Tell us about a time you thought outside of the box at work.

"In my past position as a lead chemist working with various government agencies, I had to find innovative ways to describe complex concepts to government leaders and non-scientific people. Often, these concepts and ideas were too theoretical for audience members if they were not compared to simpler ideas we can visualize in our everyday lives. As the lead presenter, I designed the final presentation around analogies using visual aids, including images and diagrams that were easy to understand. The council members quickly caught on, understood the big idea, supported our proposal, and provided additional funding for the project."

Discuss a time you had to solve a problem creatively. Talk about how you came up with a creative solution to a customer problem or improved an internal process. Your answer doesn't have to be an invention or a tremendous breakthrough. Any unexpected decision you made will most likely count as a creative solution. Thinking outside the box means being innovative and creative. Choose the skills you want to highlight; they could include critical thinking, initiative, persistence, or innovation.