Question: Describe a time when you had taken on a demanding task. What was it and what was the result?

Alternative Question Phrasing:

Describe a situation in where you had a task that was quite demanding and what was the result of it?

Follow-up questions:

Question Details:

Question Type:

Behavioral

Skills:

Basic – Critical Thinking,Basic – Science and Logic,Complex Problem Solving,Systems Analysis

Abilities:

Cognitive – Originality,Cognitive – Problem Sensitivity (Problem Recognition)

Other Factors:

Big 5 – Agreeableness,Candidate Preparedness,Personality-Job Fit,Personality-Organization Fit

Work Activity (Task):

Information Input – Estimating Characteristics of Objects, Events, or Information,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 – Developing Objectives and Strategies,Mental Processes – Judging the Value of Things, Services, or People,Mental Processes – Making Decisions and Solving Problems,Mental Processes – Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work,Mental Processes – Thinking Creatively (Creativity)

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

Job Structure – Handling Time Pressure,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):

Achievement/Effort (Action/Result Orientation),Adaptability/Flexibility,Attention to Detail,Independence,Initiative

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

You are looking for the candidate’s approach to working through tasks that required them to take responsibility and accountability.
You are also looking for the planning and prioritization abilities.
If the candidate understands importance of the task and their impact on the overall progress of the company.

Red Flags to Watch For:

If the candidate doesn’t seem to be comfortable taking on tasks that do not have clear instructions.
If the candidate gives vague answer which does not specifically tap on how they displayed responsibility while working on this task.

Sample Answer:

N/A

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