Give an example of a time when you have been faced with a challenging situation. How did you overcome this, and what did you learn from it?
Taking the time to think through the challenges you have faced professionally goes a long way in an interview. You can use the examples you think of to answer a variety of questions including this one. To prepare, think about times in which you faced adversity, were stressed, were presented with a difficult problem, or faced conflict. Make a chart with the stories that come to mind and make brief notes for each using the STAR model (situation, task, action, result). Be sure to include any lessons learned in the results section of your list.
Keep in mind that the challenges you write down can be simple, but should align with the relative responsibility or seniority level of the role you're interviewing for. For example, a university administrator might discuss an issue with an event they planned on behalf of a department, a challenge faced while learning a new system, a conflict with a department head or a vendor, etc.
"When I worked at x Company in x role, we had a major event happening where over 200 guests were joining us for an evening event. On that particular day, there was a really bad storm that caused an electricity outage. As a team, we were tasked with trying to find out whether the power would be back on in time and if not, putting in place a contingency plan. My teammates were stressed, but I knew that staying calm and utilizing a strategy would be the best way forward.
I felt we would be most effective if we split our team of six into three groups. I suggested that two members work with the service providers to find out when the power was likely to be restored, two members work to explore alternative venues, and the other two would handle guest and vendor communication. My teammates agreed with the plan, and I volunteered to work on the team tasked with contacting the vendors and all 200 guests.
I sent group texts, made individual phone calls, and sent emails to communicate the known details of the situation. Ultimately, we had to postpone the event until a later date but many of the individuals I reached out to thanked me for my prompt communication.
While I was somewhat new to event planning at the time, I learned that staying calm in the face of a challenge is critical. I also learned that anyone can be a leader and that the most important thing is to work as a team to establish an effective strategy in the face of a challenge. I feel confident that I will be able to handle challenges effectively here at XYZ University if hired."
Walk your interviewer through the details of the challenge you faced using the STAR model. Begin with a brief description of the situation and any necessary background information and then describe the task(s) you identified that would help to resolve the challenge. Discuss the specific actions you took and the results of the situation. Be sure to include any lessons you learned.
In the event you have more than one challenging scenario to choose from, try to select a story that aligns with the specific university administrator job you're interviewing for. Alternatively, choose a story related to any challenges your interviewer may have raised during the interview. This will help convince your interviewer that you're ready and able to handle similar situations with ease if hired.
Unlock all 35 University Administrator questions
Unlock expert responses for complex higher education leadership interviews.
Get Started