15 Creative Thinking Interview Questions & Answers

Below is a list of our Creative Thinking interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.

1. When have you had to think outside of the box to solve a problem?

How to Answer

Talk to the interviewer about a time you had to solve a problem creatively. Your answer doesn't have to be an invention or a tremendous break-through you made in your previous role. Any unexpected decision you made will most likely count as a creative solution. Pick a scenario where you were pleased with the outcome.

Answer Example

"In my current position we saw a decrease in clients due to a local economic downturn. I recommended to our head office that we begin to generate business outside of our region for the first time in many years. They agreed, and the idea turned things around for us that fiscal year."

Admin

"Last week my computer crashed, and it took IT three hours to recover everything. Feeling lost, I said to myself 'Well, what did they do before computers?' To make the best of my time, I took to the file room and started organizing the physical files."

Manager

"I once had to deal with a space issue in our warehouse. We arranged and re-arranged several times and could not make it work. I thought outside the box and rented some outside pod storage until we were back to normal inventory levels."

Marketing

"Recently we needed to create a mentorship program for a client. By my suggestion, we decided to engage local thought leaders as well as aspiring leaders. This approach benefited the community as a whole, and our client was delighted with the result."

Retail

"In retail, a customer will approach you with odd requests from time to time. Recently, I had a customer insist on making a return that wasn't even from our store. They were furious that I would not take the return! It turns out; we were running a promotion where if you spent $50, you received a $25 in-store gift card. I suggested to the customer that they purchase the product, from us, that they initially wanted. They would then receive the $25 in-store gift card, and they could still return the original product to the first store. I turned an angry return to a paying customer!"

Sales

"In sales, if you cannot think outside the box, and on the fly, you will not succeed. Recently I had a client who wanted a digital service option thrown in that we did not yet have. It was still in development. To offset his disappointment, I asked him if I could give him three months of the service for free on a trial basis, to help us work out the kinks, would he then be happy. He was thrilled, and we had a real-life test subject."

Teacher

"As a teacher, I often have to think of alternate ways to teach a lesson when some kids aren't picking up the content. I will always have multi-media resources available for my students to support their learning such as educational computer games and interactive online worksheets."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Thinking outside the box is a default in any technology field, and I have had such an opportunity at my last workplace. The organization had limited resources to spend on user tests, so we could not hire a user recruiter agency. My team and I started reaching out to users on LinkedIn and offered our time in exchange for their time for testing a product. It worked so wonderfully that now we have an active user testing community."

Rachelle's Feedback

This is a fantastic idea, and what a great way to save on resources while also building up a community. Well done.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"Recently the VA in northern Indiana changed the rules on # of shoes to one pair per year. It caused a drop in # of patients in the clinic. I thought it would be beneficial to try to do some marketing to pain doctors, ER doctors, and other clinicians working in CBOCs. And that caused the # of orthotics patients to increase."

Mary's Feedback

This response shows initiative in attracting new customers- something important to businesses. See edits for clarity.

"Recently, the VA in northern Indiana saw a drop in the number of clinic patients because of a change in policy that allowed only one pair of shoes to be provided (a decrease from the prior policy). I saw the need to increase marketing, so worked to connect with local pain doctors, ER doctors and other clinicians working in CBOC's. As a result of this marketing, we saw the patient numbers increased."

Anonymous Answer

"In my job at ______, one day my computer crashed and it took IT several hours to recover everything. I was frustrated because I needed to work on allocating several project officers expenses. I thought to myself for a minute, what did they do before computers? I then decided it would be wise to and a good use of my time to organize the supply room as well as some filing cabinets to ensure everything was easy to access. My boss certainly appreciated me for doing that and said that was a smart move to make."

Marcie's Feedback

It's great that you were able to come up with a good way to use your time in this situation. (It is always frustrating when you have work to do and your computer won't cooperate!) While you can use this example, your answer will be even stronger if you can think of an example to cite here that focuses on an out-of-the-box solution for perhaps a more pressing problem. For example, you were talking to a customer and they had an issue that you were able to solve creatively or there was a recurring problem when you worked on expenses so you adjusted the process to fix it going forward. Something along those lines would be more impactful. But, otherwise, good job!

Anonymous Answer

"One of my work required was extracting from big data platforms using a conventional way. The approach took so much time and effort which I think I can do better. So I tried another way that the team had never done before. I used a cloud-based app and liaised with IT to get the necessary approval and got the whole process automated."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is an excellent example to use! Try to structure your response in the STAR format to make it easier for the interviewer to follow. You mention being able to automate the whole process; it's important to emphasize the impact this had. How did this benefit your team or the organization?

2. What is the most creative or innovative project you have worked on?

How to Answer

We all have the opportunity to perform a creative task, whether we realize it or not. Perhaps you were a receptionist at our previous job, and you creatively organized the company's front desk by using color-coded folders. If you were an accountant, talk about how you restructured the workflow for a client and how it saved you hours of work on their audit.

