When have you had to think outside of the box to solve a problem?

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

Complicated problems require creative, outside-of-the-box solutions. Whatever the role you're applying for, you should be able to design and implement innovative solutions to your problems effectively.

Think of a time you had to devise a creative solution to a challenging problem. Discuss this solution's outcome and its positive effect on your team.

"I volunteered at a local animal shelter last year. There was a high volume of animals, and the adoption applications were low. I decided to look at the website and Facebook pages as if I were a potential adopter. I found that the photos of the animals made me feel sad, and the animals didn't look very clean or appealing. I also found the website hard to navigate compared to other county sites. I took the feedback to the director and suggested we try something new. We created fun backgrounds for photo shoots and used props and cute furniture to photograph the animals. I also made some edits to the website to make it more user-friendly and appealing to the community, and within three months, our applications had increased by 25%!"

"I once had to deal with a space issue in our warehouse. We arranged and re-arranged several times and could not make it work. I thought outside the box and rented some outside pod storage until we returned to normal inventory levels."

"In my current position, we saw fewer clients due to a local economic downturn. I recommended to our head office that we begin generating business outside our region for the first time in many years. They agreed, and the idea turned things around for us that fiscal year."