How to Answer: When planning, how often do you create alternative scenarios to help you adjust to changing situations?
14. When planning, how often do you create alternative scenarios to help you adjust to changing situations?
How to Answer
Being able to problem solve and think outside the box when it comes to changing situations is a valuable skill set. Talk to the interviewer about your ability to create a variety of potential scenarios. You may never need to take on these scenarios; however, it's great for the interviewer to know that you can adapt your plan on the fly.
Answer Example
"I feel that it is essential to create alternative scenarios in all situations. One cannot guess what will happen in the end, so it is great to prepare for all possible outcomes."
Admin
"As an administrative professional, it's essentially my biggest job requirement to be ready to adapt at all times. I always have a Plan B and C ready to go. This level of preparedness is part of what makes me so valuable in my current role."
Manager
"Alternate scenarios are great to have, but I prefer to stay focused on my desired outcome. So long as my team is on board with the goals we have yet to achieve, I am confident that we will always reach Plan A."
Marketing
"I love having contingency plans. It's important for a marketing team to understand that ideally, we are going to do 'X,' but if that fails, we need to be ready to hop on and make sure that 'Y' happens. It takes out the uncertainty, and is sure to prepare everyone to adapt if a problem should arise."
Retail
"Any customer facing role can be unpredictable and requires a great amount of adaptability. Recently we had a huge recall of a popular gaming product. We had customers lining up outside in the morning to make returns. I quickly made a plan for the returns, along with a potential upsell, so that we could still benefit from the error."
Sales
"Nothing is a guarantee in sales, that is one thing I know for sure. I always create 'what-ifs' because I know that plans change quickly, especially where there are multiple decision makers between myself and closing the deal. Plan B is always ready to go."
Teacher
"As a teacher, if you do not have alternate scenarios planned, you will quickly be railroaded! Students are unpredictable, so it's best to have a backup plan for anything. One example is when it's field trip day, it's pouring, and your activity is to take place outdoors. These types of scenarios happen all the time, and a great teacher will always be ready."
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