When planning, what considerations do you take for contingency scenarios?
Talk to the interviewer about your resourcefulness and ability to remain calm and think clearly in high-pressure situations. They are looking for candidates who can think fast on their feet, adapt quickly to changing situations, and display an ability to think outside the box. One of NAV CANADA'S Four Pillars says, "Expertise is the cornerstone - the skill, agility, leadership, and collaboration of our people make the difference."
"I feel that creating alternative scenarios in all situations is vital. One cannot guess what will happen in the end, so it is great to be prepared for all possible outcomes. I try to entertain any potential 'what-ifs' interfering with my time management, so I consider all possible hiccups when planning a project. I consider the priorities of a project and estimate any contingency appropriately. This ensures that I always deliver on time or ahead of schedule. It is important to anticipate plans change and the danger of failure. So make sure your Plan B is always ready to go."
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 making a plan I always plan for a "best-case scenario" and then set up contingencies based on things that may not work as well as expected. I'm rarely without a plan and am quick to make changes whenever necessary to improve workflow and efficiency. I'm used to a fast-paced work environment so I'm well suited for making calm decisions even in the heat of the moment.
Marcie's Feedback
This all sounds great! To further strengthen your answer, use the STAR method to walk the interviewer through an example of a time when you created a plan with contingencies.
Anonymous Answer
I find that you always need a Plan B. When I was leading a proposal submission, I would lay out the tasks that I needed everyone to complete, but I always had a "just in case" plan. Sometimes people wouldn't come through with their tasks, even if I reminded them, so I would make sure I had something in place I could fall back on.
Jaymie's Feedback
Great! Demonstrating that you have a plan in place as well as a backup will demonstrate that you're prepared to pivot when necessary and run a contingency plan.
Anonymous Answer
Ensure all risks are outlined and put plans in place for inspections, tests, etc. to ensure everything is safe.
Marcie's Feedback
Great! Can you walk the interviewer through a more detailed example of either how you have or how you plan to do this one day?
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