Answer Example

"My previous employer wanted to think of ways to generate more attention online and gather a stronger following and more brand recognition. I started an e-newsletter that, after just six months, had over 30,000 subscribers. It was a great success."

Admin

"I once worked in an office where a primary goal was to reduce our environmental footprint. It was a lot of fun to find new ways to help the environment, and we ended up cutting some costs as well."

Manager

"Recently I implemented a 'late fund' because my team was consistently running behind. We had a jar, and you had to put $1 in the pot for every minute you were tardy. At the end of the month, I chose a charity to donate the money too. It was lighthearted, but it made my team more aware of their timing and that being late to work, and essential meetings affected everyone."

Marketing

"I recently worked on a team to create a website for a global powerhouse organization. We sought to find gaps in communications across the organization and bridge those gaps through the new online tool. We were able to shape the structure and make it our own as we saw necessary to fit the needs of the business."

Retail

"I had the opportunity to join a focus group, initiated by my current company's head office. We had the opportunity to voice our opinion on upcoming lines, colors, and pricing. It was such a great experience, and it made me want to become a buyer, down the road."

Sales

"I recently worked on the launch of a new product that has never been in our market before. The sales team worked alongside the marketing team, and we collaborated more than ever before. I came to appreciate the work that a marketing team does, and got a bit of an itch myself for writing sales copy!"

Teacher

"Luckily for me, I have the opportunity to work with children every day. The minds of these children are so active that you cannot help but be driven to create. Currently, we are using our knowledge of ratios, base, area, and perimeter to make a model scale of our town. I found the idea on YouTube and think it's the most hands-on, creative project that I have had my students participate in so far."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"The most creative project I have worked on was to assist the Senior ME in my department with the layout design for a new product line."

Rachelle's Feedback

This answer is a good start! Do you have any more detail to add to bring this project to life for the interviewer?

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"Working with reinforcement learning which is part of a larger AI realm - I collected a massive amount of data, trained the data, and translated them to build constructive information. One of the most creative things I did was to create fake faces online."

Jaymie's Feedback

Suppose the interviewer may not be familiar with AI. What was your role in the project? What was the source or inspiration behind your ideas? How did your project impact the team and organization? The more detail you provide, the more your skills and abilities will be highlighted.

3. When have you taken an existing process and used your own creativity to make it better?

How to Answer

Are you given the creative freedom to improve existing processes? Talk to the interviewer about your ability to take an existing process and develop it creatively. If you do not have a work-related example, think back to your time in school.

Answer Example

"Last month my supervisor asked me to take our existing sales training package and improve it. My goal was to make the system more engaging for recruits. Once we implemented my ideas, we increased our new trainee retention rate by 16%. I was quite proud of what my creativity could do!"

Admin

"I do not go into a position looking to make changes for the sake of change but, as an executive assistant, I do monitor processes and look for ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Recently I switched us to Google calendar so that we could more easily share our time and availability. It was a small tweak, but it changed the game for the executive and me."

Manager

"There are so many great business practices out there that there is not always a need to reinvent the wheel. I took a "touch base" practice we used to get a pulse of the team and customized it for a field-based corporate sales group to build better relationships with them. It has been effective and fun!"

Marketing

"In marketing, we are always changing processes. I recently changed our morning storyboarding sessions to be verbal downloads where we could talk about our weekends, what the highlights were, and why. I find that my team can be even more creative when they feel a connection with each other. They are less inhibited."

Retail

"We used to have a 'returns binder' where we had to track all customer returns by hand and then fax the sheet to the head office every Saturday. I felt it was an ancient process so I created Google form that we could email instead. The process was so helpful that my head office incorporated it into every store."

Sales

"In sales, very few processes are evergreen so great sales professionals are often looking for ways to make a sale happen faster, smoother, or better. I decided to move my call tracking sheet to my phone and download it into Evernote so that I had it with me, even when I wasn't in the office. If I am stuck at a red light, I will try to handsfree call a client from the list. There is no waking opportunity that I want to miss!"

Teacher

"The math textbook provided to me to work out of when I started teaching in this district was incredibly outdated. The photos were from the 1980's and the language used were examples that kids these day's didn't understand. I mean, what is a typewriter, right?! I found an excellent online resource where I could use free worksheets and popular videos. The kids respond much better to this tool."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"When I started managing the Marion clinic, there was a minimal count of inventory of braces and or off the shelf items. I did encourage the chief to authorize more items to be shelved to be dispensed as oppose to waiting at least four weeks for the item to arrive and be fitted following filling the consults.

After some resistance from the chief, I was able to convince him to stock up the shelves, and it worked out great."

Mary's Feedback

Great response! Consider adding how the creativity influenced results, like patient satisfaction. See below for edits.

"When I began managing the Marion clinic, I noticed that patients were often required to wait long periods to receive their braces because of limited inventory count. I encouraged the chief to authorize an increase in items to be shelved, in order to reduce the wait time for patients to be fitted after their consults. His initial reluctance was eliminated after the stocked shelves and reduced wait times (i.e.: 4 weeks down to 3 days) resulted in improved patient satisfaction."

