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Are you prepared for your next interview? How well can you answer these 20 situational job interview questions, designed to draw out your analytical and problem-solving? Take our practice interview by placing your response to each question in the text blocks below. Then send the form to us by pressing the submit button. Print out a copy of the response page so you'll have a copy of your answers. We'll then send you a sample excellent response for each question so that you can compare how you answered each traditional job interview question with our response. Your full name: Your email address: (e.g.: you@aol.com) Please re-enter your email address: [For assistance in developing answers to these questions, please refer to our article, Situational Interviews and Stress Interviews: What to Make of Them and How to Succeed in Them.] 1. What would you do if the work of a subordinate or team member was not up to expectations? 2. A co-worker tells you in confidence that she plans to call in sick while actually taking a week's vacation. What would you do and why? 3. Describe how you would handle the situation if you met resistance when introducing a new idea or policy to a team or work group. 4. What would you do if the priorities on a project you were working on changed suddenly? 5. How would you handle it if you believed strongly in a recommendation you made in a meeting, but most of your co-workers shot it down? 6. In a training session, you find that the trainer has a thick accent, and you can't understand what's being said. What would you do? 7. List the steps that you would take to make an important decision on the job. 8. What would you do if you realized at deadline time that a report you wrote for your boss or professor was not up to par? 9. How would you deal with a colleague at work with whom you seem to be unable to build a successful working relationship? 10. You disagree with the way your supervisor says to handle a problem. What would you do? 11. Who would you talk to if you discovered that a co-worker was disclosing confidential information that should not be divulged? 12. When would it be appropriate to bring in your supervisor while dealing with an angry customer? 13. How would you attempt to make changes in the process if you felt a policy of your organization was hurting its members/workers? 14. What would a good manager do to build team spirit? 15. How would you organize the steps or methods you'd take to define/identify a vision for your team or your personal job function? 16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project? Want a list of these off-the-wall/wild card interview questions? Click on this link to open a new browser window with just the questions: 20 Situational Job Interview Questions. Go back to the Job Interview Questions Database.
Your full name: Your email address: (e.g.: you@aol.com) Please re-enter your email address:
[For assistance in developing answers to these questions, please refer to our article, Situational Interviews and Stress Interviews: What to Make of Them and How to Succeed in Them.]
1. What would you do if the work of a subordinate or team member was not up to expectations? 2. A co-worker tells you in confidence that she plans to call in sick while actually taking a week's vacation. What would you do and why? 3. Describe how you would handle the situation if you met resistance when introducing a new idea or policy to a team or work group. 4. What would you do if the priorities on a project you were working on changed suddenly? 5. How would you handle it if you believed strongly in a recommendation you made in a meeting, but most of your co-workers shot it down? 6. In a training session, you find that the trainer has a thick accent, and you can't understand what's being said. What would you do? 7. List the steps that you would take to make an important decision on the job. 8. What would you do if you realized at deadline time that a report you wrote for your boss or professor was not up to par? 9. How would you deal with a colleague at work with whom you seem to be unable to build a successful working relationship? 10. You disagree with the way your supervisor says to handle a problem. What would you do? 11. Who would you talk to if you discovered that a co-worker was disclosing confidential information that should not be divulged? 12. When would it be appropriate to bring in your supervisor while dealing with an angry customer? 13. How would you attempt to make changes in the process if you felt a policy of your organization was hurting its members/workers? 14. What would a good manager do to build team spirit? 15. How would you organize the steps or methods you'd take to define/identify a vision for your team or your personal job function? 16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
2. A co-worker tells you in confidence that she plans to call in sick while actually taking a week's vacation. What would you do and why? 3. Describe how you would handle the situation if you met resistance when introducing a new idea or policy to a team or work group. 4. What would you do if the priorities on a project you were working on changed suddenly? 5. How would you handle it if you believed strongly in a recommendation you made in a meeting, but most of your co-workers shot it down? 6. In a training session, you find that the trainer has a thick accent, and you can't understand what's being said. What would you do? 7. List the steps that you would take to make an important decision on the job. 8. What would you do if you realized at deadline time that a report you wrote for your boss or professor was not up to par? 9. How would you deal with a colleague at work with whom you seem to be unable to build a successful working relationship? 10. You disagree with the way your supervisor says to handle a problem. What would you do? 11. Who would you talk to if you discovered that a co-worker was disclosing confidential information that should not be divulged? 12. When would it be appropriate to bring in your supervisor while dealing with an angry customer? 13. How would you attempt to make changes in the process if you felt a policy of your organization was hurting its members/workers? 14. What would a good manager do to build team spirit? 15. How would you organize the steps or methods you'd take to define/identify a vision for your team or your personal job function? 16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
