What is the most difficult situation you have had to face and how did you tackle it?
"At my last position, I had to complete a project on very short notice, as revised by the client. Notwithstanding the amount of work involved, I got to work immediately. I used numerous lists to keep track of the daily duties to be performed and delegated some duties to ensure all expectations could be met. Having a diverse team that is talented and collaborative makes a huge difference. The project was completed by the deadline and the client was highly satisfied."
The aim of the interviewer is to learn about the kind of person you are and how you handle different situations. Answer this question by providing an example of a difficult situation you overcame. Preferably, provide an example in a professional capacity; if this isn't possible, provide an example in a volunteer capacity or in a university setting. It's important to pick a real example with a positive outcome. This is a great opportunity to leave a strong impression on the hiring manager and show them you're the best fit for the job.
"One of the most difficult parts of the job as a landscape architect can be a limited design budget. We are often expected to produce creative solutions with very little budget because clients don't understand the time and energy needed to develop creative solutions. In my previous job, there was this time when a past client wanted a quick final design and construction drawings completed on a very tight schedule and with a limited budget. I knew it was too risky, so I turned down the work and respectfully explained my reasoning to the client. The client hired another company for the job. A few weeks later, the client called me. They had several delays with their project and realized that the schedule and budget combination was unworkable. They should have allowed for a longer schedule or a larger budget for the project. The client told me that they wanted to work with us on the next phase of the project because they valued our judgment and appreciated the honest feedback we had given."