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I took on someone's task and was required to carry it out till closure. I noticed the process was patchy and not systematic. I outlined the whole steps and then put a clear thought into it to automate the process where possible."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a good high-level overview, but when the interviewer wants you to tell them about a specific example, you'll need to provide more details and context to highlight your skills and abilities. Use the STAR method to walk the interviewer through the situation, task, action, and result. The interviewer wants to learn more about your experience, skills, and abilities in this area, so you'll need to be much more specific in your response.

Master Behavioral-Based Interviews Using The Star Method (mockquestions.com)

4. Tell me about a time when you created a unique idea or solution, and it was rejected by your colleagues. How were you able to bounce back?

How to Answer

The interviewer would like to know how you handle rejection when you present a solution at work. Putting yourself out there with new ideas can be intimidating, and we all want to be accepted. Talk to the interviewer about how you would handle the feelings that come with having your opinion rejected.

Answer Example

"A couple of years ago I made a recommendation for scheduling that would have included some split shifts. The result was less overtime and reduced expenses for the company. My colleagues were unhappy with the idea of split shifts. I was able to see their perspective which made it much easier to bounce back from the rejection. My overall attitude is, you win some - you lose some!"

Admin

"I recently asked my boss if we could implement a couple of workplace planning tools that would make it easier for myself to connect with the cross-departmental teams. I was already familiar with the tool, from using in a previous role. However, my boss prefers to run the business very lean and does not want to spend any money. It was unfortunate, but I understand that some people simply like things how they are."

Manager

"I am often creating unique solutions or ideas in the workplace. Last year we launched an employee satisfaction survey. After reading the results, it was clear to me the work that needed to take place. We needed to train our associates better, and further equip our leaders with best practices to ensure their team's success. I suggested implementing them right away. Leadership rejected the ideas citing they wanted them to keep process simple. We did end up implementing some of the ideas over time. It was a learning experience for me on how to better gain buy-in from my peers before introducing new ideas."

Marketing

"At times I will have funny slogan ideas that I think we could incorporate into a project. I keep a little notebook full of weird ideas. Some of them stick, and some of them do not. This life is one of a marketing professional!"

Retail

"I once requested a 'suggestion box' when we experienced high turnover and employee morale issues. Ironically, management rejected my suggestion. The leadership team thought it would just turn into a complaint box. I was disappointed, but I did not let that deter me from continuing in my pursuit to help find a solution to our turnover issue. Instead, I verbally checked in with the employees, creating a safe place for them to provide feedback and suggestions."

Sales

"I asked my boss if we could change the sales script slightly, as some of the wording was outdated. Unfortunately, he was offended, since he wrote the script....twenty years ago. I didn't take it to heart, as he's a bit old school; however, I am hoping that he will let the idea simmer and revisit it at a later time."

Teacher

"Hoping to take my class to the museum to see a recent art installation I recently put in a request for a class field trip. The principal felt that the school could not justify the cost compared to the learning opportunity. I was disappointed because I knew it would be an excellent experience for the students. As a workaround, I sent a memo to the parents notifying them of this new exhibition, and how it related to our current social studies topic, in the hopes, they would take their children on the weekend."

5. Outside of work, what type of creative activities do you like to pursue?

How to Answer

The interviewer would like to know how you express your creativity, outside of the workplace. A genuinely creative minded person will have outside activities aside from what's happening in the workplace. Tell the interviewer about the variety of ways in which you express your creativity.

Answer Example

"Outside of work I like to attend dance classes and I also attend the odd paint and sip wine nights at a local wine shop. I also enjoy reading as a way of nurturing my creative side."

Admin

"As an avid reader, I also explore writing. Cooking is also art for me, and I try to incorporate creativity into the fun meals I prepare for family and friends."

Manager

"It's important to me that I do something creative a few times a week so that my interests are vast and not only work-related. I am currently teaching myself PhotoShop. Primarily to put my friends' heads on hilarious photos but either way, it makes me laugh, and I love it."

Marketing

"Outside of work I love to explore my creative side. I practice photography for fun and take painting and sculpting classes. I do love the arts."

Retail

"I am huge into fashion and recently started a fashion page on Instagram. I curate new outfits and create fun fashion-inspired flat lays."

Sales

"I have a lot of energy, so I like to bring out my creative side on the weekends by attending local art events, going to the theater, or trying a new paint and sip class."

Teacher

"I play the violin in a community orchestra and teach private lessons to local kids. This activity is one I have participated in for the past four years."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Some years ago, due to exercise injuries, I was encouraged to take yoga classes. Over a period of time, I was motivated to be a certified yoga instructor which did help improve my leadership skills in a group setting. It did bring me out of my comfort zone and became more extrovert."

Mary's Feedback

This is a great example of how an outside activity has influenced you in a professional setting. Great response!