3. Describe how you would handle the situation if you met resistance when introducing a new idea or policy to a team or work group. 4. What would you do if the priorities on a project you were working on changed suddenly? 5. How would you handle it if you believed strongly in a recommendation you made in a meeting, but most of your co-workers shot it down? 6. In a training session, you find that the trainer has a thick accent, and you can't understand what's being said. What would you do? 7. List the steps that you would take to make an important decision on the job. 8. What would you do if you realized at deadline time that a report you wrote for your boss or professor was not up to par? 9. How would you deal with a colleague at work with whom you seem to be unable to build a successful working relationship? 10. You disagree with the way your supervisor says to handle a problem. What would you do? 11. Who would you talk to if you discovered that a co-worker was disclosing confidential information that should not be divulged? 12. When would it be appropriate to bring in your supervisor while dealing with an angry customer? 13. How would you attempt to make changes in the process if you felt a policy of your organization was hurting its members/workers? 14. What would a good manager do to build team spirit? 15. How would you organize the steps or methods you'd take to define/identify a vision for your team or your personal job function? 16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
4. What would you do if the priorities on a project you were working on changed suddenly? 5. How would you handle it if you believed strongly in a recommendation you made in a meeting, but most of your co-workers shot it down? 6. In a training session, you find that the trainer has a thick accent, and you can't understand what's being said. What would you do? 7. List the steps that you would take to make an important decision on the job. 8. What would you do if you realized at deadline time that a report you wrote for your boss or professor was not up to par? 9. How would you deal with a colleague at work with whom you seem to be unable to build a successful working relationship? 10. You disagree with the way your supervisor says to handle a problem. What would you do? 11. Who would you talk to if you discovered that a co-worker was disclosing confidential information that should not be divulged? 12. When would it be appropriate to bring in your supervisor while dealing with an angry customer? 13. How would you attempt to make changes in the process if you felt a policy of your organization was hurting its members/workers? 14. What would a good manager do to build team spirit? 15. How would you organize the steps or methods you'd take to define/identify a vision for your team or your personal job function? 16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
5. How would you handle it if you believed strongly in a recommendation you made in a meeting, but most of your co-workers shot it down? 6. In a training session, you find that the trainer has a thick accent, and you can't understand what's being said. What would you do? 7. List the steps that you would take to make an important decision on the job. 8. What would you do if you realized at deadline time that a report you wrote for your boss or professor was not up to par? 9. How would you deal with a colleague at work with whom you seem to be unable to build a successful working relationship? 10. You disagree with the way your supervisor says to handle a problem. What would you do? 11. Who would you talk to if you discovered that a co-worker was disclosing confidential information that should not be divulged? 12. When would it be appropriate to bring in your supervisor while dealing with an angry customer? 13. How would you attempt to make changes in the process if you felt a policy of your organization was hurting its members/workers? 14. What would a good manager do to build team spirit? 15. How would you organize the steps or methods you'd take to define/identify a vision for your team or your personal job function? 16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
6. In a training session, you find that the trainer has a thick accent, and you can't understand what's being said. What would you do? 7. List the steps that you would take to make an important decision on the job. 8. What would you do if you realized at deadline time that a report you wrote for your boss or professor was not up to par? 9. How would you deal with a colleague at work with whom you seem to be unable to build a successful working relationship? 10. You disagree with the way your supervisor says to handle a problem. What would you do? 11. Who would you talk to if you discovered that a co-worker was disclosing confidential information that should not be divulged? 12. When would it be appropriate to bring in your supervisor while dealing with an angry customer? 13. How would you attempt to make changes in the process if you felt a policy of your organization was hurting its members/workers? 14. What would a good manager do to build team spirit? 15. How would you organize the steps or methods you'd take to define/identify a vision for your team or your personal job function? 16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
