Describe a time where you worked well under pressure.
Performing well under pressure is both a personal and professional quality and can make a difference between an average employee and an excellent one. Many jobs involve moments when, for varied reasons, unexpected situations occur and quick decisions are needed. The ability to stay calm, think logically, and act appropriately in such a scenario is a major asset for any employee.
"Last week our client made some pretty significant changes to our plans just a few days before the submittal deadline. Everyone was really stressed during this time. I cleared my personal schedule and agreed to work several hours of overtime so that we could hit the deadline our client required. It's easy to freeze up in times like that, so I was sure to create milestones. I also made sure to utilize our technical staff and junior planners more than usual. We hit our deadline and our client was thrilled!"
This is your opportunity to show you are likely to perform well even under difficult circumstances. Be sure to use a recent and relatable example when you answer this question. Spend less time talking about the problem and more time talking about what you did to find a solution. Describe the outcome and what you learned and were able to apply on other projects.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
Writing my thesis paper for my MPA program while dealing with a big trust fund recovery penalty investigation. It challenged me quite a bit, but I was able to complete both with outstanding success.
Stephanie's Feedback
This sounds like a challenging time that you navigated--I am glad to hear that you had a great outcome! To develop your response, I suggest adding in an additional sentence that explicitly states your comfort and experience working under pressure. For example: "My past experiences have well prepared me to multitask and to perform under pressure; I am confident in my ability to navigate stressful situations as they arise."
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