When have you been asked to perform a function or complete a task in which you had little or no experience in doing?
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The interviewer would like to know about a time when you were asked to take on a task for which you knew very little. Have you ever had to take on a responsibility or a role that you felt was over your experience level? Talk to the interviewer about a time when you have dealt with this type of situation. Include the outcome, and what you learned.
Example #1
"When my manager went on unexpected medical leave for three months last year I was asked to step into her position in the interim. I knew the basics but was certainly not trained on the specifics of the role. I was able to take it on successfully by leaning on my team, reading a lot of company manuals, and asking many questions. Once my manager returned she was very pleased with the progress that I made. This success resulted in a promotion!"
Example #2
"I am often asked to perform tasks outside of my wheelhouse. These tasks include customer dispute resolution and interviewing potential new employees. I am a diverse employee and am happy to take on additional functions."
Example #3
"My first management job was the scariest time in my career! I honestly didn't know if I was doing my job correctly. I led by instinct, took leadership workshops, and spent a lot of time reading books related to effective people management."
Example #4
"I perform new functions on a daily basis and am most challenged when a new marketing technique comes to the industry. I love to learn new strategies; however, in the marketing industry these can change on a dime, and it's often a full-time job just to remain current!"
Example #5
"I was asked to train an employee on a new point of sale system that I hardly knew. To prepare, I worked overtime, watching online tutorials so that the new employee's training time was well spent."
Example #6
"In a startup environment, the name of the game is basically 'fake it 'till you make it.' I'm often learning on the fly, especially when a customer has a question about a new product for which I am not completely familiar. I've had to learn to be okay not knowing things and performing a lot of research to compensate. It is a significant challenge, but also very rewarding."
Example #7
"When I first started my teaching career I was asked to help create a curriculum for students with disabilities. I did not have experience with this, so I teamed up with a special ed teacher, and we worked together. It was a success!"
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