Talk about a time when you succeeded despite being under intense pressure.
The hiring managers at Progressive want assurance that you can handle the pressure that comes from working in the high-pressure, ever-evolving insurance industry. The goal of your response is to provide evidence that you have the mindset and tenacity to behave professionally and appropriately while working under pressure.
This question presents the opportunity for you to be a storyteller. Using the STAR method, form an engaging story-based response that showcases your proudest accomplishment. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result.
Use a solid and compelling example of your poise under pressure. Be as specific as you can while remaining concise and on topic. If possible, provide a story of a time when you were under a type of pressure related to this position's duties. Your response should come from a recent scenario.
The expectations placed on you at Progressive might feel overwhelming at times. For this reason, the hiring managers are looking for evidence of your ability to face pressure while still ensuring that you deliver high-quality work.
Talk about a specific time when you were under a lot of pressure at work, yet you succeeded. Outline the situation, explain why you felt under pressure, and describe your actions. Spotlight that you made well-calculated decisions even though you felt some strain or conflict. If your actions made a measurable impact, discuss the results you generated.
The average HireVue interview takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. This one-way video interview typically includes 3-5 questions. Depending on the HireVue parameters set by Progressive, the asynchronous interview platform will generally give you 30 seconds to prepare a response and up to 2 minutes to answer each question. It's important to note that HireVue stops recording as soon as your time limit is up, so it's better to run under time than overtime.
"Throughout my career in the professional services sector, I have gained the skills required to deal with stress constructively. (Situation) Last year, one of our Insurance Managers retired, and she passed me one of her most important legacy accounts. I was thrilled to have the opportunity; however, this account was notorious for being complex. (Task) I knew that onboarding this client would be challenging. It would take a great deal of diligence, research, and time on my end. I felt overwhelmed, but I knew that serving this account to the best of my ability would help my department meet its goals, and it would be a valuable addition to my portfolio. (Action) I sought out a mentor with more industry experience to ensure my success. This individual taught me incredibly beneficial approaches and tools for managing my time, controlling stress, and regulating my mindset under pressure. (Result) As a result, I successfully onboarded this account and even received accolades from the client, which felt great. Now, when I feel immense pressure on the job or in my personal life, I lean on these mechanisms and techniques to get me to the finish line with focus and poise."
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
I consider myself a top performer when the going gets tough because of my ability to stay focused on the task at hand and remain calm. Over the last year, teachers have been working very short-staffed, and this has caused major stress for everyone. My principal has praised me for prioritizing work smartly and efficiently so I can chip in to help others.
Marcie's Feedback
Nice! Can you talk more specifically about a time or two when you stepped in and helped a teacher? Give details so the interviewer understands exactly what you did and what kind of pressure you were under. Emphasize your ability to work effectively in a hectic and intense environment. Good job!