How to Answer: Tell me about a time when you did something completely different from the plan. Why did you go that route?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Computer Science job interview.
20. Tell me about a time when you did something completely different from the plan. Why did you go that route?
How to Answer
This is a behavioral question. Behavioral questions ask you to tell a story about an incident in the past and how you reacted. Interviewers will ask behavioral questions to gauge how you will react to similar situations in the future. Behavioral questions are best answered using the STAR framework. You state the Situation, describe the Task you had to complete, talk about the Actions you took, and then discuss the Results you achieved.
Written by William Swansen on October 29th, 2020
Answer Example
"In my last job, I was asked to help design and implement a new customer resource management system. Management recommended we work with the premier vendor in this space and expected us to complete the project within three weeks. I was aware of a new product that had come to the market and took a chance with it. We were able to design and implement the CRM within two weeks, and the features and performance exceeded the specifications with which we were originally working. Management initially reacted negatively when I had not selecting their vendor. However, after viewing the system and seeing it perform, they were happy with the results."
Written by William Swansen on October 29th, 2020