Question: Describe a time you completed your work, but did not complete it as effectively or efficiently as you would have liked. What happened and did you do anything about it?
Alternative Question Phrasing:
- Describe a situation where you faced serious challenges in doing your job efficiently. What were the challenges, and how did you overcome them?
- Describe a time when, although you could still complete your work, you could not complete it as efficiently or as effectively as you would prefer, and you did something about it. What was the context and what did you do?
Follow-up questions:
- How do you think this new method of doing things will help?
- How would you have done it differently given the chance?
Question Details:
Question Type:
Skills:
Abilities:
Work Activity (Task):
Information Input – Estimating Characteristics of Objects, Events, or Information,Information Input – Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events,Information Input – Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings,Mental Processes – Developing Objectives and Strategies,Mental Processes – Evaluating Compliance with Standards,Mental Processes – Judging the Value of Things, Services, or People,Mental Processes – Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work,Mental Processes – Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge,Work Output – Quality Improvement
Work Context (Person-Job/Team/Org Fit):
Work Style (Person-Job Fit):
What to look for in an answer:
You are looking to see how the interviewee balances getting the work done versus the work’s quality, and also how they might improve their workflow and work processes for the future.
Red Flags to Watch For:
If the interviewee shows signs of perfectionism, that is a red flag.
Sample Answer:
N/A
Question Source:
Unknown