We value calculated risk from our staff. Tell me about a time you took an unusual risk in the workplace. What was the outcome?

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

According to their career site, one of Kimberly-Clark's top values is doing what is necessary to achieve results. When asking this question, your interviewer wants to be assured that you are not afraid to break out of your mold on the job if hired.

As your interviewer asks, talk about a specific time you broke the mold to find a better way of doing things on the job. In your answer, you'll want to discuss your mindset in thinking of the risk you wanted to take and why it was necessary to do so. Then, walk your interviewer through the action you took to put your plan in place and talk about the result of your action. Remember that communication is always key in these situations, so display how you used your communication skills to make this change a reality.

"If hired here at Kimberly-Clark, you can be assured that, even though I'm a new graduate, I am always looking for ways to improve and think outside the box. I have my program to thank for that and some great professors I worked under. They challenged us to think of new ideas to forward progress, and I'm ready to bring that mindset to work here."

"Last month, I took an unusual risk by accepting an outside sales call as an inside sales employee. An existing client asked me to meet him because he had some additional business he was thinking of awarding our company, but he wanted to make sure we had a strong rapport before he handed the business over. I met him in person, and we got along so well that he gave my company an additional $1M in annual business. I knew it was a risk because my traditional area of expertise is inside sales accounts, but I knew the reward was greater than the potential risk, so I took it. It was well worth it! I made sure to make my director aware, and she was also on board."

"I took a risk by leaving my strategic account management position to take an entry sales position in another organization early in my career. My family thought I was nuts. But while it was risky, I wanted to get into sales and experience a startup environment. It worked out great, as I got basic sales experience and have been steadily promoted since. My career has moved in an upward trajectory so much faster since I took that leap of faith."