7. List the steps that you would take to make an important decision on the job. 8. What would you do if you realized at deadline time that a report you wrote for your boss or professor was not up to par? 9. How would you deal with a colleague at work with whom you seem to be unable to build a successful working relationship? 10. You disagree with the way your supervisor says to handle a problem. What would you do? 11. Who would you talk to if you discovered that a co-worker was disclosing confidential information that should not be divulged? 12. When would it be appropriate to bring in your supervisor while dealing with an angry customer? 13. How would you attempt to make changes in the process if you felt a policy of your organization was hurting its members/workers? 14. What would a good manager do to build team spirit? 15. How would you organize the steps or methods you'd take to define/identify a vision for your team or your personal job function? 16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
8. What would you do if you realized at deadline time that a report you wrote for your boss or professor was not up to par? 9. How would you deal with a colleague at work with whom you seem to be unable to build a successful working relationship? 10. You disagree with the way your supervisor says to handle a problem. What would you do? 11. Who would you talk to if you discovered that a co-worker was disclosing confidential information that should not be divulged? 12. When would it be appropriate to bring in your supervisor while dealing with an angry customer? 13. How would you attempt to make changes in the process if you felt a policy of your organization was hurting its members/workers? 14. What would a good manager do to build team spirit? 15. How would you organize the steps or methods you'd take to define/identify a vision for your team or your personal job function? 16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
9. How would you deal with a colleague at work with whom you seem to be unable to build a successful working relationship? 10. You disagree with the way your supervisor says to handle a problem. What would you do? 11. Who would you talk to if you discovered that a co-worker was disclosing confidential information that should not be divulged? 12. When would it be appropriate to bring in your supervisor while dealing with an angry customer? 13. How would you attempt to make changes in the process if you felt a policy of your organization was hurting its members/workers? 14. What would a good manager do to build team spirit? 15. How would you organize the steps or methods you'd take to define/identify a vision for your team or your personal job function? 16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
10. You disagree with the way your supervisor says to handle a problem. What would you do? 11. Who would you talk to if you discovered that a co-worker was disclosing confidential information that should not be divulged? 12. When would it be appropriate to bring in your supervisor while dealing with an angry customer? 13. How would you attempt to make changes in the process if you felt a policy of your organization was hurting its members/workers? 14. What would a good manager do to build team spirit? 15. How would you organize the steps or methods you'd take to define/identify a vision for your team or your personal job function? 16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
11. Who would you talk to if you discovered that a co-worker was disclosing confidential information that should not be divulged? 12. When would it be appropriate to bring in your supervisor while dealing with an angry customer? 13. How would you attempt to make changes in the process if you felt a policy of your organization was hurting its members/workers? 14. What would a good manager do to build team spirit? 15. How would you organize the steps or methods you'd take to define/identify a vision for your team or your personal job function? 16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
12. When would it be appropriate to bring in your supervisor while dealing with an angry customer? 13. How would you attempt to make changes in the process if you felt a policy of your organization was hurting its members/workers? 14. What would a good manager do to build team spirit? 15. How would you organize the steps or methods you'd take to define/identify a vision for your team or your personal job function? 16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
13. How would you attempt to make changes in the process if you felt a policy of your organization was hurting its members/workers? 14. What would a good manager do to build team spirit? 15. How would you organize the steps or methods you'd take to define/identify a vision for your team or your personal job function? 16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
14. What would a good manager do to build team spirit? 15. How would you organize the steps or methods you'd take to define/identify a vision for your team or your personal job function? 16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
15. How would you organize the steps or methods you'd take to define/identify a vision for your team or your personal job function? 16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
16. How would you react if two teammates were embroiled in a conflict that kept the team from completing its task? 17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
17. You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation? 18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
18. As a supervisor, you've made an unpopular decision. What action would you take so that morale in the department is not negatively affected? 19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
19. In a team-leadership role, you discover that a team member has gone "over your head" to propose an idea or complain about an issue without talking to you first. How do you handle the situation? 20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
20. You been placed in charge of a project team for a new project. What are your first steps to get the team going and complete the project?
Want a list of these off-the-wall/wild card interview questions? Click on this link to open a new browser window with just the questions: 20 Situational Job Interview Questions.
Go back to the Job Interview Questions Database.
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