How do you respond to problems that require a quick solution?
When it comes to complex problem solving, decisions are not always readily reached. It takes practice, experience, and confidence to learn what sorts of decisions yield the best results. Walk the interviewer through your process when it comes to making quick decisions. Do you rely on past experiences? Perhaps you go with a gut feeling. Maybe you have read case studies that you lean on in these instances.
Problems that require you to act quickly can be emergency situations such as knowing where the fire extinguisher is and grabbing it fast enough to put out a small grease fire in the company kitchen. Other quick decisions could be if you are asked to take on a new responsibility and are only given five minutes to decide if it's something you are prepared to take on. Going with your gut is a skill, and the more you learn to trust your intuition, the easier it becomes to make these types of decisions. Demonstrate that you are confident and able to react swiftly when the need arises.
"I thrive under pressure and always have, so when I'm given a time-sensitive situation to address, I light up and get down to business. I am more impactful and even more creative when I have little time to do much besides jump in and take charge. This ability to make fast decisions is especially helpful in my role as manager when there is an inventory, personnel, or customer issue."
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
On occasion at my current job, a quick solution is required while following strict protocols. An example would be if a donor has a severe reaction. Being a member of management, I am responsible for coordinating our team and making snap judgments on how to proceed.
Amanda's Feedback
This is a good starting place. You've indicated that you sometimes have to respond with a quick solution to win your current role. However, you need to go deeper by talking about how you respond in situations that require a quick solution. Situations that require a quick solution can range from an emergency to a customer service issue or a conflict between team members. Consider using a specific example that demonstrates that you are able to react swiftly when needed to resolve an issue and achieve a positive outcome.