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I am a mentor in one of the data science Coursera courses - Regression model. I helped others to gain a better understanding of the model and explained on parts where students need help.
Also, I am doing coffee barista training to learn how to make creative foams using milk froth."

Jaymie's Feedback

These are excellent examples of creative activities you pursue. Good job!

6. When have you created a new product or service?

How to Answer

Using your creative mind, have you ever introduced an employer to a new product or service opportunity? Talk to the interviewer about a time when you have created a new product or service. If you have not created a new product or service, perhaps you have had a great idea that you presented. You can use an example from school as well if you have just started your career.

Answer Example

"In my previous role I was fortunate enough to introduce my company to the idea of a gold level service where, in addition to our general customer service, we added on additional options. Our customer base responded very positively, and we kept the program running for a few years."

Admin

"I am newer to my career as an administrative assistant and have not yet found myself comfortable enough to offer a new service idea. I am creative minded, though! As an avid nature lover and lover of cooking, I was tired of carrying all of my cooking tools and equipment in and out of camping sites. I created a Camping Kitchen Kit to hold cooking and serving for up to six people. It is an easy to carry bag that makes life much easier!"

Manager

"I created a new service manual for our team, in PDF form, which had infographic styling. Making it easy to read meant that my production team paid better attention to the content inside. I am now working on a manual for our QA team."

Marketing

"I create new services and product ideas every day! As a content marketer, my brain never sleeps. I am always generating ideas to use now, or in the future."

Retail

"I created a Facebook group recently, geared solely to swap clothing. It's a closed group for those interested in specific brands. So far we have over 200 local members!"

Sales

"Growing up, a lot of my neighbors had pets. I started a neighborhood dog walking, sitting, and vacation service in high school. It was highly lucrative in the summer. I made some money and helped my neighbors enjoy their vacations. I think this was when my parent knew I was gearing up for a career in sales come adulthood!"

Teacher

"I recently created a Twitter account for my class so that parents could follow along with us throughout the day, and interact with their kids. We post funny pictures, tweet shout-outs to the parents, and ask questions to educational influencers. It's been a great way to blend education with technology. The kids love it."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"When I moved to the new location, The fitting appointments had to be made after the item arrived. On my arrival I changed that procedure so that patients would get a fitting appointment before the end of evaluation appointments. As a result, patients were serviced and fitted much sooner, with 4-5 weeks as opposed to nearly previously routine 7-8 weeks. Our vendors understand that we are working on three weeks turn-around period."

Mary's Feedback

Great response! Clearly articulating the results (reduction in timeline) is important for interviewers to understand your accomplishments.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I consider one of my models as a product that I used to sell to my stakeholders. To convince them, I choose to explain a current problem and how I can help to salvage the situation which doesn't require additional manpower. Then sharing an experience by applying the model, what are the incremental benefits we can get."

Jaymie's Feedback

You have a good foundation here! There are just a few minor suggestions to help highlight your skills and abilities. While you mention creating a model as a product, it would be helpful to provide more specific details about the nature of the model. Remember, the interviewer likely has no knowledge of this model, so describe the kind of model it was and its purpose. Make sure you share quantifiable results, if possible, as that highlights the impact more clearly. How much time or money was saved as a result of this product or service? What were the efficiency improvements? Including concrete numbers or percentages can add credibility to your answer.

7. Would you consider yourself a creative person?

How to Answer

Talk to the interviewer about any interest that you have in creative activities and how you have implemented your creative desires in the workplace. Even if you do not consider yourself to be a 'creative person,' there is a significant change that you have made creative minded decisions in your career.

Answer Example

"I do consider myself to be a creative individual. One example of this would be the telephone sales scripts that I crafted for our inside sales team. They were lively and effective, and sales increased by 23% in the first 90 days of implementation."

Admin

"I am someone who alternates back and forth with the right/left brain, but I will always consider myself a very creative person. I admire the creativity and unconventional thinking in business and arts."

Manager

"That's an interesting question for me because I have never considered myself creative in the traditional sense of being artistic. I am, however, a very creative individual when it comes to new ways to motivate my team."

Marketing

"I consider myself creative! I have had a flair for the arts and thinking outside of the box, ever since I was a child. My mother says I danced before I could walk and I always loved to take on new creative projects."

Retail

"Having been a musician all my life, I do believe that I am a creative person. I grew up playing the piano and still practice a couple of times per week."

Sales

"I am creative in the sense that I am great at seeing all sides of a negotiation, I can use creativity to close a deal, and I am a solid writer. With that said, give me a paintbrush, and I will have no idea what to do. I suppose creativity comes in all forms!"

Teacher

"Yes, I do consider myself to be a creative individual. I will often work with my students on hands-on projects. I believe in the use of multi-media to teach, and learn."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I'm very creative. I feel that if I don't create, then I'm not serving the purpose of my craft."

Rachelle's Feedback

It seems you are very passionate about creativity! In what ways are you creative/how do you nurture your craft, and what is your craft?

