If you were given a choice, which work related task would you leave for last? Why?
Often, we will leave the tasks we don't like for last in the act of procrastination. Other times, we mindfully choose to do something last because we feel it makes the most sense. Help the interviewer determine which personality type you are by answering this question.
"If given a choice, I would leave my documentation tasks for last. I say this because I like to spend my time with my customers, and I feel that anything to do with documentation during business hours takes away from my client-facing tasks. I do understand the importance of it, though."
"I would leave my email to last. I find that once I am in my email, it's a never-ending whirlwind of small replies and to-dos. For this reason, and to remain focused and productive, I will schedule my email time periodically throughout the day."
Remember to include a strategy for diligently handling the task you mention in your response if it does not make sense to leave it to last. For example, if you state that you would reply to emails last, you should explain that you know this is not always feasible and that you schedule time regularly to ensure you are communicating with your coworkers or customers effectively.
"I would fill out my time sheets last. While it is necessary, logging time is not the most engaging part of my day. I prefer interactive or analytical tasks. I keep a running list of what I work on and how much time I spend each day to make the process as easy and efficient as possible at my current company."
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 would leave the task of administrative work and documentation to last as it can often drag on and I could instead be using this time to be face-to-face with clients and doing other such tasks. However, I still would count these tasks as a priority as I understand their importance.
Marcie's Feedback
Makes sense! You can also mention that leaving these kinds of tasks to last allows you to gather all the details and information you need so you can complete them accurately. Also, explain how much you enjoy interacting with clients and that one of your strengths is your personable nature. It's great that you reiterate to the interviewer that you will still get these administrative tasks done because you understand their importance. You might remind them that you are organized and detail-oriented, in addition to being committed to completing all of your tasks no matter how tedious or not they are. Excellent!
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