How would you handle a situation here at NASA in which you were presented with new material or a new task that you didn't understand?

"I welcome the unfamiliar at work because it means that I have an opportunity to learn and grow as a professional. When I first receive something like this, I often start by asking clarifying questions about the material or project to better gauge my level of understanding. After that, I might research on my own depending on the circumstances and my level of non-understanding. However, if it is particularly complex, or if my understanding is minimal, then I would seek guidance from a supervisor or colleague. I have so much to learn from others at work, and I always appreciate the opportunity to develop in that way as a professional when I'm able. I would look forward to bringing this same attitude to work at NASA."

"The first thing I would do if presented with new material I didn't understand would be to research the material on my own. I would spend enough time to make sure I understood the basic concepts involved. From there, I would ask my supervisor for clarification and guidance on how I could continue my education on the subject. This might include shadowing, practicing a new skill, or working with a new system.

I really enjoy learning new things and exploring new opportunities. NASA has a strong track record of innovation and allowing employees to learn on the job. These are some of the main reasons I am excited about the possibility of joining your organization."

"As a project manager, I typically lean on the relationships I form to assist me when I am presented with something that is new or unclear. I work with cross-functional teams of subject matter experts and senior stakeholders. They represent a vast pool of knowledge and expertise to lean on. My approach usually involves asking around to see if anyone has tackled something similar and then breaking the assignment down into actionable tasks from there.

I would apply a similar process at NASA. I would ask my team to see if they could help me to clarify the situation, and then I would seek guidance from any available subject matter experts as needed until I could develop a reasonable plan."

"My assignments as an engineer frequently have elements that are unknown. For example, the requirements for a solution may be clear, but the design may be unknown. Likewise, I may know how the system I am an engineer for will function, but I may not know how a downstream integration point will be affected if I make a change.

My go-to approach in situations that are unclear or new is to ask around and experiment. I discuss complex scenarios with technical leads, other engineers at my company, or with peers online. Chances are that someone has faced something similar. I also build prototypes to test assumptions and experiment before proceeding with full-blown implementations if the end result is unclear. I feel confident I would be able to handle new or unclear situations here at NASA using a similar approach."

Use this question to display to the interviewers how you identify where your gaps of understanding are as well as the initiative you take to seek solutions or support. As you answer, be sure to reiterate that you use your solid communication skills in seeking understanding. Align your response directly with NASA's values and prove that you have a multifaceted approach to taking action when a gap in your knowledge exists.