Quite honestly, a job interview can sometimes be a daunting experience. It’s like an interrogation that ironically, you are volunteering for. Every question does require some preparation and strategy. From my past article such as: “Please Tell Me, Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?”, one of the most common and also strenuous interview questions is: “What major challenges and problems did you encounter, and how did you handle them?”
What the Interviewers Want to See
Straight forward, this question is solely about your performance and problem-solving abilities. Your interviewer wants to acknowledge and comprehend how you behave under pressure and how you handle tough situations. Do you keep your cool? Can you think when put on a very tight spot? Every job has its share of challenges, and your answer will reveal to them how you might fare in the new role.
To Prepare an Answer
A few scenarios that you can simply use are your real experiences in relation to your job such as: facing last-minute or tight deadlines, managing interpersonal relations, tackling something new (new project[s]) or different tasks, or also handling seemingly tough tasks but you’ve managed to pull through. Most seasoned interviewers can detect further anomalies in your answer (by utilizing the STAR method: [S: Situation you encountered, T: Task you had, A: Action[s] you took, and R: Result you achieved]) especially if you sugar coats them. Besides that, you’ll also want to share a win and demonstrate your leadership or critical thinking skills. Do explain your experiences that will showcase how you are resourceful, composed under pressure, or quick to think on your feet.
Furthermore, your answers should also structure by following the STAR method, and therefore, you can decide which experience(s) that suits better and you can further break your narrative down accordingly.
Good luck!
