"(Situation) This year, when we were setting up the department for the holiday season, my day shift was over before the window merchandising was complete. (Task) The store has a no overtime policy, so my manager asked me to wrap up my progress, and another team member would finish the merchandising task in the evening. (Action) Instead, I clocked out, returned to the floor, and finished what I started. (Result) My manager was incredibly appreciative and thanked me for my hard work, all off the clock. I had so much fun doing the merchandising. I loved finishing what I'd started, and the icing on the cake was getting the verbal appreciation from my manager."

"(Situation & Task) Although I am not the sales manager at Company XYZ, I make it a point to be the unofficial welcoming committee to new hires. It can feel daunting to arrive at a new office when you don't know anyone, and I know how far a friendly face can go. (Action) Recently, I volunteered for our newest hire to sit with me at lunch and learn the office dynamics. I checked in with him between training sessions and let him know that I could answer any questions he had. I also invited them to the group's morning coffee walk before the sales meetings started. (Result) After their first week, the new team member approached me and thanked me for my kindness. It goes a long way in making a teammate feel welcome, and it ultimately helps the company since this approach can boost new employee retention and productivity."

"(Situation & Task) During curriculum development two summers ago, every teacher at School XYZ received one learning module to update. Once the learning modules were updated, I was responsible for compiling them into one lesson plan while ensuring cohesiveness. Once I received all of the learning modules, I noticed gaps in the plans, and the lessons didn't string together seamlessly. (Action) So, rather than send the work back to each teacher to re-do, I carved out some spare time and spent the next week reworking the lesson plans to ensure they flowed. (Result) During the school year, it was very gratifying to see the lesson plans in action and witness how well they flowed with our student's learning plans."

"(Situation & Task) I currently work at Clinic XYZ as a medical office assistant. The clinic director does not want me to spend a lot of time chasing patients for their follow-up appointments, so, as clinic policy stands, patients are responsible for this task. However, we have one patient who often forgets her appointments and fails to remember to book her follow-ups. (Action) This particular patient has memory troubles due to her illness, so I go out of my way to ensure she's always pre-booked at least three months in advance. When I see her appointment coming up, I will call her rather than rely on our automated appointment reminder system. (Result) This patient is always thankful for the reminder, and this extra step ensures that our clinic continues to run smoothly while also extending empathy to our patients who need an extra dose of care."

"(Situation & Task) When I worked for Company XYZ as the finance manager, I had one exceptional employee who was incredible with numbers but was struggling to understand some of the changes we made in our financial software program. The struggle was so significant that it was affecting his productivity. I did not want his job to be in danger or see him quit out of frustration. (Action) So, I asked if I could provide him with a few one-on-one training sessions during our lunch breaks. He agreed. (Result) After two weeks, he understood the new system, and his performance improved exponentially."

"(Situation & Task) As the marketing assistant for Agency XYZ, I often help the marketing manager onboard our new clients. Last month I went above and beyond to help a client who did not understand social media. (Action) I went to her office, helped set up her Instagram and TikTok accounts, and provided guidance on navigating through the platform's functions from her phone. (Result) This service was not part of this clients' marketing package. However, she increased her budget shortly after because I went out of my way to help. The client was happy and felt comfortable using the platforms we'd be leveraging for her company's digital marketing campaign."

Avoid giving an answer that sounds like you reluctantly went above the call of duty in your role, but you did it out of obligation. Instead, provide an example of when you were eager to help, and your helpfulness made a positive impact.

'Discuss a time when...' means the interviewer is looking for a story-based example for this scenario-based interview question. You can form a memorable response using the STAR method. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result.

- Situation: Set the stage with the background information the interviewer needs to make sense of your story.
- Task: Continuing to set the stage, give the interviewer an idea of your role and responsibilities in this story.
- Action: Next, offer a detailed description of the steps you took to resolve the situation you described.
- Result: Last, talk about the specific outcomes that resulted from your actions.

When you answer this question, the interviewer should feel confident that you are the type of person who will consistently deliver more than the minimum expectations. Perhaps you exceed expectations on a project by doing additional research. Maybe you helped a co-worker reach a deadline, even though it meant working overtime.

Think back to the accountabilities in your most recent position. Then, using the STAR method, tell a memorable story about when you eagerly went above your typical expectations and shone in the workplace. Be sure to provide details on the impact of your actions, ensuring the interviewer has evidence that you will bring a strong work ethic to their organization.