Question: Describe a time when you were assigned a task that you were not familiar with. How did you handle it?

Alternative Question Phrasing:

Have you ever been assigned work you were not familiar with? If so, how did you accomplish it?
Tell me about a situation where you were asked to do something that you had never attempted or done before.

Follow-up questions:

Do you think they methods are effective enough?
How would you know if your methods are effective enough?

Question Details:

Question Type:

Behavioral

Skills:

Basic – Active Learning,Basic – Learning Strategies,Systems Analysis

Abilities:

Cognitive – Category Flexibility (Mental Flexibility),Cognitive – Flexibility of Closure (Pattern Detection)

Other Factors:

Big 5 – Openness to Experience (Open Mindedness),Personal Improvement (Growth)

Work Activity (Task):

Information Input – Estimating Characteristics of Objects, Events, or Information,Information Input – Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events,Information Input – Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (for Problem Identification),Mental Processes – Evaluating Compliance with Standards,Mental Processes – Judging the Value of Things, Services, or People,Mental Processes – Making Decisions and Solving Problems,Mental Processes – Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Work Style (Person-Job Fit):

Handling Ambiguity,Initiative

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

Look for how the interviewee thinks they can learn a new job or task. You can also try to see if the interviewee is open to learning new things or new jobs.

Red Flags to Watch For:

If the interviewee is not open about learning new things, it can be a red flag if that is the nature of the job. Asking for support is an acceptable way of dealing with new tasks and is not necessarily a red flag.

Sample Answer:

N/A

Question Source: Unknown