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Boeing Mock Interview

Question 32 of 38 for our Boeing Mock Interview

Boeing was updated by on June 5th, 2023. Learn more here.

Question 32 of 38

At Boeing, how would you prioritize multiple projects when they all seem equally important?

Prioritizing is a skill that requires practice. There are many instances where you will be handling multiple tasks and projects at one time in this role. In turn, your interviewer will want to hear that you will bring the ability to prioritize and stay organized in your work, no matter how hectic things will get.

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How to Answer: At Boeing, how would you prioritize multiple projects when they all seem equally important?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Boeing job interview.

  • 32. At Boeing, how would you prioritize multiple projects when they all seem equally important?

      Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

      Prioritizing is a skill that requires practice. There are many instances where you will be handling multiple tasks and projects at one time in this role. In turn, your interviewer will want to hear that you will bring the ability to prioritize and stay organized in your work, no matter how hectic things will get.

      Written by Karrie Day on June 3rd, 2023

      How to Answer

      As you answer this question, talk about your ability to prioritize work by giving an example of a time that you've had to do this in your past. As you discuss this, talk about the tools that you used to stay organized and on track with all that you were assigned at a given time. Having a tried and true system in place will impress your interviewer and show that you are ready to handle all that is thrown at you.

      Be sure to discuss industry-standard prioritization methods if you are a senior-level candidate and your role requires knowledge of specific prioritization models such as Kano, Cost of Delay, or Weighted Shortest Job First. This will help convince your interviewer you have the ability to leverage analytical methods until your on-the-job knowledge catches up to your peers.

      Written by Karrie Day on June 3rd, 2023

      Entry Level Example

      "My first step is to ensure that my understanding of the priority of my tasks is accurate. I like to check in with my manager or someone who is more senior in the role to discuss the scenario and see if they have guidance to offer. Those discussions sometimes lead to helpful adjustments or an offer for support that helps me get everything done.

      In the event all of the priorities are equal, I then lean on my time management skills to make sure my projects are successful. I like to plan out my week in advance and then revisit my plan daily. I allow time for unplanned tasks that pop up throughout the week, and I communicate any status changes as soon as they are known."

      Written by Karrie Day on November 14th, 2022

      Answer Example

      "In my current position, I am juggling many priorities and deadlines all of the time and I've really honed a great system to keep myself organized and prioritized in what I am working on at any given moment. First and foremost, I ensure that my calendar is up to date with my deadlines, meetings, and time set aside for project work. I also keep a running written list of all of my tasks. I know this seems kind of old school, but I find it works out well for me to work off of a written list. Every morning, I reprioritize my list of to-do's based on the highest priority items. As well, I try to leave windows of time open each day to work on the high needs, quick-fix problems that surface on a daily basis in my work."

      Written by Ryan Brunner on November 13th, 2021

      Experienced Example

      "I have learned that there are times when there are truly several top priorities and they all deserve my attention. I work extra hard during these times to get everything done. I am willing to put in extra hours, or reach out to my peers for support. I also limit distractions and lean on detailed plans and task lists."

      Written by Karrie Day on November 14th, 2022

      Business Analyst Example

      "Working on multiple projects with competing priorities is normal for me in my work as a business analyst. I have learned to use strategic and project planning best practices to ensure that I get everything done on time.

      I review roadmaps regularly to ensure that I understand the long range plans of my projects. This helps me to identify in advance the times when I will most likely be the busiest. I then plan things out week to week as efficiently as possible. I look for opportunities to apply lead and lag best practices and I use downtime for one project to complete tasks on another. These strategies have helped me to improve my planning skills and deliver my work on time and in a quality manner."

      Written by Karrie Day on November 14th, 2022

      Project Manager Example

      "I use time management, planning skills, and formal tools such as the Kano model to prioritize my own work as a project manager. I adjust my approach to match the needs of the situation as needed.

