What sources do you look to when needing to solve a complicated problem on the job?

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How to Answer
What NOT to Say
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example
Community Answers

How you answer this question will attest to your professionality and experience on the job. It will offer them insights as to how resourceful you are as well as how self-reliant you are in your work. It will also inform them if you have 'tricks-of-the-trade' you'll lend their organization or if you ask your supervisor for help every five minutes, distracting them from their work.

When formulating your answer, try to strike a balance between being independent and resourceful, and not being afraid to ask for help when all other options have been exhausted. Once you have framed your answer, try to back it up with an example where you've put your skills to practice.

"My smartphone. I use it for everything. If you see me scrolling on my phone or talking on the phone, that's why. I only use it for work."

"When faced with a complicated problem, I will look to the resources that my current company has provided me. The answer is almost always in there, whether it be in our online resources or a policy manual. If it's more of a moral dilemma vs. a knowledge-based dilemma, I will ask my supervisor for his thoughts and opinion since I value him as a mentor and expert in our industry."

"To solve a complex issue, I never hesitate to reach out to a manager or colleague to ask them how they've handled such issues in the past. I am always ready to dive back into our handbook, but these types of scenarios are often not covered there, which is why I value a human, experiential approach. I know that there are so many folks in the industry who have so much to teach me and have probably already been there and done that, so I love to utilize them as a resource."

Anonymous Answer

"When I have to solve a complicated problem, first, I go back to the resources I have, such as documents, handbooks, and online research. As a next step, I reach out to colleagues or to my supervisor, who has previous experience in resolving similar issues. Even if they don't give me a direct solution, I will use their feedback to handle the situation."

Rachelle's Feedback

You sound highly competent, and this methodology is excellent when you need to approach complex issues.

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Anonymous Answer

"When I see a complicated problem I take a step back and just think for a moment. Often when there is something that isn’t straightforward people can get overwhelmed. In almost every situation there’s an answer whether that is in a manual or On the lovely world of the Internet now. If for some reason I cannot solve the problem on my own I would reach out to co-workers or management and solve the task as a team."

Amanda's Feedback

This is a solid response that highlights your logical mindset and ability to utilize all resources to solve a problem including procedural manuals, online research, or the expertise of coworkers. Consider improving this answer by relating an example of a time when you were faced with a complicated problem and how you used various resources to solve it. Make sure to share the positive outcome. Using an example helps the interviewer see that your approach works in real-life scenarios.