regulatory hurdles. Nevertheless, I couldn’t answer all of their questions on the spot. So I got them to agree to an agenda for the next meeting, which I would provide answers. Then I researched as much as I could and put in details and narratives that would address their fear, not just the facts. If I had been an expert I might have made the mistake of jumping to a technical solution. The next meeting made a breakthrough as it became more of a conversation and fewer accusations and complaints. It took a few more meetings, but eventually, we unblocked the project, and the bank won an industry award for the project!
Marcie's Feedback
It's excellent that you're open to trying new things even when you don't have a lot of experience in that area. Your example is thorough and shows how much effort you put into pleasing the customer, which the interviewer will appreciate. Great response!
