We pride ourselves on being nimble and able to adapt to changes within a complex business environment. Tell me about a time you had to shift your priorities in response to sudden changes.

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
How to Answer
1st Entry Level Example
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example

Kimberly-Clark strongly values taking action in doing what's right for their people, their business and the world. In the competitive market they serve, this action most often comes in the form of being adaptable to change, and your interviewer needs to be assured that their top candidate joins their team with the ability to be fluid in their work.

The interviewer has given you a clue in the question - Kimberly-Clark wants its employees to be adaptable. Assure the interviewer that you can respond professionally to sudden changes by discussing a time you had to do just this. Be as specific as you can as you describe how you reacted promptly and professionally to a major change in your work that was out of your control.

"Last year, I had a family emergency and had to miss a week of class on a moment's notice. With only a month of the semester left when I returned, I had a lot to catch up on. While the family emergency was very stressful and emotionally draining, I couldn't sulk and feel bad for myself. I wouldn't allow that to happen. I buckled down, got to work, and caught up in just two weeks. It felt great to be primed for finals when I was honestly fearful of how difficult it would be."

"In my current role, our sales goals can change frequently based on marketplace behavior or trends, and sometimes this happens at the last minute. I have adapted very well to these frequent, sudden changes and always try to respond with creativity. This speaks to the heart of what it means to be successful in the consumer marketplace. I believe in making sound plans and being prepared to abandon those plans based on last-minute changes in circumstances, and I'm excited to bring this attitude to work at Kimberly-Clark."

"In my previous role at a high-growth tech startup, the sales organization was restructured several times, from a new boss to new teams and territories. Some of the accounts I had been nurturing but had not yet converted were now handed off to another sales rep who received the fruits of my labor. Of course, this can be very frustrating; however, by sitting down with management to understand the reason for the change, I saw the bigger objective and ultimately increase my sales performance."