How do prioritize when juggling multiple projects or tasks at once?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
How to Answer
Pro Tip
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example
Community Answers

This will help them assess your approach to your work. Being singularly focused is a strength, so long as you're able to shift gears and exhibit flexibility when the need arises.

Talk about the tools and resources you use to plan your work and stay organized on the job. Exhibit diligence and a capability to prioritize.

Multitasking is challenging for most people. How you track your progress and pick up where you left off on a task you had to shelf when more pressing priorities took precedent is what they are looking for. Staying productive and preventing rework is part one of this. Your ability to exhibit sound judgment and prioritize based on the greater good for the team is of equal relevance.

"I will determine which project requires my attention by the number of hours we are behind and then the project size. I am comfortable delegating tasks when needed, but I am also aware that these times will require an additional commitment of hours from me. Never have I underdelivered on a deadline and I really owe this to my ability to stay organized in my work. I currently use LiquidPlanner for all aspects of managing large projects and it does a great job of laying out tasks and deadlines for my team."

"I have a great system for managing my current workload. I utilize my Outlook calendar and tasks list to set my meetings and keep track of important deadlines. Each afternoon before leaving the office, I make a list of my urgent to-do's the next day and keep a running list of new tasks that get added to my workload. I have the ability to reprioritize when needed and I feel these are essential tools for success here at Johnson & Johnson."

Anonymous Answer

"Usually, I prioritize the projects by taking into account urgency and deadlines. For long term projects, I set short term goals, and I work on them regularly. Also, I estimate how long it takes to complete each project, and I allocate my time effectively. I am very organized, and I create a daily planner with my deadlines."

Rachelle's Feedback

You sound very organized and efficient! Are there any special tools or applications that you like to use to keep project stages on track?

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I will list out all the things I need to do and then finish those little tasks first. Then I will first work on tasks based on the deadline. I will also spare some time for those tasks that are time-consuming, but the deadline is still far away."

Marcie's Feedback

This is a good answer. Your strategy to tackle little tasks first, work on others based on deadlines, and also work a little bit at a time on larger tasks over several days all make sense. Just keep in mind that the interviewer may also like to hear that you will consult with your manager when determining your priorities as well since sometimes some projects take precedence over others despite the standing deadlines. You might also mention the program you use to track your priorities, tasks, and deadlines.

"When I have multiple projects on my plate, I definitely focus first on prioritization. I will consult with my manager and team members to see which project(s) are most urgent. I'll also take into account deadlines and how much time it will take to complete various tasks. Once I have done this, I generally like to tackle the smaller tasks first to get them out of the way, followed by deadline-driven tasks. Meanwhile, I also keep in mind larger tasks that need to be broken down and worked on little by little over several days. I generally keep track of all my tasks and their deadlines in an app like Trello or Asana."

Anonymous Answer

"When I have multiple projects on the go I prioritize by just bringing it down to what is the most important and waiting if anything is on a time limit or if it is urgent. For example, I currently work Monday through Friday 8-4, And then on the side I am teaching in the evenings and I read remote monitor Holter reports. Obviously by Monday to Friday schedule is pretty free forward so that it’s easy to manage then I know what days I am teaching so the Holter reports come last. Every evening I quickly skim through them and make sure nothing is urgent and I can wait until the evening I am not teaching. The doctor I work for knows my schedule and he is very understanding if I am ever overwhelmed that I cannot keep up I’m open and honest with him and remove some of the workload over to another coworker."

Amanda's Feedback

This is a strong answer! You've done a great job using an example from your current work situation to showcase how you prioritize multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring that it all gets done in a timely manner.

How to Answer: How do prioritize when juggling multiple projects or tasks at once?

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

42. How do prioritize when juggling multiple projects or tasks at once?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

This will help them assess your approach to your work. Being singularly focused is a strength, so long as you're able to shift gears and exhibit flexibility when the need arises.

Written by Kevin Downey on February 12th, 2022