How to Answer: Tell me about the most competitive work situation you have experienced. How did you handle it, and what was the result?
9. Tell me about the most competitive work situation you have experienced. How did you handle it, and what was the result?
The Goal
The interviewer wants to determine if you function well in a competitive environment. The goal of your answer is to show the interviewer that you can rise to a challenge and that you are excited to push yourself to be the best. You'll also want to highlight your desire to maintain healthy competition by cheering others on along the way.
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
How to Answer
Answer this question by telling the interviewer about a specific time you faced a competitive situation at work. Perhaps you were in a friendly competition to achieve the highest sales, were working towards a promotion, or eagerly trying to win a new contract. Be sure to explain how you react in the face of competition. Discuss the actions you took to ensure healthy competition and include details of the stand-out results you generated.
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 response about your approach to competitive situations. Statements like, 'I haven't been in a competitive work situation, but in that case, I would do my best to be a team player and encourage collaboration,' are too vague and lack depth.
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
Answer Example
"(Situation) My current sales position is highly commission-based, so my colleagues and I are quite competitive. (Task) Despite being competitive, we have a terrific work environment where we help each other when someone is struggling to meet their quota. (Action) We coach each other on sales techniques and share success stories. (Result) The result has been a positive work environment with healthy competition."
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
Admin Example
"(Situation) There is not often a chance for competition, as an Administrative Assistant; however, our office does a fundraising challenge every Thanksgiving. (Task) This challenge involves raising sponsorship for an office-wide 5K race. (Action) Most years, I am in the lead for funds raised, as I have a very supportive network of friends and family. Also, this challenge is one of my favorite charitable initiatives. (Result) Every year, we donate 100% of the funds to sponsoring two families for their Christmas needs. It gets competitive, and all for a great reason!"
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
Marketing Example
"(Situation) My employer recently introduced a 'friendly' competition between two agency locations. (Task) It turned into a fierce contest to see who could increase their productivity, decrease errors, and maintain the company's high-quality standards while earning the highest amount of positive client reviews. (Action) Our team worked tirelessly and harder than usual, spending weekends working extra hours and encouraging each other along the way. (Result) We won the competition, and everyone received a new iPad. The whole event was a lot of fun."
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
Sales Example
"(Situation) The most competitive I've ever been in a work environment was when I was up for promotion against a sales executive in another region. (Task) The leadership team let us know that we were both the contenders and essentially pitted us against one another. (Action) I hunkered down, worked extra long hours, and got my team on board to create and execute a plan to surpass our quota. (Result) Our efforts worked, and I received the promotion! I was also so thankful to my team for supporting me in my career goals."
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
Retail Example
"(Situation) In retail, Christmastime is very competitive. Numbers are high, and everyone is trying to outdo last year's performance while earning the most commission. (Task) This holiday season is the time when our managers introduce an incentive program to encourage even more hustle. This particular year, there were rumors of a promotion being at stake. (Action) The rumors of a potential promotion, coupled with the holiday sales incentive, made me and another employee want to prove ourselves worthy. We made a handshake deal that we'd play nice, but at the end of the day, each of us still wanted to win. (Result) I did not earn the promotion; however, I was a close second. I learned a lot about healthy competition and enjoyed my successes either way."
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
Teacher Example
"(Situation) Teaching environments are not openly competitive. (Task) With that said, as an enthusiastic educator, I am internally competitive when it comes to helping a student improve their performance. (Action) I like to set goals for my struggling students and coach them in a way that speaks to their internal competitive streak. (Result) Throughout my years as a teacher, I have made a difference in the lives of students by exuding enthusiasm. It's gratifying."
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
Manager Example
"(Situation) In my current role, we have four department managers. (Task) Since our jobs are so closely aligned, we are always in a friendly competition. (Action) We compete to see who can save the most money on hours per quarter, follow procedures the closest, and have an accident-free month. (Result) It's a fun approach, but we also take these KPI's seriously at the same time. In fact, since introducing this friendly competition, all departments have seen a boost in employee engagement and productivity."
Written by Rachelle Enns on December 14th, 2021
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"¢ T: Despite being competitive, we had a terrific work environment where we helped each other if one of us was struggling to meet quota.
"¢ A: We coached each other on sales techniques and shared success stories.
"¢ R: The result was a positive work environment with healthy competition."
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