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"I consider myself as creative. I like drawing and attending culinary art classes on weekends. I like new ideas and doing something different."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent! Can you give an example or two that highlights your creative abilities in the workplace? Showcase aspects that will be desirable to the interviewer.

8. What ideas have you created in the last year that benefited your current or former employer?

How to Answer

The interviewer would like to know if your creative side has benefitted your employer in any way. Talk to the interviewer about a recent time when you have helped your employer through your creative thinking.

Answer Example

"This past year I have benefited my current employer through my creation of a new sales training program for our sales trainees. It simplified the process and made it much easier to teach our new staff."

Admin

"I made a couple of recommendations on planning and organizational apps that we have recently incorporated. Most notable were the use of Google Docs and Trello."

Manager

"I'm a creator by nature and constantly thinking up new ways to benefit the organization and improve processes. Most recently, I saw a gap in the new hire training and created a practice to teach new team members the information they need to be equipped and successful on the job. We continue to build upon it with training materials and incorporation of top talent into the program as mentors."

Marketing

"We had a large client who was not loving the marketing plan that our team presented. One weekend it just hit me that they needed a clean, simple brand strategy that spoke to their millennial audience. I storyboarded my ideas and presented them on Monday to my team. We collectively tweaked areas and presented it the following week. The client loved the new strategy."

Retail

"I suggested to my employer that we change our inventory system from Excel to a cloud-based program like AssetPanda. We are currently doing some recon to see what programs are most useful and affordable."

Sales

"I recommended to my employer that we begin switching to electric company cars as part of our mandate to help the environment. Many of our clients are very involved in environmental sustainability, so it just made sense for us. Soon, we will be replacing all of our company trucks with the Nissan Leaf. It will help our brand but also eliminate the need to give gas cards to all of our territory sales reps."

Teacher

"This year I incorporated a morning fitness option for students who wanted to become more active. With kids getting so much screen time these days it is important to me that they take the time, every day, to move. Kids have the option of coming to school 20 minutes early every day. I lead them in a variety of stretches, and then we play fun games like dodgeball, soccer, and flag football."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"One idea that was suggested and implemented was to standardize all the in-house and vendor-managed materials including hardware with visual controls. This would increase productivity by having the items identified at point-of-use. It would decrease costs by eliminating overproduction, and it would decrease the annual physical inventory time by 2-3 hours."

Rachelle's Feedback

Did you suggest this idea? If so, be sure to state that and take ownership of your innovation :)

9. Tell me about a project you worked on where a conventional approach was not suitable.

How to Answer

The interviewer would like to know about a particular project you have worked on where your creativity was required. How have you implemented creativity in the workplace when a conventional approach was not suitable? Display for the hiring manager how you can think outside of the box when necessary.

Answer Example

"In 2009 our economy suffered, and a lot of businesses were struggling to keep their doors open. At that time, a conventional approach was to take out additional ads on the radio or TV. Social media was starting to become a major advertising outlet - and it was free. I launched a social media campaign that was very successful. We were able to generate new and repeat business while coming in under our advertising budget."

Admin

"As an executive assistant, I often have to pull strings, ask for favors, and assume that no is never an answer that I should take. I will bargain with vendors and come up with highly creative solutions at times to make a plan come together. I love the fast pace of it all and the challenge that comes with supporting a high-level executive."

Manager

"I recently worked on a project that was ahead of its time and federal guidelines. If you want to achieve something you never have before, you have to do something you have never done. We took an unconventional approach to federal research and licensing technology through the Office of Technology Transfer in a way never done before. It was a necessary step to achieve the bigger picture."

Marketing

"I was on a marketing team where we had to alter our processes to meet our customer's environmental impact challenge. We had to completely change the way we built their advertising plan, keeping zero waste in mind. It was a fun challenge where our entire campaign was digital."

Retail

"Our company has ten stores total. Head office announced a merchandising contest where we all had to come up with a theme and execute it, in the shop front window. Our team decided to take a very unconventional approach and gained inspiration from Anthropologie's memorable store experiences. Our eclectic style won and we all earned a $50 in-store credit, along with bragging rights."

Sales

"A conventional approach is rarely suitable for sales - ever! I love to come up with new ways to get my weekly calls in, and I create new phone scripts for myself to keep things interesting for myself and my clients. The original sales scripts provided to me were not effective or creative, so I chose to make my own."

Teacher

"I often have to work around very tight budgets where a conventional approach is not even an option. When we need supplies, I will ask the parents if they have items they can donate to the school. I will partner with local businesses to see if they have any items they could donate. And, my friend who owns a bookstore has committed to donating five new children's books per month. It makes for great collaboration and networking in the community."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I've worked on many projects in my current position. I would have to say that meeting with a group of senior associates to gather information that would lead to change within their area."

