How do you handle situations that could cause you to be late or miss work?
Your interviewer wants to see how proactive you are when unexpected situations arise. How you handle situations that could cause you to be late or miss work is different than how well you manage your time and how proactive you are with arriving at work early or on time. Calling ahead to inform your employer you've run into an issue that could result in arriving to work late will indicate a sense of teamwork and forward thinking. Talk about your time management skills, your track record for being early, and your big-picture lens and sense of teamwork to give them a heads up while holding yourself accountable.
"I stay calm and composed when issues arise. My dad got rear-ended one time when driving me to school. I texted my friend to see if she could tell my teacher. I explained the situation to my teacher when I got to class. If this happened on my way to work, I would call ahead of time to ensure someone could cover my shift."
"I hope never to be late! When I started working at a restaurant at sixteen, we were taught, 'if you're on time, you're late,' so I've worked to implement that into my life. I always try to arrive 15 minutes early, but unforeseen circumstances can arise. I handle surprises using common sense and keeping courtesy to others top of mind."
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
Communicate to my direct supervisor with as much notice as possible.
Stephanie's Feedback
Great; I suggest that you also add that you rarely miss work. (See my updated response in the "Revised Answer" section.)
While I am highly dependable, timely, and rarely miss a day of work, if a situation does arise that impacts my ability to be at work on time, I immediately communicate with my direct supervisor, giving them as much notice as possible.
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