Tell me about a time you faced uncertainty. How did you handle it?

How to Answer
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example

Ambiguity is an inevitable part of most jobs and especially those within the financial services industry. Your interviewer wants to know that you are comfortable with uncertainty and can use solid logical reasoning skills to find the best path forward. While some employers are okay with answering every little question you might have, know that most employers don't want to have to hold your hand through every project. Using an experience as an example, demonstrate your ability to run with a situation even if you don't have every little detail.

"I think that uncertainty keeps the job exciting, so I can assure you I'm comfortable with not having every piece of information. When I worked for a tech startup a few years ago, each day presented new challenges and uncertainties that we had to tackle. Our first time onboarding a new client was particularly challenging, as we didn't already have precedents in place. I handled this uncertainty through diligent preparation in the weeks leading up to our kick-off call. I did extensive research on the client, made sure I was comfortable with our project management tools and created various contingency plans. Overall, onboarding went well, and we developed a close relationship with this client filled with productive work together. Even though they were our first client and we had no blueprint to follow, I approached the situation by listening closely to the clients' pain points and developing subsequent deliverables to address each one."

"As I'm sure you and your team are well aware, last year was a particularly volatile one for the market. As a result, I dealt with uncertainty daily. Over time, I became quite comfortable with this uncertainty and communicated it effectively to my clients. I found that regular communication and well-thought-out plans for varying scenarios were best to deal with uncertainty. Further, I became comfortable with changing the course of action at a moment's notice depending on a client's risk tolerance and financial goals."

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How to Answer: Tell me about a time you faced uncertainty. How did you handle it?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Standard Bank job interview.

8. Tell me about a time you faced uncertainty. How did you handle it?

How to Answer

Ambiguity is an inevitable part of most jobs and especially those within the financial services industry. Your interviewer wants to know that you are comfortable with uncertainty and can use solid logical reasoning skills to find the best path forward. While some employers are okay with answering every little question you might have, know that most employers don't want to have to hold your hand through every project. Using an experience as an example, demonstrate your ability to run with a situation even if you don't have every little detail.

1st Answer Example

"I think that uncertainty keeps the job exciting, so I can assure you I'm comfortable with not having every piece of information. When I worked for a tech startup a few years ago, each day presented new challenges and uncertainties that we had to tackle. Our first time onboarding a new client was particularly challenging, as we didn't already have precedents in place. I handled this uncertainty through diligent preparation in the weeks leading up to our kick-off call. I did extensive research on the client, made sure I was comfortable with our project management tools and created various contingency plans. Overall, onboarding went well, and we developed a close relationship with this client filled with productive work together. Even though they were our first client and we had no blueprint to follow, I approached the situation by listening closely to the clients' pain points and developing subsequent deliverables to address each one."

2nd Answer Example

"As I'm sure you and your team are well aware, last year was a particularly volatile one for the market. As a result, I dealt with uncertainty daily. Over time, I became quite comfortable with this uncertainty and communicated it effectively to my clients. I found that regular communication and well-thought-out plans for varying scenarios were best to deal with uncertainty. Further, I became comfortable with changing the course of action at a moment's notice depending on a client's risk tolerance and financial goals."

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