Rachelle's Feedback

'Tell me about...' questions are an ask from the interviewer for you to walk them through a specific story example. The simplest way to approach these questions is through the STAR framework, which is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. If you'd like to do more research, we have a complete guide here: Master Behavioral-Based Interviews Using The Star Method

10. How do you like to encourage ideas in others?

How to Answer

The interviewer would like to know how you have encouraged others to think creatively. Encouragement to others is a great skill to possess. Talk to the interviewer about your ability to promote creative ideas in your team members.

Here are some ways that you can encourage ideas in others:

- Get to know them and what they like to work on
- Send an encouraging email letting them know you like their plan or ideas
- Publicly praise their efforts
- If they are doing a great job, offer them more related opportunities
- If you are a leader, then tell them that you like their ideas
- Say things like 'Well done' or 'Nice work' on a regular basis
- Show that you believe in their quality of work before they even deliver it

Admin

"I like to encourage ideas in others by sending them nice emails. I am not one to publicly praise someone, primarily because that would embarrass me, but I will send them a quick note of encouragement."

Manager

"I like to encourage other people to be creative in their thinking and present ideas to the company, no matter how off the wall they may seem. Some of our most successful employees are ones who are confident in their ability to bring forward their unique ideas. I encourage participation through an open door policy and strong praise for those who show initiative."

Marketing

"I try to leave crumbs of knowledge and ideas around the office. You know - things that inspire me like magazines, articles, photographs, and even certain music. These are all great ways to spark conversations and get my marketing team thinking."

Retail

"When I hire new people for our sales floor or a new cashier, I will heavily encourage them as they are training through kind words. It's amazing how much confidence you can infuse into a new trainee simply by saying "wow, you are learning so fast!" or "I have yet to train someone who catches on as quickly as you."

Sales

"I encourage my sales representatives to tap into the best parts of themselves. It helps to ask probing questions to get them to generate ideas on their own. I have found that by painting a long-term vision for where I want to go, my team will often jump in with creative solutions to get us there."

Teacher

"As a teacher, I have found that by showing my belief in their quality of work before they even deliver it, my students go into a project much more confident."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I like brainstorming. We have a new application software where we were all new to it. I arranged some sessions to brainstorm some ideas on how we can go about exploring different parts of the system and come up with some knowledge-sharing sessions. This way we reduced considerably amount of time and were also able to build a stronger relationship within the team."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great job providing a supporting example and the positive outcome of brainstorming!

11. How often do you discuss work with your colleagues in order to think up new systems and styles of working?

How to Answer

The interviewer would like to know if you discuss creative ideas with your coworkers. Do you use your creative mind with your colleagues to discuss plans and systems in the workplace? Talk to the interviewer about how you have used creative thinking in the workplace.

Answer Example

"I have a policy with my team that if they have an innovative and helpful idea they can bring it to me at any time. If the idea or system is something that I think could work, we then create a plan together to present it to our head office. This policy has generated some powerful ideas in our office over the past three years including a work-share program and some health and safety initiatives."

Admin

"I think it is important to discuss work with colleagues in a collaborative nature to encourage all types of ideas to come forth. Often, when people put their heads together, they will create something better than something one individual could have done alone."

Manager

"I communicate with my coworkers, subordinates, and supervisor daily. We may not always think up new ideas, but we often discuss "what-if" scenarios."

Marketing

"My current environment is a collaborative one 99% of the time. Our offices do not have walls, and we often eat lunch together in the boardroom."

Retail

"The company which I work for does not have wiggle room for new ideas, or working styles. We are very much mandated to follow scripts and policy to a tee. Our team often wonders how we can better implement certain policies; however, we rarely discuss these as they are not well-received by the head office. I look forward to working in a more receptive environment soon."

Sales

"My team collaborates all the time! When one of us closes a huge sale, we send an email to the entire team to let them know how we do it. We can all learn from each other's work methods which are encouraging and helpful."

Teacher

"Each year at Teacher's Convention we spend two full days learning and attending workshops. I find that after these conventions, myself and my faculty have a new sense of excitement for our jobs and educational styling. This time of year is when we collaborate the most."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Mostly in our weekly meetings, we shared issues, obstacles, new ideas, and new approaches to our work. I often raised obstacles where I believed team discussions do simulate ideas and break the norms of how things are previously done."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a good strategy! Consider also mentioning that the frequency of such discussions can vary depending on the nature of your work, your team dynamics, and the specific goals or challenges you are facing. Then, you could discuss the incorporation of ad hoc discussions or cross-functional collaboration, for example.

12. When have you used an inventive method to stretch company resources beyond the normal level?

How to Answer

The interviewer would like to know about a time when you were creative with company resources. If you have an expense account or resource allowance, it is very respectful to the company to be as thoughtful with that allowance as possible. Talk to the interviewer about a time when you have been able to stretch company resources.

Answer Example

"I have recently implemented a schedule that allows for ride-sharing rewards which have cut down on our company's fuel expense by $9000 per month. I am quite proud of this initiative because it is not only financially responsible but also environmentally friendly."

Admin

"This is a practice I often utilize to maximize company resources and optimize value to the clients. I recycle a lot of company materials to make the most of our resources. I also do this with people regarding cross-training and sharing understanding across departments."

