Tell me about a time when you created a unique idea or solution, and it was rejected by your colleagues. How were you able to bounce back?
An effective strategy for answering this type of behavioral question is to demonstrate the values of Huron Consulting Group within your response. For example, you might describe a situation in which your idea was solid, backed by data and best practices, was rejected, and you responded with humility. This style of response proves to your interviewer that you're ready to handle frustration or disappointment with the professionalism and poise required for success as a member of the Huron Consulting team.
"A couple of years ago I made a recommendation for scheduling that would have included some split shifts. The result was less overtime and reduced expenses for the company. My colleagues were unhappy with the idea of split shifts. I was able to see their perspective which made it much easier to bounce back from the rejection. My overall attitude is, you win some - you lose some!"
"I recently suggested a workflow adjustment in combination with a reporting solution that would have saved my client hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars a month in operating expenses. The current state workflow relied heavily on manual processes and resulted in data errors in addition to inefficiencies. While workflow changes are the norm for me, my suggestion seemed crazy to my clients because they had been doing things the same way for over a decade. Despite the value of my suggestion, my peers on the client side opted to focus first on an executive reporting solution and put the workflow adjustments on the back burner.
While I understood the need for executive reporting, I felt it would have been a better move to adjust the process to generate more reliable data and then build reports. My internal team agreed, but I have learned as a consultant that sometimes you have to yield to the politics of the company you're working with and it is important to allow clients latitude to learn and decide what is right for them.
Ultimately, the reporting solution had gaps until the workflow changes I originally suggested were implemented. My client noted afterward that they should have followed my guidance. I responded with humility and we moved forward to the next piece of the project with the lessons learned in mind."
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