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Adaptability Mock Interview

To help you prepare for your next job interview, here are 15 interview questions that are focused on your ability to adapt.

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Question 2 of 15

When have you had to change a major component of your project due to new information being presented?

"Last year we saw new federal regulations come through which affected 80% of our ongoing projects. We had to adjust our plans quickly; however, we were able to deliver a timely product that met federal regulations."

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How to Answer: When have you had to change a major component of your project due to new information being presented?

  • 2. When have you had to change a major component of your project due to new information being presented?

      How to Answer

      The interviewer would like to know about a time that you had to change the path of a project due to new information. Being able to swivel the focus of your project is a necessary skill for success in most careers. Talk to the interviewer about a time when a significant change occurred on the job. How did you handle the implementation of the new information?

      Answer Example

      "Last year we saw new federal regulations come through which affected 80% of our ongoing projects. We had to adjust our plans quickly; however, we were able to deliver a timely product that met federal regulations."

      Admin

      "As an administrative professional, my projects are often derailed by other people's schedules running late, deliveries not arriving on time, or vendors not pulling through. Although I am not usually the lead on projects, I do put a great deal of finishing work on the projects that come out of our office so, when deadlines pass, it affects me as well. I keep a positive outlook and work very hard to exceed expectations wherever possible."

      Manager

      "All of our products are thoroughly tested after the design and prototype phase. My production team was certain that the design would hold up to the endurance testing, based on the components used, but it did not. We had to go back and adjust the entire product design to determine the cause and correct the fault."

      Marketing

      "I had a large project last month that was nearly complete when the client called to say that the color palette provided was incorrect. Because of this, our team had to re-do all of the mood boards. It took us an additional two days of work but, in the end, the client was delighted with our work, and it resulted in new opportunities to work with them."

      Retail

      "I used to work for a food company. The biggest change came when they changed their menu to be gluten free, wheat free, and dairy free. I had a great deal of new information to absorb and had to study the ins and outs of the ingredients all over again. I do like to learn and am methodical in my approach. I created flashcards, studied for a week straight, and nailed it in the new ingredients test the following week."

      Sales

      "I had worked with a VP in the company, the CEO, and a member of the board to craft a strategic national roll-out plan that included which companies and pitches I would be responsible for, and what they would handle. Two months later, after working on the strategy each week as a collaborative team, I was informed that we were putting a pause on the project until further notice. The executives thought the company wasn't ready for such big clients yet, so instead, I had to scale the national roll-out back to be a local market strategy. After the initial sting and frustration of pulling out of the project, I was able to use that same framework to plan local market roll-outs in several major cities effectively. It proved to be a good learning experience, overall."

      Teacher

      "Last year I had all of my coursework set, a curriculum written, and class seating arranged. The day before school began, I was informed by my principal that they needed to make my class a Grade 5/6 split rather than just a Grade 6 class. It took me a moment to gather myself and absorb the information. Then, I got to it! I simplified a bulk of the coursework and added more Grad 5 components. I was all set for the first day despite the setback."

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "¢ S: In my final year, I conducted research on the relationship between inequality and economic growth in my applied econometrics dissertation. Scheduled contact time had stopped a few months before the deadline. A few weeks before, he held a class where he brought up a new econometric technique that we could use to reach a higher level.

      "¢ T: This was a challenge, and I was immediately focused on understanding and applying it to my research.

      "¢ A: I knew his office hours would be extremely busy, so instead of trying to learn it by myself, I went to a prior econometrics lecturer who explained it to me in great detail. This saved me a lot of time because he was an expert.

      "¢ R: As a result, I was able to spend more time on the application and analysis of my results. This taught me to always be studious and learn from others."

      Cindy's Feedback

      This is a good example that was challenging, indeed. It demonstrates flexibility as well as good problem-solving skills.
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