Have you ever had a project go over the deadline for completion? If so, why did that happen, and how did you respond?

If you have had projects go past their completion date, choose one that was not because of an error on your part. Focus on a project that did not meet the deadline because of something out of your control. Some examples may be inclement weather, supply shortage, or change orders from the client.

Avoid giving an example of a project that did not meet its deadline because you made a mistake. Describing a project that was not completed because you did not schedule the project appropriately or had insufficient staff shows the interviewer that you may not have the skills they are looking for in a Construction Superintendent.

"Yes, I have had a project that went past the deadline. A client made 134 change orders during a residential build, which set the project back two months. I explained to the client that the magnitude of change orders would set the project back a few months and had him sign an agreement that he understood the new deadline. At first, he did not understand why we could not finish earlier, but after I walked him through the process and explained the amount of extra work we had to perform, he understood why the project would be delayed."