Job interview question

[goobee]

I went to a job interview and ran into a problem with 2 time management questions (It was a Behavioral Based interview). The first question went something like this:

?Let?s say you are working on multiple projects that are nearing their completion deadlines. Deadline extensions are not possible. How would you handle this situation??

The second question built on the previous question:

?Given the previous scenario, let?s say your boss assigns you another high priority project. How would you handle that situation now??

I kinda fell on my face on these questions. How would you guys have responded to both of these questions?

 

[hjo3]

Originally posted by: goobee
?Let?s say you are working on multiple projects that are nearing their completion deadlines. Deadline extensions are not possible. How would you handle this situation??

Well, all the projects have actually been finished ahead of schedule because I'm awesome. Next question.

?Given the previous scenario, let?s say your boss assigns you another high priority project. How would you handle that situation now??

I'd take the project and finish it easily because I'm so good at my job.

Those were easy.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: goobee
I went to a job interview and ran into a problem with 2 time management questions (It was a Behavioral Based interview). The first question went something like this:

?Let?s say you are working on multiple projects that are nearing their completion deadlines. Deadline extensions are not possible. How would you handle this situation??

Ask for more manpower? Working non-stop overtime is probably not the best answer, as the amount of work you get done decreases rapidly the more time you spend working.

The second question built on the previous question:

?Given the previous scenario, let?s say your boss assigns you another high priority project. How would you handle that situation now??

I kinda fell on my face on these questions. How would you guys have responded to both of these questions?

Er... explain to him that you're in a time crunch, and see if there's something that could be done about the situation?

 

[bleeb]

1. Assess the situation. Talk with team members and recieve their feedback on the situation. Then go to the manager to communicate the situation, and possible solutions to the problem. Make it a priority to increase my work & teams productivity levels until projects are complete.

2. I'd communicate my thoughts on the situation and ask to either pioritize projects or to shift the project to someone else.

For both situations, I'd let my boss know that I'm willing to spend late nights, weekends, and all aspects of my social life to complete the projects.

 

[Dulanic]

I hate questions like that and interviews myself, recently had one with 3 people all at once, god that was hell.

 

[AreaCode707]

Usual generic answer about prioritizing the projects that are higher impact to the company, keeping communication and feedback lines to my manager open so the manager always knew where I was on the projects, looping in free team resources to assist, etc. On both questions. 😉

 

[goobee]

Some excellent comments. Damn, I wish I could do the interview over again knowing what I've learned here. :thumbsup:

 

[NoReMoRsE]

I'd say "To hell with your capitalistic organization! Workers of the world unite!"

But that's just me. And I'm crazy. And sleep-deprived.

 

i interviewed a guy today and asked him what he liked on his pizza 🙂

 

[DrPizza]

I think a good answer to #2 is "since I would keep an open line of communication with my manager, being assigned another high priority project while the other projects near their deadline is simply indicative that my manager would be confident that my other projects would be completed on time, thus there is no real problem here to solve."