Question: Describe a time when you delayed making a decision in order to have more time to think or gather more information. How did it work out in the end?

Alternative Question Phrasing:

Have you ever delayed a decision so you would have more time to think? Give me an example.

Follow-up questions:

What was the outcome of your decision?

Question Details:

Question Type:

Behavioral

Skills:

Basic – Critical Thinking

Other Factors:

Self-Awareness

Work Activity (Task):

Information Input – Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events,Mental Processes – Analyzing Data or Information,Mental Processes – Judging the Value of Things, Services, or People,Mental Processes – Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Work Style (Person-Job Fit):

Analytical Thinking

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

The candidate’s decision-making skills.
The candidate’s critical thinking skills.

Red Flags to Watch For:

The candidate’s poor decision-making skills.
The candidate’s poor critical thinking skills.

Sample Answer:

As they say: haste makes great waste. Whenever I make decisions, I always consider the pros and cons. Delaying decisions sometimes has its advantages. There was a time when I had to choose between two shortlisted candidates. I asked for more time to evaluate each of their competencies and what the position entails. Fortunately, the one I have chosen is the ‘perfect’ fit and has been contributing well to the team.

Question Source: Unknown