"My coworker was a great salesman, but admittedly terrible at the administrative side. He made so many mistakes and didn't seem to care. It bothered me because I take such pride in the quality of my work. I decided to talk with him and found out that he wasn't very clear on expectations or how to do some of the basic aspects of the paperwork for each sale. He ended up going to some additional training to get on the same page as the rest of the team. In the end, even though I was nervous about having the initial conversation with him, I was very glad that I did approach him and he was thankful as well."

"The first thing I would do in the event a coworker was not doing their job would be to ensure that my observation is correct. I am in the early stages of my career, and I realize that my understanding of the responsibilities of my coworker may be limited.

Next, I would ask a mentor, or trusted coworker how situations like these are typically handled at Boeing. I know different companies handle performance issues in various ways and I would want to make sure my approach was in line with the culture of Boeing. I would then determine my next steps based on what is best for my team, my coworker, and the company."

"In my experience, it is always best to have a candid conversation with a coworker who is not fulfilling the requirements of the role. I feel it is important to extend a coworker the same courtesy I would appreciate if the situation were reversed. I typically keep these conversations short and focus on the business impact of the issue. I find that just bringing the problem to light often results in the necessary improvements.

As a manager, I also have a duty to take specific action if the resource falls within my area of responsibility. In cases like that, I start with a conversation about the issues in a one-on-one, and then I allow time for improvement. If the issues persist, I move forward with formal performance reports and action plans as needed."

"I have experienced issues like these before with coworkers. I prefer to talk with the individual directly first. This is especially important if we are partnering on an analysis deliverable. I approach these conversations with empathy and kindness and try to work toward some kind of agreement for change. I would be open to offering support to my coworker if they need help or mentoring.

In the event the issues continue, I would speak with the project manager assigned to the initiative we are working on, or the resource manager my coworker reports to."

"As a project manager, the members of my teams do not report directly to me, but I am directly accountable to our stakeholders for the success of their work. Therefore, it is important for me to quickly address performance issues that occur within the teams I work with. I like to start with a casual conversation to make the issue known and determine if there is anything I can do to offer support. I often find that coworkers are unaware of the issue, or going through a difficult personal situation. Sometimes the initial conversation is all that is needed.

In the event more action is required, I work with the coworker to set clear expectations for improvement. I also adjust their assignments or pair them with a mentor as needed. We work out a reasonable time for change, and follow-up accordingly. I let them know my next step would be to speak with their manager, and I have rarely had to take that step."

"My work as a software engineer is usually one piece of a solution developed by several engineers at the same time. It is important that we all deliver code that meets a certain standard because our solutions are tightly integrated. Even small errors in quality or design can cause major problems.

I usually speak directly with my technical lead or scrum master when I experience an issue with a coworker. I lean on their expertise and leadership skills to help me figure out the best way forward. I am always willing to work with a coworker to help them improve if the performance issue is due to a skill or knowledge gap."

Explain to the interviewer that you understand how everyone is different in how they work and that communication can help bring clarity as to why a person isn't doing their job to the best of their abilities. Give an example where you helped talk through a colleague not performing on the job by addressing the situation by asking questions and being honest.