When a problem on the job requires a quick solution, how do you typically respond?
Cardinal Health values innovation and is mission-driven in their work, and these values stem from the company's need to solve real-world problems quickly. Your interviewer asks this question to gain insight into your ability and resourcefulness to quickly solve problems on the job.
"When an urgent problem arises at work, I always try to respond in a calm and assuring manner. I am a natural leader which means that my team often looks to me for answers. One instance of my fast thinking was just last week when we had an administrative employee no-show on a crucial and busy day for us. I called a temp agency, and they had the position filled in just one hour."
"I react swiftly in emergency situations. Perhaps my skills come from my years as a parent, having to think fast and put out fires! If a quick solution is required, I will do a fast overview of the facts and make a decision based on risk factors."
When it comes to complex problem solving, the decisions do not always arrive quickly. It takes practice, experience, and confidence to learn what sorts of decisions yield the best results. Problems that require you to act quickly can be emergency situations, such as knowing where the fire extinguisher is and grabbing it fast enough to put out a small grease fire in the company kitchen. Other quick decisions could be if you are asked to take on a new responsibility and are only given five minutes to decide if it's something you are prepared to take on. Going with your gut is a skill; the more you learn to trust your intuition, the easier it becomes to make decisions. Demonstrate that you are confident and can react swiftly when needed.
"I work very well under pressure and respond calmly and professionally. I quickly identify the problem and use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to find a solution. Last week, we had an issue with logistics and getting an urgent order to a hospital. I placed a few phone calls and found another delivery service that could expedite the order and get it to the hospital on time."
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
When a fire strikes, I drop what I can to make the solution as quick as possible. When covid hit and we were so much busier than normal and working from home (so we are online all the time) I realized I needed to take control of my schedule in order to be able to respond to critical items that came up. I actually blocked out two hours per day in my schedule (One hour I could use for lunch, and another hour) so that I had enough flex time to respond quickly to unexpected items.
Jaymie's Feedback
Interviewers want to know that you can remain calm under stress, be agile, and think quickly to solve a problem. Your response shows that you can recognize a problem and take quick action to solve the problem.
