Sometimes, you may work under a strict deadline in this role. Talk about a time you missed a deadline or deliverable and how you handled it.
With the constant drive for new products to hit the market, there is a good chance that at least some of your work in this job will involve working under a deadline. According to Philips Healthcare's website, concerning their corporate culture, taking ownership to deliver fast results is a quality they expect any employee to embody in their work. Because of this, they must understand that any candidate they are considering will come with the ability to meet deadlines as much as possible and will be accountable for their work if they cannot meet a deadline.
"My current team had a new leader start a few years back. She asked for several reports in a two-day turnaround time. She needed them for an executive meeting she was going to. One of the reports was very manual, and with my other responsibilities, I couldn't finish it in time. I went to her office and told her I could have this completed tomorrow, but I couldn't finish it for her meeting this morning. She asked what I was working on, and I explained my competing priority. She recommended that I come to check with her to get help prioritizing in the future. I learned a big lesson about asking your leader to advocate for you. I should have come to her first. I've kept this in mind when I've had competing deadlines."
"Last year, I had a huge project due in my economics class at the end of the semester. I made a schedule to get all of the pieces of this project done in time, but part of my project required outside data that I needed from a different university. There was a delay with this data, which delayed some of the subsequent steps of my project. I ended up getting it just a few days before the deadline. As hard as I tried, I couldn't submit it on time. I was devastated. I called my professor, who understood, but I got a reduced grade because it was late. I learned that I should have chosen a data source that was more readily available to me but also that I could have looped in my professor earlier, who might have had another idea."
Be open and honest when discussing a time you couldn't meet a deadline in the workplace. Paint the entire picture of the project or task you were working on and your ability to spot the fact that you wouldn't be able to meet the deadline. From there, you should talk about your ability to communicate with key stakeholders and take action to get as caught up as possible from there.
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 I was a freshman at college, I was taking English 2. The final paper had been due at 12 pm, which was stated by the professor in class. However, I made the mistake of not listening correctly and assuming the paper was due at midnight. I, therefore, ended up submitting my paper 12 hours late and had no idea that I had submitted it late until the professor emailed me the following day that I will get no credit.
I explained to the professor why the paper had been turned in late, and I had apologized and explained that it was entirely my fault. The professor was kind enough to be forgiving to the situation as I turned all my other assignments in on time. However, I learned valuable lessons such as, pay attention to due dates and not to assume.
Rachelle's Feedback
This would have been a disheartening email to receive; however, how you handled it shows maturity and a willingness to take responsibility.
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