MockQuestions

Behavioral Mock Interview

To help you prepare for your next job interview, here are 31 Behavioral interview questions and answer examples.

Our Behavioral Questions were written by and updated on October 25th, 2021. Learn more about this page.

Question 15 of 31

Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision without all the information you needed.

The interviewer wants to hear more about your critical thinking skills. They would also like to see that you can use logic to make sound decisions. The goal of your response is to show that you are capable and confident when it comes to independent thinking and decision-making.

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How to Answer: Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision without all the information you needed.

  • 15. Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision without all the information you needed.

      The Goal

      The interviewer wants to hear more about your critical thinking skills. They would also like to see that you can use logic to make sound decisions. The goal of your response is to show that you are capable and confident when it comes to independent thinking and decision-making.

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021

      How to Answer

      Think about a time during your career when you needed to make a decision without all of the information you would typically possess. Then, tell a story that outlines the situation and how you approached coming to a conclusion. Outline your ability to think critically and independently. At the end of your response, be sure to make a connection between your decision-making abilities and how you will make an impact in this new role.

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021

      Pro Tip

      Behavioral-based interview questions that begin with 'Tell me about a time...' are best answered 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 giving a general answer regarding your decision-making skills. Stay away from vague statements like, 'I am a skilled decision-maker and am confident in my ability to come to decisions even in an ambiguous environment.'

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021

      Answer Example

      "(Situation) In my current role, I am responsible for creating the weekly schedule for 56 staff members. (Task) When I first took on the responsibility of scheduling, I did not have any data regarding our busiest times of the week and day. (Action) I worked hard to 'guesstimate' our customer traffic while remaining under the staffing budget and, at the same time, not understaffing. I used my logic and critical thinking skills to fill in the blanks for the data that I did not have. (Result) This scheduling approach worked out quite well for me. Now I fully understand our customer traffic flow, which has made staff scheduling a breeze."

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021

      Admin Example

      "(Situation) In my position, ambiguity is a large part of my daily reality. (Task) As an Executive Assistant, I often find myself making decisions wishing I had just a little bit more data. (Action) Just last week, the executive I support sent me a rough outline of her preferred travel itinerary. I knew that some of her requests would work and that some would not align with pre-booked meetings. In this case, I looked at everything I had scheduled for her up to that point, created what-if scenarios for several variables, and selected the best possible option. (Result) I always do my best for this executive, and she appreciates my hard work and critical thinking."

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021

      Marketing Example

      "(Situation) Often, our agency's clients are vague about their needs or the vision for their project. (Task) As a Creative Director, I know this vague approach occurs because they don't fully know what they seek. I have had to fill in the blanks many times. (Action) To do this, I bring forward a few tools such as questionnaires, brand sprints, and discovery sessions. (Result) By using these tools, I can get to know my clients well. Also, it helps me to be more comfortable in making executive decisions on projects."

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021

      Sales Example

      "(Situation) I recently had a customer seeking a particular piece of inventory that was hard to source. (Task) As a seasoned Account Rep, I knew my products very well. I also knew that there were only two products nationwide that met his criteria. (Action) These products were seemingly identical, but I had to choose which one to purchase on his behalf. With a price tag of $5k+, it was a significant decision to make. I leveraged my industry knowledge and my understanding of the customer. (Result) By using context and prior knowledge, as well as a bit of instinct, I made the right choice, and my customer was thrilled."

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021

      Retail Example

      "(Situation) Often when a customer dispute arises, I am missing pieces of the story. One particular example that comes to mind occurred just last week when a customer stormed in and demanded a refund. (Task) As the Retail Manager, whether I had the full story or not, I was instantly pulled into making a customer service decision. (Action) I quickly assessed what category the problem seemed to fall in, whether it was a service, product, or pricing issue. Once I determined that it was a product issue, I knew I would go ahead and offer a product replacement. (Result) All in all, this customer dispute lasted under five minutes, and I was able to avoid any other potential damage to our store's reputation."

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021

      Teacher Example

      "(Situation) For years, my department didn't have a consistent or reliable way to quantify the effectiveness of our teaching methods. (Task) As a teacher, this presents a challenge when it comes time to tweaking the curriculum or even gaining accurate feedback. (Action) Two years ago, I proposed that we set up four tests throughout the year to test cumulative knowledge. My department head agreed, and we have been using these tests ever since. (Result) Now we shape most of our teaching decisions using actual data, making for much clearer feedback."

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021

      Manager Example

      "(Situation) Before my company had an HR department, I had to lead all of the hiring efforts. (Task) I was often missing information critical to job offers, such as details on the company's health benefits plan. As a new manager, I was afraid of looking green and unorganized. (Action) I connected with our benefits account rep, and they agreed to come to my office and walk me through the details of our benefits package. (Result) After this meeting, I had a clearer understanding and was able to answer most candidate questions with ease."

      Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "There was a time when I had a rapid change in my patient condition, and I needed to transfer the patient to a step-up unit. This decision required a doctor's order, and it takes a while for doctors to respond to a page so I contacted the receiving unit, and I had other team members set the patient up for transfer while I was on the phone with the doctor. The patient was in route to the unit when I got the order from the doctor."

      Stephanie's Feedback

      This is a compelling example! My only feedback is to add an additional sentence or two at the end of your response to further express your problem-solving skills and the steps you took to make this decision when you didn't quite have the information you needed.
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