Here is some professional advice, brush up on your storytelling when preparing for your next interview. You are probably thinking this is not something you would normally hear when learning how to prepare for an interview. But rest assured that if you follow this simple guide, you will be successful in your next scenario-based interview.
Scenario-based interview questions are very popular in job interviews across various industries. These types of questions require job candidates to demonstrate their problem solving and critical thinking skills by presenting them with hypothetical situations they may encounter on the job if hired.
This article will explore the benefits of scenario-based interview questions, provide examples of commonly asked questions, and offer tips on how to prepare and answer them effectively.
In this article, you’ll discover:
What is a scenario-type interview?
Why are scenario-based questions good?
How do you prepare for a scenario-based interview question?
How do you answer scenario-based questions?
Sample scenario-based questions with answers
What is a scenario-type interview?
A scenario-type interview (also known as the situation interview), is a type of interview where the interviewer will ask about a hypothetical situation and how you would handle it.
Why are scenario based interview questions good?
The purpose of scenario-based interview questions is to allow the interview to go deeper than traditional interview questions and get a true idea of how the candidate will perform in a real work situation.
The scenario-based interview is a popular interview technique and will help the interviewer better understand the candidate by:
Assessing the candidate’s problem-solving abilities
Gauging how quickly the candidate can think on their feet
Understanding the candidate’s thought process and how they adapt to change and challenges
Providing insight into the candidate’s knowledge of the job field and industry
Evaluating the candidate’s ability to communicate
Overall, scenario-based interview questions are a valuable tool for assessing a candidate’s skills, experience, and ability to perform the job.
How do you prepare for a scenario interview question?
The scenario-based interview, just like any other type of interview, can be stressful. But preparing for the interview will help build your confidence.
Here are some steps to help get you ready to impress the interviewer and take on the scenario-based interview:
Understand the job: Be sure to thoroughly read the job description and its requirements. By researching the company and fully comprehending the position, you will get a better understanding of what scenarios may be presented.
Prepare your STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories: According to the article, How to leverage the STAR interview method to land your dream job, “It involves a storytelling approach where you must explain the specific situation to the interviewer, your responsibilities in that situation, the course of action you took during that situation, and the results yielded by your actions.”
Practice, Practice, Practice: Research and look for scenario-based questions related to the position and industry and practice. You can record your answers or ask a trusted friend to assist. Practicing your answers to the scenario-based questions will be key to success.
Get prepared to answer unusual interview questions with this article from Career.io: Be prepared to answer these curveball interview questions.
How do you answer scenario-based interview questions?
Remember, scenario-based interview questions are designed to assess a candidate’s ability to think fast, communicate, and solve problems. They also assess how well you handle challenges in the workplace.
Here are three simple steps to remember when answering scenario-based interview questions:
Be specific: Provide specific examples from your previous experiences to demonstrate how you handled similar situations. This helps the interviewer see how you would manage real-case scenarios in the new role.
Use the STAR method: When answering a scenario-based interview question, use the STAR method. Start by describing the situation or problem you encountered, then the task or problem you needed to solve, followed by the actions you took to address the problem, and finally, the positive result or outcome.
Ask questions: If you're unsure about the scenario or what's being asked, ask the interviewer for clarification.
Sample scenario-based questions
Scenario-based interview questions are designed to assess your problem solving and communication skills along with your ability to work well under pressure. Here are 8 sample scenario-based interview questions with answers.
Question 1
Tell me about a time when you had to handle a difficult customer or client. How did you handle the situation and what was the outcome?
Answer 1
Situation: During my time with XYZ company, I was tasked with handling customer escalations. One particular time, I had a customer who was extremely dissatisfied with the product they had received and was very upset about it.
Task: I needed to assess this situation, calm the customer, and understand what made them unhappy about the product.
Action: I listened carefully to the customer without interrupting. I then apologized for the inconvenience they had experienced and offered to provide a refund or a replacement product.
Result: After working with the customer to resolve their issue, they decided to accept a replacement product. The customer was so pleased with my service that they left a positive review about their experience.
Question 2
Can you describe a time when you had to work with a difficult coworker or manager? How did you handle the situation and what did you learn from it?
Answer 2
Situation: I pride myself on being a great teammate, but conflict is inevitable, and how I am able to handle conflict is a skill I have perfected over time. I recall working on a large and complex project at ABC company, where I had a coworker who was very disorganized and often missed deadlines. This impacted the client’s schedule, costing our company time and money.
Task: As a leader and professional, I felt I needed to talk with them and let them know that they are a valuable member of the team, and see if there was anything they needed in order to help keep the project on pace.
Action: I expressed my concerns in a respectful and professional manner. I then offered to help them with their tasks and suggested a new approach to better manage deadlines. I also tried to empathize with their situation and understand the root cause of their disorganization.