Manager

"In my previous role as floor manager, I saw that we were leaving a lot of "extra" material on the first cut and trimming it later. This method caused a lot of scraps. I implemented a new measurement tool for cutting material more accurately the first time."

Marketing

"We have many clients who are on a budget. For that reason, I have created an e-guide called "How to Market on Zero Dollars." It's a guide they can follow, with some actionable advice they can implement on their own. It also saves my agency time because we put the onus on our clients to follow these steps on their own."

Retail

"I recommended to our head office that we swap from paper bags to cloth bags that we sell. Just like a grocery store, we now offer large canvas totes for $2. They have great designs and are reusable, multi-purpose bags. Some clients complain, but overall, most people love it! This action saved our company $50,000 this year, and we are doing our part for the planet."

Sales

"I have started to keep all of my client data in the cloud so that I can access it on my iPad. I have also created fillable PDF's, downloaded DocuSign, and other apps that save me from having to print long forms and documents. It has saved our company money, and I encourage my fellow reps to do the same."

Teacher

"As you know, public schools do not have a lot of extra funding. One Saturday per month go to the local used bookstore for donations. They now set books aside for me - perhaps books that are not sell-able or repeats on the shelf. It has been a great way to build our library for free. In exchange, I always let our parents know in the e-newsletter, that this bookstore is the place to go for their literary needs as they support literacy for our students."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"The AI Alert Disposition screening process took 30 headcounts to manually review any customers who are likely a world check hotlist record. This process is very intensive. I applied some machine learning models to decipher any false information to cut down massively on the review time."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is an excellent example to share! What skills or experience contributed to the success of your idea? The interviewer will be pleased to hear that this reduces review time, but can you elaborate or quantify "massively?" Doing so will be more impactful and help the interviewer understand the significance of your contribution.

13. When did you come up with an innovative solution to a challenge your company, class, or organization was facing?

How to Answer

With this question, the interviewer is looking at your thought process and your level of logic. Begin by discussing the problem you were trying to solve. Next, consider the data set you used to analyze the problem. Lastly, talk about the recommendation you gave, and the positive outcome of your suggestion.

Answer Example

"I was asked to assess which available project management applications were best for our business. My boss wanted me to narrow it down to three potential purchases, using parameters such as cost, ease of user interface, and customer reviews. I was able to narrow things down for him within two days' time and presented my findings. He went with my #1 recommendation which felt great."

Admin

"Our company was not communicating important information effectively to our second and third shift operations. I obtained approval to hang televisions in various places which we connected to a secure computer where I could input all announcements for everyone to see."

Manager

"I recently wrapped up an organizational effectiveness survey with my team. I analyzed the results by leader, location, and department then came up with recommendations of how the company can improve trouble areas."

Marketing

"Bounce rates for our website were at 65%, meaning visitors would visit the blog, but 65% of them would only stay on the page they landed on. I had to analyze their behavior. I found that 80% of visitors never scrolled down to view the rest of the content on the homepage. By analyzing that data, I knew a problem existed at the top of the page. I made a recommendation to the web design team to remove 50% of the graphics and text. This change enticed our visitors to scroll down to view the rest of the content. By removing the clutter, our bounce rate dropped by 15 percent."

Retail

"As simple as it sounds, I figured out a better way to distribute breaks across the department. Somehow it had become that the newest hire had to go last, or whenever the more seasoned employees hadn't called "dibs," which is unfair and silly. Now, breaks are on a sliding scale of sales in the previous week. Whoever has the highest % to quota, gets first dibs for the week of when they take their break. This method not only makes it fair for all, but it improves productivity as well."

Sales

"Our sales development managers were having a high no-show rate of about 65% for their appointments set across the board. I developed copy for an email template that was sent the day before the meeting. This email was a meeting reminder, but more importantly, it included the "why" of it. Why did they agree to the meeting in the first place? How would we make their life easier? And what was the upside for them? After a month of using the templates, the no-show rate dropped to 42%."

Teacher

"I bought myself a cart to travel from class to class. Sounds silly and rudimentary, but it's super effective. When the school population grew, they needed my classroom for a core subject, so I've been running from class to class teaching lessons all over the school. The cart has been great. I load up what I need for that grade and zip between classrooms. Other teachers that have lost their classrooms have also started using this method."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I had a review on one of the segmentation models and by default, my boss expected me to run the same basic and advise her that the model is fine and free from bias. However, I looked at the data and noticed some significant differences between what she wants and what the data has been telling me. I went ahead and shared my findings and suggestions on what we can do with the current segmentation model."

Jaymie's Feedback

You're off to a great start! Organizing your response using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) can help make it more structured and easier to follow. Can you go into more detail about the challenges you faced, the model itself, and the innovative solution you proposed? Lastly, while you mention sharing your findings and suggestions, you could emphasize the positive impact of your innovative solution. What were the outcomes of your proposal? How did it benefit your company or team?

