Department of Energy Mock Interview
Master 30 Department of Energy interview questions covering energy policy, national security, and technical expertise.
Question 19 of 30
Tell us about a time you had to make a decision without checking in with your supervisor.
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Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
Innovation is partly achieved by taking calculated risks. For some, taking risks comes naturally. Others might take risks compulsively, which could turn costly for an individual, a family, or a company. Then there are those who are risk-averse, maintaining the status quo. They're hoping to determine where you fall on this scale and whether you respect the chain of command or overstep your bounds.
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
Detail the situation, what inspired you to take the approach you took, and how you achieved a positive outcome. When delivering your example, you want to present yourself as someone who takes calculated risks as opposed to someone who is a habitual risk-taker.
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"My professional perspective is, that no matter what job I am performing or what position I'm in, it's my job to anticipate the needs of my superiors and the needs of the team. Therefore, sometimes that means taking a calculated risk by taking the initiative to make time-sensitive decisions when there is no one else to make them. A calculated risk has logic and strategy behind it. So the chances should be pretty good for success. A while back, our team leader got sick and missed a few days of work. There was no one for us to run our work by, so I tried to anticipate what they'd say if I ran it by them."
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