      The more important aspect of my work is to ensure that my teams have a solid plan to work from when they are working on multiple high priority initiatives. Scenarios like these can be stressful for a team and it helps them to know there is a strategic and thoughtful plan in place. I review the plan regularly with my teams and offer support in whatever ways I can to make sure they have the time they need to get everything done on schedule. I communicate changes to the plan as soon as they are known, and I check in regularly to ensure we stay on track."

      Written by Karrie Day on June 3rd, 2023

      Software Engineer Example

      "My current team follows an agile methodology. We work quickly, and I am usually assigned several features within each sprint. My go to strategy is to plan my work out across the entire sprint at the end of our design sessions. I set small goals and use an online calendar tool to share my plan with my team.

      I usually work on a quick hit feature first so that there are things ready for a test while I am working on completing more difficult deliverables. Finally, I make clear commitments in my stand up meetings each day so that my teammates know what to expect from me. I let the scrum master know if I have any roadblocks, and I make sure I ask for any information or support I need as early as possible."

      Written by Karrie Day on November 14th, 2022

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "There have been many times when I had tasks to complete by a deadline. As a teacher, I had to juggle multiple classes, lesson plans, and get grades back to students promptly. As a student at university, I had many projects or tests to prepare for each finals weeks. My method remains the same, I list what needs to be completed, when it needs to be completed by, what could be extended, if one task relies on another's completion, and what are the consequences if something was not done on time."

      Amanda's Feedback

      It sounds like you're used to managing multiple priorities simultaneously. You can consider strengthening this answer by explaining your rationale for completing projects in a particular order? Do you complete the most urgent first or those that are required for the completion of another later? Do you complete those that may include information or pieces needed by a team member? In addition, what tools or strategies do you rely on to ensure all things are completed timely such as a shared calendar, reminder app, time blocking, etc.? Adding this information helps the interviewer understand how you work to support your team and achieve overarching goals.
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  • About the Author

    As a former technologist, I was excited when I learned I would be working on the Boeing Q&A set. I knew going in that Boeing had a strong track record of innovation and excellence when it comes to their use of technology, but I learned so much more when I dug in to research the company. Here are a few things that impressed me personally:

    Product Development Process Maturity
    I spent time digging through the open roles at Boeing and I noticed roles that indicate that the process of developing products at Boeing is advanced. They know their stuff! For example, they employ multiple levels of scrum masters. This means they assign highly skilled and advanced product development facilitators to teams working on mission-critical projects. Additionally, some of their teams utilize SAFe (scaled agile framework). This means Boeing understands how to bridge multiple teams together in a scaled agile setting for maximum collaboration and success. That's important!

    Lean Practices
    Boeing leverages lean principles within their manufacturing sectors, software engineering, and operations groups. This means they understand how to maximize value, ensure quality, and reduce waste. Each of these practices is good for the company, good for its clients, and in theory, good for the employees of Boeing.

    Well Developed Careers Site
    The career coach in me really appreciated Boeing's careers pages. They are very clear about what they are looking for in each of the roles listed. They offer a breakdown of responsibilities and the types of traits/soft skills needed. They use descriptive language such as 'relentless improvements' and 'thinking beyond boundaries'. They also offer salary range, benefits, and relocation assistance information. All of this tells me that Boeing is committed to identifying candidates that are a great fit for their needs and their culture.

    Talent Development and Long-Term Career Options
    Boeing has a strong internship program. This is a smart move in my opinion. They invest in bringing young talent in, showing them the world of Boeing, and then convincing the best to come back and work full-time. Programs like these help to develop future leaders, and Boeing isn't shy about their preference for promoting from within. They also have a well-developed leadership program, a healthy list of business resource groups, demonstrated commitment to hiring veterans, and several continual learning programs. If the idea of working your way up in a company like Boeing sounds appealing, they may be the perfect fit for you!

    In summary, there are always new and exciting opportunities at Boeing that offer a wide range of benefits. No matter what type of role you are interested in, landing a job at Boeing results in an impressive addition to your future resume. I hope this Q&A set has helped you prepare and boost your excitement about your upcoming interview at Boeing. I wish you success, and I encourage you to keep Boeing on your radar in the future!

    Learn more about Karrie Day