Question: Describe a time when you were unclear on how to proceed with a task assigned to you. How did you handle the work?

Alternative Question Phrasing:

Tell me about a time when you were given an assignment, but you were not clear of how to go about it. How did you tackle this situation?
Describe a time when you were unclear on how to proceed on the work assigned to you. How did you handle the work?

Follow-up questions:

What did you do?
Who did you talk to about the work being unclear?
How were you able to finish the task?
What is the result in the end?

Question Details:

Question Type:

Behavioral

Skills:

Basic – Active Learning,Basic – Critical Thinking,Social – Coordination (Adjusting one’s own actions in relation to others)

Abilities:

Cognitive – Problem Sensitivity (Problem Recognition)

Other Factors:

Personality-Job Fit,Personality-Team Fit,Practical Intelligence (Street Smarts)

Work Activity (Task):

Information Input – Gathering Information,Interacting with Others – Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates,Mental Processes – Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

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

Interpersonal Relationships – Relationship With Supervisor,Job Structure – Structured versus Unstructured Work

Work Style (Person-Job Fit):

Analytical Thinking,Attention to Detail,Handling Ambiguity

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

You are able to understand the interviewee’s ability to assess the details and decide what supposed to do, whether it be asking for clarification or forging ahead with the task without the full instructions.

Red Flags to Watch For:

If the interviewee’s methods of dealing with ambiguity are compatible with the job and work process.

Sample Answer:

N/A

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