Tell us about a time when things didn't go your way. How did you respond?

"All through pharmacy school, I've had the same roommate and lived in the same apartment. Recently, she told me she was running out of money and needed to move back in with her parents. We're only about 6 months from graduation, and our lease is month-to-month, so I imagined we'd stay through graduation. Initially, I was really surprised and upset, because I didn't see this coming. After I took some time to think about it, I decided I'd stay and find a new roommate. I'm sad she's leaving, but I think it will be nice to have some change. We posted her room on a few room rental websites and told some of our classmates. Fortunately, one of our other classmates did decide to move in to be closer to her rotations. I feel like this is the best-case scenario, and I am proud of myself for not getting too overwhelmed in the process."

Your interviewers are asking for a direct example, so be sure to have something specific prepared (prior to your interview) that proves your ability to face an unexpected challenge head on. Your example should outline what the problem was, the steps you took to fix it, and the an outcome that reflects your ability to solve problems.