How to Answer: What is the riskiest decision you have ever made? What was the result?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Paycom job interview.
4. What is the riskiest decision you have ever made? What was the result?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
As a successful professional, you have encountered risk before in the industry, and you may have even needed to make quick decisions to address this risk. The interviewer asks this behavioral-based question to learn more about your logical reasoning skills when it comes to addressing risk on the job.
Written by Rachel Hills on January 22nd, 2022
How to Answer
Give the interviewer a specific example of a work-related risk you have taken and the result of your actions. Hopefully, you've chosen a risky decision that paid off in the end and reflects well on your decision-making abilities.
Start with an overview of the decision you needed to make and explain why the situation was risky. Describe who the situation affected, as well as the possible outcomes. Complete your answer by sharing how the decision paid off or by mentioning any recognition you received for your success.
Written by Rachel Hills on January 22nd, 2022
1st Answer Example
"The riskiest decision I ever made was to leave the recruitment industry to move into workforce planning as a consultant. The risk meant that if I was unsuccessful, I would be looking for a new job in a really slow economy. The payoff would be that I would finally be in a sector that I was truly interested in. I made a great career for myself for the next 8 years, which has brought me here today with an exceptional opportunity in front of me."
Written by Rachel Hills on January 22nd, 2022
2nd Answer Example
"One of the riskiest decisions I made was to leave my corporate job and join a start-up with an innovative idea that was meaningful to me. We worked hard and smart to launch and create a new space in the industry. We failed a lot along the way, but we learned from our mistakes, and it made us all better professionals."
Written by Rachel Hills on January 22nd, 2022