14. What does the word 'innovation' mean to you?

How to Answer

The term 'innovation' is often overused in business these days and has now become a buzzword that many people don't fully understand. The interviewer would like to know what you feel innovation indeed is. Include an example of a time when you have witnessed an innovative change in the workplace, or when you have exercised creativity.

Answer Example

"To me, innovation means presenting a new idea or making an existing idea better. It's important to be innovative in the workplace, but often it's a misunderstood concept. An example of when I was innovative was when our company was facing budget cuts. I suggested that we begin to operate as though the cuts were already made, in an attempt to preemptively save funds. The concept worked well, and we were able to eliminate many unnecessary expenditures."

Admin

"Innovation means introducing a new process, or breakthrough in the workplace. A time when I have been innovative was when I built a new tracking system in our company's CRM. I wanted to create a more accurate way to track projects with a simple option for our sales team to update the project stage. The owner of the company loved my creation, and now it's implemented company-wide."

Manager

"I encourage my team to be innovative by asking the impossible of themselves, and their coworkers. We will get together once per week and bring up situations that we think are out of our scope and then reverse engineer these ideas to see how we could go about putting them into action. To me, this is being innovative in the workplace."

Marketing

"This year I introduced a virtual idea box to my agency, as a way to encourage creative ideas from our employees and freelancers. This initiative is a concept that we have now introduced to our clients. This 'idea box' allows for anonymous, or named, employees and even clients to give their two cents without feeling the pressure of brainstorm meetings. To me, innovation can mean taking existing ideas and transforming them to make them work for today's digital age."

Retail

"The store where I currently work had a lot of trouble with selling add-on products. I did some research and learned how to better merchandise for our store layout. From there, I made a presentation to the owners to show how we could better position the products and encourage add-on items near the checkout. This merchandising idea is not a new concept; however, I altered it slightly to be a concept that would interest the store owners and still work with their design concept."

Sales

"I believe there are many opportunities to be innovative in a sales environment. To me, innovation is transforming a concept or introducing a breakthrough. Last year I introduced new types of sales scripts that incorporated NLP, or neuro-linguistic programming, concepts. The scripts were well-received by the leaders in my organization."

Teacher

"In my classroom, I introduced the 'innovation awards' for my students. We take the science concepts that we have learned through the year and then host a competition. The kids can have their ideas and run with them. I believe that innovation is the conceptualization of new ideas and revolutions, all of which are important to encourage in students."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"To me, innovation means to think unconventionally, to allow thoughts to formulate without interruption and then to challenge the status quo to think more of why not vs why and to allow open communication between members to share ideas and think creatively with no judgment."

Marcie's Feedback

This is an excellent description of the word innovation. Nice job! Is there any example you can provide of a time when you were innovative at school or work? Giving a personal example will help strengthen your answer.

15. How can we inspire your creative side?

How to Answer

If an interviewer asks you any questions related to how they can help you, then you should rejoice! Companies who ask potential employees what they can do for them, are often a flatter organizational structure and often fabulous companies to join. Think of a time when your creative juices were flowing. What were the surroundings, or which resources were available to you? Be sure to thank the interviewer for a question related to your needs!

Answer Example

"I appreciate your concern for my needs! The best way to inspire my creative side is to provide me with the space that I need to work. I come up with my best ideas when I can brainstorm and work through my ideas on paper, or on my computer."

Admin

"I appreciate you asking this question! I tend to concentrate heavily on my work, and sometimes I forget to take breaks. If you can encourage me to take my breaks to refresh my mind, I can create some excellent and creative work!"

Manager

"It's great that you are concerned with the creativity of your employees. I encourage creativity in my team by asking them to bring me their ideas - fun, weird, challenging, and clever. All of them! If you can do the same for me, that is when I am at my creative best."

Marketing

"Thank you for asking! For me, a flexible work schedule and a moveable workspace are all factors that allow me to be at my most creative. For instance, in my current role, we can start late and stay late, or come in early to have a quiet coffee and get our day going. Also, I am not chained to one specific desk. Our workspaces flow all throughout the office."

Retail

"I love to exercise my creativity, so - thank you for asking! I am at my best, creatively speaking when a team mentality is encouraged. This mentality could mean group huddles at the beginning of the day, group coffee breaks, or after-work drinks."

Sales

"I am my most creative when I have the resources that I need to get my job done. These resources could mean technological, or even access to a mentor, and continued education opportunities. Thanks for asking! I highly value creative ideas in the workplace."

Teacher

"I realize that the public school system has limited resources; however, one of the best ways that I get my creativity flowing is through mixed media and other visual aids. I like to introduce these aids into my classroom for my students and encourage their creativity, in return."

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I think calling them out in team meetings so that others do recognize the effort and time invested. I also think it is important to share with the broader team so that we can lead by example."

Jaymie's Feedback

This encourages open communication and creates an environment where you and others feel comfortable sharing thoughts, ideas, and concerns without fear of judgment. Open dialogue allows for the free exchange of creative concepts! Good job!