How to Answer: Have you ever worked in a situation where the rules and guidelines were not clear? How did you cope?
14. Have you ever worked in a situation where the rules and guidelines were not clear? How did you cope?
The Goal
The goal of your response is to show the interviewer that you can thrive even in ambiguous situations. The interviewer should clearly understand how you approach your work when you lack explicit instructions. You should also highlight your dependence on your strong moral compass when company rules or guidelines are unclear.
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
How to Answer
Answer this question by telling the interviewer about a specific situation you faced where you were unclear about the guidelines or rules. Outline the situation, describe what your responsibility or goal was, and explain how you chose to approach the situation. Be sure to tell the interviewer that even though you were not entirely clear about the guidelines or rules, you still took great care in your approach, leaning on your knowledge base. Give as much detail as you can regarding how you coped in the face of ambiguity. If your process generated positive results, be sure to provide those details.
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
Pro Tip
'Have you ever...' means that the interviewer is looking for a story-based example for this behavioral-based interview question. This style means forming a response using the STAR method. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. Organizing your response using this framework will ensure that you provide the interviewer with the right amount of information and detail to form a compelling answer.
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
What to Avoid
Avoid saying, 'No, I have never encountered this type of situation in the workplace.' The interviewer wants a specific example. Rather than saying you don't have one, dig deeper and think about an ambiguous situation you have faced at work, school, volunteer, or even your extra-curricular activities.
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
Answer Example
"(Situation) One of my earlier positions was for a family-run furniture company with very few guidelines or rules of engagement when it came to sales, service, and protocols. (Task) As an experienced salesperson, I found this situation to be pure chaos. (Action) I did my best by following what I intuitively felt was the best decision on a case-by-case basis. I also created new processes and guidelines for my team along the way. (Result) By showing this initiative, I ended up being the top-performing salesperson and earned a promotion to manager."
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
Admin Example
"(Situation) I worked for a small family-owned agency a few years ago. (Task) As the new Admin Assistant, I quickly noticed that most processes were not formally written down or included in my onboarding training. (Action) I made it my project to create 'what-if' scenarios, collect answers from my superiors, and compile a troubleshooting list for future reference. (Result) When I presented the documents to my leaders, they were thrilled with the initiative that I took and gave me a small raise."
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
Marketing Example
"(Situation) While working for an online marketing start-up company, I noticed there were many situations where rules and guidelines were not clear. (Task) I took it upon myself to address the need since my team and I needed direction. (Action) I drafted the rules and guidelines and came up with a system for others to contribute. (Result) Together, we created the internal structure that the company operates with today!"
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
Sales Example
"(Situation) In my previous role, I quickly learned that within startups, hard-set rules are difficult to find. (Task) As the new Business Development Director of a startup, I was to sell and hit my metrics, but it was a 99% 'figure-it-out-yourself' situation. (Action) I decided that the situation could be an excellent opportunity to pilot my business development ideas and sales tactics. I was confident in my work and comfortable with taking some creative license. I took the opportunity to create a set of approaches and processes for new client development. (Result) In the first 12 months, I secured 154% of my original sales goal, which allowed the startup to flourish."
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
Retail Example
"(Situation) In the past, I worked for a retail company that did not have clear guidelines or procedures. (Task) Being new to my career in retail sales, I found this situation to be tricky to navigate. (Action) I decided to educate myself through workplace manuals and any other internal guides I could find. (Result) Ultimately, I found a comfortable middle ground that kept me productive."
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
Teacher Example
"(Situation) During a transition period in my school district, we had no department chair, and guidelines were unclear. In particular, nobody was mandating teacher meetings. (Task) A few more seasoned teachers knew that it was beneficial to us as teachers, and the department as a whole, to continue with our usual scheduling. (Action) We took turns leading the meetings and acting as though each of us was the supervisor, passing the baton to the next teacher for the next meeting. (Result) This approach allowed us to continue growing, learning, and collaborating during the transition."
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
Manager Example
"(Situation) When I first took on my current management role, my team did not have many guidelines or processes to follow. (Task) As a seasoned manager, I understood the need for clear instructions and expectations. It concerned me that our team did not have a playbook to follow. (Action) I don't like to enforce rules explicitly; instead, I hope that my team will use their training, knowledge, and intuition to make the best decisions. For that reason, I asked the group to collaborate with me to create this playbook of sorts. (Result) We finished this internal guide in a couple of weeks, and everyone seemed proud of their involvement."
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
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And during that time the department leader was changed
So all the teams were confused and nobody knows exactly on which project to concentrate
(Action) I do not know(( please help
I tried to understand what part is general among these projects
What we have for testing that general part
Then suggested concentrating on that general part of testing until we have clear instruction."
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