How to Answer: What would you do if you thought you might be late to work?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Public Works job interview.
10. What would you do if you thought you might be late to work?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Your interviewer is curious to learn more about your attendance record. How you respond to this question will likely provide clues as to where you are on the scale from always being early, arriving right on time, to consistently running behind schedule. Your answer can also offer clues to your work-life balance, your sense of teamwork, your work ethic, and how likely you are to burn out of the job versus finding job satisfaction.
Written by Kevin Downey on January 9th, 2024
What You Need to Know
A person who has stronger time management skills is more likely to anticipate delays and plan ahead for them and is consistently on time or early to work. Someone who is consistently on time or early to work is more of a team player and would be more prone to alert their team of the possibility of running late. Whereas someone who is habitually late likely has poor time management skills and responds to delays and contingencies more reactively rather than proactively. And, not learning from their mistakes, they probably race to work with the hopes they make it in on time without calling attention to themselves.
Written by Kevin Downey on January 9th, 2024
Experienced Example
"I consider myself reliable, and a strong team player. I consistently show up early to work. Or, if I need a little me time before facing the world, I will show up to the parking lot early, and enjoy my coffee and radio program in my car before marching into work. Any time there is the possibility I might be held up and arrive tardily to work, I call in to give them a heads-up. But, in the five years I have been at my current company, I would say I've been late to work maybe once."
Written by Kevin Downey on January 9th, 2024