Scenario Based Mock Interview
Practice 20 Scenario Based interview questions covering problem-solving, decision-making, and real-world situations.
Question 18 of 20
What would you do if an angry customer approached you and demanded an immediate resolution to their problem?
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Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
The interviewer wants to know how you react in the face of a customer-related pressure situation. The goal of your response is to show that you are a level-headed professional who can think under pressure and create a solution rather than allow the conflict to intimidate you.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
Avoid responding in a way that shows you would do anything to avoid the conflict. For example, saying, 'I would give the customer what they wanted,' shows a lack of problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Instead, point to the fact that you would lean on your training and the company's policies to reach a well-thought-out resolution that served all parties equitably.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
The interviewer wants to know how you would proceed in this customer-service scenario where the pressure is high. Because this question asks, 'What would you do if...,' you can respond hypothetically. The Situation, Solution, Benefit formula is helpful in this instance.
Step 1) Situation: Express your understanding of the hypothetical situation.
Step 2) Solution: Outline the solution you would introduce in this hypothetical situation.
Step 3) Benefit: Highlight how your approach to de-escalation will benefit the hiring company.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
When you talk about handling upset customers, it's essential to show that you would act quickly and professionally while abiding by company policy. Employers want to see that your dispute-resolution skills are strong and that you can think fast when a pressing matter arises. Show the interviewer that you would jump into action to generate a fair resolution for the customer.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"(Situation) Through my years of customer service training and experiences, I have come to realize that most angry customers are simply expressing their frustration over the situation versus being angry at me personally. (Solution) If an angry customer approached me and demanded an immediate resolution to their problem, I would listen intently. I would let the customer speak and then use phrases like, 'So, what I'm hearing is that...is that correct?' Then, I would ask questions such as, 'What can I do to make this situation better?' Remaining calm and using the resources provided to me by my company, I would work to come up with a solution that felt fair and equitable. (Benefit) The benefit to hiring someone like me, with many years of customer service experience and extensive dispute-resolution training, is that I bring confidence in uncomfortable situations while still focusing on solutions that align with Company ABC's promise of providing unmatched customer care."
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