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 9 of 31

Tell me about the most competitive work situation you have experienced. How did you handle it, and what was the result?

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.

Next Question

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

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "One of my most competitive work experiences was with a manager that was placed above me that was younger than me but wanted to compete with me resolving automation issues with pumps, valves, and other instruments. He didn't have to assist me resolving field related issues but I suspect he wanted to take credit for resolving problems. I basically had to confront him on the matter and remind him that he had so many other duties he could be successful in completing. He was not happy at first but over time, he came to understand his responsibilities."

      Rachelle's Feedback

      Rather than positioning the situation as an age issue, I recommend phrasing this differently. For instance, he was less experienced than you. I have reworded this slightly so that there is no risk of you sounding jaded because the manager was younger. Be careful with wording such as 'reminding' your manager of their duties or the fact that he 'came to understand'. These phrases can sound like you belittled the manager. Mix that tone with ageism and it can become a big red flag for an interviewer.
      "One of my most competitive work experiences was with a manager placed above me who had less experience resolving automation issues with pumps, valves, and other instruments. He didn't have to assist me in resolving field related issues, but he felt the need to participate. Once trust was built between us, I brought up the fact that he had so many other managerial duties to tend to, and I was comfortable being in the field on my own. He was hesitant at first, but later agreed, and it worked out well for both of us."
      Show More Answers