Question: Imagine this scenario: You have been given multiple tasks to finish by the end of the work day. However it is impossible for you to complete all the tasks by the end of the day. What would you do?

Alternative Question Phrasing:

Describe how you would handle a situation where you are required to finish multiple tasks by the end of the day, and there was no conceivable way that you could finish them.
Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and you had to prioritize your tasks.

Follow-up questions:

Why would you do this?

Question Details:

Question Type:

Situational

Skills:

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

Abilities:

Cognitive – Category Flexibility (Mental Flexibility),Cognitive – Information Ordering,Cognitive – Problem Sensitivity (Problem Recognition)

Other Factors:

Big 5 – Conscientiousness (Work Ethic),Big 5 – Neuroticism (Emotion Regulation),Motivation/Ambition/Aspiration,Personality-Job Fit,Personality-Team Fit

Work Activity (Task):

Information Input – Estimating Characteristics of Objects, Events, or Information,Information Input – Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events,Interacting with Others – Assigning Tasks to Others (Delegation and Direction),Interacting with Others – Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates,Mental Processes – Developing Objectives and Strategies,Mental Processes – Making Decisions and Solving Problems,Mental Processes – Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work,Mental Processes – Scheduling Work and Activities (Rostering)

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

Interpersonal Relationships – Coordinate or Lead Others,Job Structure – Duration of Typical Work Week,Job Structure – Handling Time Pressure

Work Style (Person-Job Fit):

Achievement/Effort (Action/Result Orientation),Adaptability/Flexibility,Handling Ambiguity,Stress Tolerance

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

Look for their work ethic and problem-solving skills.

Red Flags to Watch For:

If the interviewee seems irresponsible or flippant about their workload.

Sample Answer:

Common answers to this would be to re-prioritize and extend the deadline on non-critical tasks, or delegate the work to others, or work overtime to complete the work.

Question Source: Unknown