Tell me about a difficult situation you have had to face within your career to date. How did you handle it and what was the outcome?
One of the most common questions asked during an interview process is to describe a specific difficult work-related situation that you have faced in your previous job and how you handled it. This interview question is asked in order to evaluate your communication skills, your ability to solve problems/issues and your conflict resolution abilities (i.e. analytical skills).Try to remember some of the difficult/hard work situations that you have experienced, your answer should illustrate your abilities to deal with difficult situations effectively.
"During a previous role I was responsible for the administration of development reviews for students. I had a difficult situation when I noticed that a supervisor was writing offensive and demotivating notes on the staff reviews. This was concerning to me and I was worried about mentioning it as this person was a senior member of staff. I let my manager know and the issue was highlighted and resolved without my involvement but I believe it was an important issue to have raised"
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
While doing kennels one evening, I was alone with two other technicians. We noticed that one dog's behavior and awareness drastically declined. We immediately checked the dog's blood glucose and saw that it was dangerously low. We called the veterinarian and explained everything to her. She gave us a plan of action; we followed it as best we could. We were able to save the animal without the doctor being at the hospital. I had to stay calm and work as a team for the best benefit to the animal. Without this careful observation, this animal could have had a different outcome.
Rachelle's Feedback
It seems you handled this perfectly, and with a very happy/positive outcome. Great job.
Anonymous Answer
One of my classes as a swim teacher was a disability session. Here I had to adapt my teaching style to suit a range of individuals. I found teaching by demonstration worked best. This challenged my adaptability, yet allowed me to explore different teaching methods and learn new ways to communicate. Despite having to change my approach to the way I taught, I enjoyed facing a new challenge.
Rachelle's Feedback
This would have been a great opportunity to challenge you as a teacher. Your answer showcases your ability to pivot your plan, as needed.
Anonymous Answer
I have previously been a peer mentor for a younger student at my school. My role was to meet with them regularly so we could talk about anything they were struggling with and try to find a solution to their problems. Confidentiality is very important for being a peer mentor; your mentee has to be able to trust you. However, they informed me about something that was too serious for me to handle myself. I had to decide between honouring the confidentiality or informing a senior staff member. I chose the later because it was justified in this circumstance. The staff member who I reported my concerns to was able to sort out the problem and the outcome was positive.
Rachelle's Feedback
This situation sounds complicated, indeed, but it seems that you made the right decision. You tell this story very well - it's engaging and interesting while showcasing your critical thinking skills.
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