When have you had to adapt to change in the workplace?
"Marketing is all about change! Our clients change every day, and the scope of our projects change on a dime. I am resilient to change and look forward to working in an ever-changing marketing environment, with your agency."
"In my previous role at a high-growth tech startup, the sales organization was restructured, from a new boss to new teams and territories. Some of the accounts I had been nurturing but had not yet converted to a buyer yet were now handed off to another sales rep who received the fruits of my labor. Of course, this fact was very frustrating. However, by sitting down with management to understand the "why" of the change, and how I could best set my new accounts up for success while transitioning my previous ones over to a new rep, I was able to see the bigger objective and ultimately increase my sales performance."
"In my previous role at a high-growth tech startup, the sales organization was restructured, from a new boss to new teams and territories. Some of the accounts I had been nurturing but had not yet converted to a buyer yet were now handed off to another sales rep who received the fruits of my labor. Of course, this fact was very frustrating. However, by sitting down with management to understand the "
"Last year our company was sold to a competitor, and a lot of our management team changed hands. It was a lot of change to handle in a short time, especially being unsure of who to report to ahead of others. I am resilient, though, and have made the big changes work by keeping my head down and delivering great work, no matter who it goes to in the end."
"In my current management position, we were pushed to obtain ISO certification by one of our potential customers. The changes in reporting and procedural compliance were numerous, and it took a little while to adjust. The training component of my staff was not easy either. However, in the end, it was worth it to secure such a high profile customer."
"Our school recently underwent a major renovation which resulted in half of our classrooms being unavailable. My classes ended up being in a portable, behind the school. It was a big change for me because I had to be extra prepared with my supplies and needs for the day. Thankfully the renovation lasted only six months."
"I used to work for a retail chain that specialized in leather footwear. Corporate started to introduce vegan footwear options which were a tough sell after becoming so well known for their leather. I adapted to the change by learning more about vegan options, and asking further discovery questions to new customers."
The interviewer would like to know about a time you were required to adapt to change in the workplace. Being able to adapt to change in the workplace is an essential skill to possess because change is inevitable. Talk to the interviewer about a time when you have had to adjust to changes on the job. How did you handle the transition? Was it a positive reaction?
"In my current role there is a lot of staff turnover when it comes to our management team. I have had to adapt to 3 new managers in the past four years. It is not the ideal situation, but I can adjust for the good of the team."
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
1) "S: At sports direct, I worked at the Westfield branch which had 5 different stockrooms on multiple floors. I took some time to get used to it, but management decided to make a drastic change.
"T: I was initially upset because of the time I had invested in learning the system. However, I quickly realized that the faster I learned the new setup, the faster I would get used to this change.
"A: I stayed after work to learn the structure, so I wouldn't have to keep customers waiting.
"R: I accelerated my learning because I owed it to my team to adapt to change and bring the best experience to our customers.
2) "S: In my final year, I Co-led weekly mentoring sessions to fifteen first year economic students were aimed at easing them into the various aspects of university life.
"T: We normally asked students what topics they wanted to discuss in the next week and plan sessions for it. One week they asked in class to go over spring weeks and internships. We hadn't planned the lesson for this.
"A: We gave our team two minutes to chat amongst ourselves whilst me and my partner jotted down all resources that we had found useful. We went through them and gave advice based on our own experiences.
"R: We were able to deliver a smooth session that answered all of their questions. This showed me that not everything good that happens, has always been planned. Knowledge and determination can take you a long way.
Cindy's Feedback
These are both good examples, showing dedication and flexibility. The STAR format works well, too!
