MockQuestions

Robert Half Mock Interview

Question 2 of 35 for our Robert Half Mock Interview

Robert Half was updated by on September 29th, 2019. Learn more here.

Question 2 of 35

Tell me about a time you lost a job order or placement to a competitor. How did you react?

"I have one particular client who refuses ever to give exclusivity. Most of the time, their open jobs are shopped out to three other staffing agencies. The most recent order was to find a chemical engineer with 15+ years of experience, which came from a direct competitor of my client. This search was incredibly specific, and a competing agency had already approached many of the candidates I called. I felt behind most of the search and, unfortunately, did not make the final placement. I took the situation for what it was; you win some, and you lose some. I will continue to give priority to this client and offer the best service possible. I'll also ensure that I am displaying the benefits of working with Robert Half by being professional, available, and understanding their needs. Also, I will never stop asking for exclusivity - in hopes that they change their mind one day."

Next Question

How to Answer: Tell me about a time you lost a job order or placement to a competitor. How did you react?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Robert Half job interview.

  • 2. Tell me about a time you lost a job order or placement to a competitor. How did you react?

      How to Answer

      Very often, you will work on job orders that are not exclusive. This non-exclusivity means that your client may give the same job order to five different staffing agencies, and may the best recruiter win! This situation is especially challenging when you live in a smaller city or if the position requires a particular skill set.

      Robert Half needs to see that you are up for the challenge and that you act gracefully and professionally on the days you don't win. Discuss a situation from the past, highlighting how you reacted and made the best of the situation.

      Written by Rachelle Enns on August 19th, 2021

      1st Answer Example

      "I have one particular client who refuses ever to give exclusivity. Most of the time, their open jobs are shopped out to three other staffing agencies. The most recent order was to find a chemical engineer with 15+ years of experience, which came from a direct competitor of my client. This search was incredibly specific, and a competing agency had already approached many of the candidates I called. I felt behind most of the search and, unfortunately, did not make the final placement. I took the situation for what it was; you win some, and you lose some. I will continue to give priority to this client and offer the best service possible. I'll also ensure that I am displaying the benefits of working with Robert Half by being professional, available, and understanding their needs. Also, I will never stop asking for exclusivity - in hopes that they change their mind one day."

      Written by Rachelle Enns on August 19th, 2021

      2nd Answer Example

      "I made an in-person client call to discuss a few sales openings with a prevalent advertising company in our region. I was eager to win their business and had a lot of great questions prepared for our meeting. Although I felt the meeting went well, the client called me the next day to tell me they gave the business to our competitor because their fees were lower. Our agency keeps integrity in our pricing, so I could not negotiate enough to win the business. I took the situation gracefully because I know that our agency offers much more full-service than the competitor they chose. I ended up hearing back from the client a short time later, expressing that they wanted to give our agency a try after all. It never pays to burn a bridge, and I am so happy that I stuck to my process and remained professional throughout our initial interactions."

      Written by Rachelle Enns on August 19th, 2021

    • Next Question