Result: Through this experience, I learned the importance of effective communication and empathy in resolving conflicts with difficult coworkers. By taking a proactive approach and showing my coworker that I was there to help them, I was able to improve our working relationship and successfully complete the project on time.
Question 3
Have you ever faced a challenging project or task? How did you approach the challenge and what was the outcome?
Answer 3
Situation: As project managers, we know that there will be known and unknown risks and challenges to every project. I remember a high-profile project I was leading. I was managing a team to develop a new software system for a client. The project had a tight deadline and a complex set of requirements, which made it a significant challenge.
Task: To keep the project on time, scope, and budget, I updated the project plan with new milestones.
Action: First, I worked with my team to break down the requirements into smaller, more manageable tasks. I then assigned responsibilities to each team member based on their strengths and expertise. I also made sure to communicate regularly with the client to ensure that we were meeting their needs and expectations.
Result: Through my leadership and a great team effort, we were able to successfully deliver the software system to the client ahead of the deadline and within the agreed-upon budget. The client was very pleased with the final product leading to the launch of a new and cutting-edge application.
Question 4
Can you describe a time when you had to think creatively to solve a problem?
Answer 4
Situation: In a previous role as Marketing Director for XYZ company, I was heading up a marketing campaign that was not getting the results the client was looking for to build up their brand recognition.
Task: I knew I had to collaborate with industry influencers on social media to help promote the client’s products and services.
Action: I researched influencers in the client’s industry, reached out with a personalized message, and offered them a free trial of our product.
Result: After meeting and collaborating with some of the biggest industry influencers, the campaign became a huge success, and the client saw a significant increase in engagement and record-breaking sales.
Question 5
Can you describe a time when you had to manage multiple priorities and deadlines? How did you prioritize your tasks and what was the outcome?
Answer 5
Situation: One of the things that I pride myself on is my ability to adapt to shifting priorities. As a Senior Project Manager with ABC company, I am responsible for overseeing multiple complex projects with overlapping deadlines.
Task: Because I led multiple and simultaneous projects, I needed a way to control all the moving pieces and the different changes.
Action: I prioritized my tasks and created a detailed project plan that included timelines, milestones, and deliverables for each project. I communicated regularly with my staff, cross-functional teams, and stakeholders to ensure everyone was on the same page while addressing any and all issues, problems, or delays.
Result: Through my ability to organize and pay attention to the details, along with my communication skills, I was able to successfully complete all of my projects on time and within budget.
Question 6
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a crisis or unexpected situation. How did you handle the situation, and what did you learn from it?
Answer 6
Situation: As an event planner, I deal with unexpected situations every day. It’s just par for the course. I remember a high-profile event I was managing when a major storm hit the area, causing widespread power outages and significant damage.
Task: I composed myself and I knew I had to make sure everyone was safe while working to implement our contingency plan.
Action: I quickly worked with my team to develop a communication plan that included social media posts, email updates, and phone calls.
Result: Because my team and I were able to act quickly, we immediately ensured everyone was safe. Then we worked with the venue and vendors to minimize any financial losses and were able to reschedule the event for a later date.
Question 7
Can you describe a time when you had to work with a team to achieve a goal? What was your role and how did you contribute to the team's success?
Answer 7
Situation: As part of a global cross-functional team, I was stationed here in the US working on a network security project. The purpose of the project was to roll out a new software security application for the ABC company home office and our satellite offices around the world.
Task: I served as the lead project manager, and I was responsible for coordinating the work of the various teams, ensuring everyone was on track, and addressing any issues that arose.
Action: To contribute to the team’s success, I worked closely with our executive leadership, our development team, the software engineers, and our technical analysts.I also facilitated regular meetings to discuss progress and proactively identify solutions to any challenges.
Result: By working collaboratively and communicating effectively, we were able to successfully complete the project and achieve our goals.
Question 8
Tell me about a time when you had to adapt to a new process or system. What was the process, and how did you adapt to it?
Answer 8
Situation: During my time with XYZ company, we were required to use a new software system for managing projects. The old software was outdated and lacked some key features that we needed to manage our projects effectively.
Task: I am always looking to improve and make things faster and efficient, so I was pretty excited about the new software. My aim was to discover ways to customize the software to fit our specific project management needs.
Action: For example, I set up templates which saved us time and improved our consistency. I also suggested some improvements which were implemented in a later software update.
Result: By being proactive and having a positive attitude about learning something new, I was able to master the new system and use it effectively.
Key Takeaways
A scenario-based interview is a type of interview where the interviewer will ask the candidate a question by hypothetically placing the candidate into a specific situation and asking how they would handle it.
The purpose of scenario-based interview questions is to allow the interview to go deeper than traditional interview questions and get a true idea of how the candidate will perform in a real work situation.
The best way to prepare and answer scenario-based interview questions is by using the STAR method.
