When have you had to adapt to change in the workplace? How can you bring what you learned to Johnson & Johnson?
In the competitive and innovative fields of pharmaceuticals and biotech, job duties might periodically change. At Johnson & Johnson, the workforce needs to be ready to shift gears and adapt. Your interviewer would like to gauge your flexibility as such.
"In my current role, there is a lot of staff turnover when it comes to our management team. I have had to adapt to three new managers in the past four years. It is not the ideal situation, but I have proven my ability to adjust for the good of the team through my positive attitude and willingness to accept change. In these situations, I've been commended for my upstanding leadership of colleagues who weren't handling the change well."
"Over the past three years, my current department has switched our main inventory tracking system two different times, and training and adapting to each system was a huge undertaking both times. For me, it was important to maintain focus on the benefits of the new system and the reasons why we were making the change. This mindset helped me keep a positive attitude and learn fast. At Johnson & Johnson, I would bring this same positive attitude whenever faced with major changes on the job."
Being able to adapt to change in the workplace is an essential skill. Talk to the interviewer about a time when you had to adjust to changes on the job. Explain how you handled the transition and end it with a positive outcome.
Focus on the positives. Change is difficult for everyone. Even when the road to change is bumpy, the promise of what lies at the end of the road is the goal. That perspective is what you can bring to the table. Big picture thinking can go a long way.
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 working as a student ambassador I was first assigned as a general ambassador working in registration and welcoming people to campus, someone from the engineering department failed to show so they quickly needed someone to take on this role. I volunteered as a medical engineer student and adapted to the new role of talking about my course and answering any questions without any briefing. This went very well and I then was recommended by my lecturers and moved to work in the engineering department from there on. To this day I get positive feedback from this new role despite no training.
Amanda's Feedback
You've provided an example that showcases your ability to adapt and take on a new challenge quickly. You strengthen this response further by explaining what you learned from this experience that would help you in the role you're applying to. Did it build your confidence in interacting with others, improve your ability to think on your feet, sharpen your public speaking skills, or strengthen your ability to explain complex information in a clear, easy-to-understand way?
Anonymous Answer
One time I had to adapt to changing a workplace was when my previous employed clinic lost its manager. We then went without a manager for over a year. It was a large adjustment in many ways and it allowed room for more personal decision-making. I found that some coworkers took this opportunity to potentially slack off or leave work early. In my personal experience, I took this as a time to step up and take initiative. I think this experience what aid me in my leadership skills with Johnson and Johnson.
Amanda's Feedback
This is a strong example that illustrates your integrity and willingness to take initiative at work. You can give the interviewer clearer insight into how you adapted by talking about how you stepped up and took initiative when your clinic was without a manager by doing things like assigning patients, solving problems, or instituting new processes or tools.
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