How do you make decisions? Give an example.
Employers love asking interview questions about decision-making. They want to make sure you can handle pressure and react well to challenging situations. You need to clearly describe how you make decisions and give examples of past decisions that worked out well for you. Describe a system or a process that you follow. It doesn't have to be an exact science, but you want to sound like you approach decisions in a similar way, rather than doing something completely different each time or trusting your gut.
"I like to gather as much information as possible to aid in my decision, but I also consider how much time is available to me. Editors are often under strict deadlines and need to make decisions quickly, even if all the information can't be gathered, so I weigh time versus information. Then I looked at possible outcomes and the likely results of my decisions and made the best choice for my team and organization. At my last job, I led an important writing and editing assignment for a media client, and two team members quit the company midway through the project. This happened just minutes before our scheduled weekly call with the client, so I had to think quickly and use problem-solving skills and communication skills to inform the client what had happened and create a plan to proceed with the project. In the end, the client was okay with the situation and liked my decision and plan to move forward. I think my decision to go into the call with confidence even though I had been caught off-guard by the situation is what helped. Also, my transparency and clear communication with the client maintained their trust and strengthened our relationship."
