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West Elm Mock Interview

Question 2 of 30 for our West Elm Mock Interview

West Elm was updated by on September 8th, 2018. Learn more here.

Question 2 of 30

Tell me about a time you were under stress or pressure at work. How did you respond?

"At my last job, I was the Manager on Duty for the first time one night when all of the electricity suddenly went out in the building. We were in the middle of customer transactions, there were several customers in the fitting rooms, and it was already dark outside so we didn't even have the benefit of natural light. It was obviously a stressful situation! The first thing I did was check in on my coworkers to make sure they were okay. I gave them some simple instructions to talk to the customers they were with and assure them we were working to find a solution. I called the building manager from my cellphone; once she was on her way, I called the store manager and let her know about the situation. Eventually the lights came back on, and we were able to finish up the customers' transactions without a problem, and I was really proud of the way I took charge and kept a level head during that situation."

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How to Answer: Tell me about a time you were under stress or pressure at work. How did you respond?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a West Elm job interview.

  • 2. Tell me about a time you were under stress or pressure at work. How did you respond?

      How to Answer

      The retail industry is fast-paced and ever-changing, so it's good to be adaptable and quick-thinking when unexpected situations crop up that cause you stress on the job. When was the last time you encountered an especially stressful situation at work? What did you do?

      Written by Jordan Henry on September 7th, 2018

      1st Answer Example

      "At my last job, I was the Manager on Duty for the first time one night when all of the electricity suddenly went out in the building. We were in the middle of customer transactions, there were several customers in the fitting rooms, and it was already dark outside so we didn't even have the benefit of natural light. It was obviously a stressful situation! The first thing I did was check in on my coworkers to make sure they were okay. I gave them some simple instructions to talk to the customers they were with and assure them we were working to find a solution. I called the building manager from my cellphone; once she was on her way, I called the store manager and let her know about the situation. Eventually the lights came back on, and we were able to finish up the customers' transactions without a problem, and I was really proud of the way I took charge and kept a level head during that situation."

      Written by Jordan Henry on September 7th, 2018

      2nd Answer Example

      "I fully believe that challenge and change are opportunities for growth: some of my best ideas have come as a result of being in stressful, unfamiliar situations at work. I enjoy being pushed to solve a problem or exceed my own limits, so stressful situations make me feel kind of excited!"

      Written by Jordan Henry

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "While working as a home organizer, the team was running late trying to complete a project and we could tell the client was ready to have us out of the house. We spent the day primarily organizing the children's playroom and by the end of the day, the three young kids came to play with their toys again. As a social media manager, I had not taken the final photos yet. I was able to have the kids focus on one of their toys while quickly getting our final shots and wrapping up the project."

      Jaymie's Feedback

      It sounds like you're able to remain calm under pressure! Consider adding additional information to your answer to highlight your skills and abilities (i.e., communication skills, delegation, organization, interpersonal skills, etc.).

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