Question: Imagine this scenario: Your manager has just asked you to do a task that seems impossible given its scope and it deadline. What do you do?

Alternative Question Phrasing:

What is your first reaction when your senior manager assigns a task that you think is impossible?

Follow-up questions:

N/A

Question Details:

Question Type:

Situational

Skills:

Basic – Critical Thinking,Basic – Monitoring (Making observations of self and environment),Basic – Science and Logic,Complex Problem Solving,Social – Coordination (Adjusting one’s own actions in relation to others),Systems – Judgment and Decision Making,Systems Analysis

Abilities:

Cognitive – Deductive Reasoning,Cognitive – Inductive Reasoning,Cognitive – Originality,Cognitive – Problem Sensitivity (Problem Recognition),Cognitive – Speed of Closure (Thinking Speed)

Other Factors:

Big 5 – Openness to Experience (Open Mindedness),Candidate Preparedness,Personal Improvement (Growth),Personality-Job Fit,Personality-Organization Fit

Work Activity (Task):

Information Input – Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events,Interacting with Others – Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates,Interacting with Others – Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships,Mental Processes – Analyzing Data or Information,Mental Processes – Judging the Value of Things, Services, or People,Mental Processes – Making Decisions and Solving Problems,Mental Processes – Thinking Creatively (Creativity),Mental Processes – Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Work Context (Person-Job/Team/Org Fit):

Interpersonal Relationships – Coordinate or Lead Others,Interpersonal Relationships – Interacting with Upper Management,Interpersonal Relationships – Relationship With Supervisor,Interpersonal Relationships – Responsibility for Outcomes and Results of Others,Job Structure – Level of Responsibility (Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Organization Results),Job Structure – Structured versus Unstructured Work

Work Style (Person-Job Fit):

Adaptability/Flexibility,Approachability,Attention to Detail,Handling Ambiguity,Initiative

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

You are looking for the candidate’s openness to approach to a difficult task.
If the candidate does some research and come up with reasons why they feel the task is impossible.
If the candidate feels responsible and tries to help the manager with alternatives and options that might help them figure out the approach to completing the task.

Red Flags to Watch For:

If the candidate accepts to do the task for the fear of losing job.
If the candidate straight away denies and doesn’t give clear reasons for why they think so.

Sample Answer:

N/A

Question Source: https://www.jobbankusa.com/interview_questions_answers/