Tell Me About A Time When You Had To Make A Quick Decision! (A GREAT EXAMPLE ANSWER Included!)
In this article, not only will we will teach you how to answer the interview question, “Tell Me About A Time When You Had To Make A Quick Decision”, but we will also cover the following three parts:
#1. We will tell you why the interviewer is asking you the interview question, “Tell Me About A Time When You Had To Make A Quick Decision”. If you know WHY the question is being asked, it allows you to give the perfect answer!
#2. We will tell you how to structure your answer to get the highest scores possible.
#3. We will also give you a brilliant, top-scoring example answer to the interview question, Tell Me About A Time When You Had To Make A Quick Decision that will help you PASS your job interview!
WHY IS THE INTERVIEWER IS ASKING YOU THE QUESTION, “TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU HAD TO MAKE A QUICK DECISION.”
The interviewer wants to hire someone who won’t shy away from making quick decisions, even when they don’t have all the information to hand. They also want to hear the process you follow when making decisions.
Now, whenever you make a quick decision, always follow these 4 steps:
STEP #1. Assess the situation, and decide the outcome you want to achieve.
STEP #2. Consider the BEST and WORST outcomes from the choice of decisions you have available to you.
STEP #3. Discuss your proposed decision with experienced work colleagues to get a second opinion.
STEP #4. Choose the decision that most benefits the organization with limited risk and maximum returns.
HOW DO YOU STRUCTURE YOUR ANSWER TO THE INTERVIEW QUESTION, “TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU HAD TO MAKE A QUICK DECISION.”
When you answer this and any other behavioral interview question, use the STAR technique to structure your answer. So, the STAR technique stands for SITUATION, TASK, ACTION, and RESULT.
- You start off your answer and tell the interviewer the SITUATION you were in.
- You move on and briefly outline the TASK that needed doing.
- You then give in-depth details about the ACTION you took.
- Before finishing off and explaining the RESULTS following yours and other’s actions.
EXAMPLE ANSWER: “TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU HAD TO MAKE A QUICK DECISION.”
SITUATION: In my last job, I had to make quick decisions often. My manager was away on leave, and a situation came about where a longstanding customer wanted to place a large bulk order with us, but they wanted a 15% discount. This was a significant discount and my manager was the only person who could agree to it.
TASK: However, because my manager was away and unavailable, it was my task to weigh up the pros and cons of the customer’s request, and make a decision that was in the best interests of the organization.
ACTION: I weighed up the customer’s request carefully. They informed me they had another supplier ready and waiting who would agree to the discount and they would use them if we didn’t agree to it. I checked back over the customer’s previous orders and they had spent a significant amount with us over the years. If I refused their request, they would likely go to the new supplier moving forward which would impact negatively on the business from a financial perspective. After getting a second opinion from an experienced work colleague, I decided to agree to their request.
RESULT: When my manager returned to work, I explained my decision and the thought process I had followed, and he praised me for my actions.
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