Give an example of having worked under pressure... [interview question]
How do I answer this?! I honestly can't think of time I've worked under pressure. Surely avoiding high pressure situations is a natural (or even desirable) characteristic in an applicant? Anyway, I'm told this answer is VERY bad; they always want a detailed example.
What would be good things to talk about? I've worked in Sainsbury's (as a knuckle-dragger... erm, I mean shelf stacker, and cashier), admin work for the family business and my degree (I'm told, 'I really had to work hard to hand in my dissertation on time' is not a good answer! Plan your work better?) -- Not really high pressure situations.
How do I fudge that experience into a story about high pressure working? ...he asked subtly
How would you answer the question?
Note: This isn't about a specific company's interview, so it's not against the rules, right? It's a pretty common question anyway.
What would be good things to talk about? I've worked in Sainsbury's (as a knuckle-dragger... erm, I mean shelf stacker, and cashier), admin work for the family business and my degree (I'm told, 'I really had to work hard to hand in my dissertation on time' is not a good answer! Plan your work better?) -- Not really high pressure situations.
How do I fudge that experience into a story about high pressure working? ...he asked subtly
How would you answer the question?
Note: This isn't about a specific company's interview, so it's not against the rules, right? It's a pretty common question anyway.
I hate interview questions like that. I also hate the ones where you're asked about a time when you went beyond your call of duty, or when you took initiative to do something.
To be honest, there are probably a few examples where you've worked under pressure... and if not, you can make one up. For example, where I work (Asda), we have regular inspections, and because the managers are so useless they're always caught off-guard until the day before the inspection If you're working the day before an inspection a shift is like to entail being rushed off your feet cleaning, tidying, working stock and suchlike, with little chance of getting the breaks you're entitled to... and you really have to perform, otherwise impatience gets the better of the managers (because it's their jobs on the line for once). Also, because they're running all over the place, it sometimes takes someone (i.e. you) to take some leadership and try and organise the people you're working with or who are working around you. Examples like this are good because they're a type of pressure that you're subjected to despite not having had any particular role in causing it (as opposed to revision cramming, for example).
To be honest, there are probably a few examples where you've worked under pressure... and if not, you can make one up. For example, where I work (Asda), we have regular inspections, and because the managers are so useless they're always caught off-guard until the day before the inspection If you're working the day before an inspection a shift is like to entail being rushed off your feet cleaning, tidying, working stock and suchlike, with little chance of getting the breaks you're entitled to... and you really have to perform, otherwise impatience gets the better of the managers (because it's their jobs on the line for once). Also, because they're running all over the place, it sometimes takes someone (i.e. you) to take some leadership and try and organise the people you're working with or who are working around you. Examples like this are good because they're a type of pressure that you're subjected to despite not having had any particular role in causing it (as opposed to revision cramming, for example).
If you really can't think of something then i suppose you could exaggerate a situation (or even make one up). For example you could talk about a time at work when you were really understaffed and there was a lot of work that needed to be done.
cactus kid :)
If you really can't think of something then i suppose you could exaggerate a situation (or even make one up). For example you could talk about a time at work when you were really understaffed and there was a lot of work that needed to be done.
Thanks.
That's the thing, isn't it? They're not even bothered if you're making it up, as long as you fully appreciate the importance of it (enough to lie about it) and the factors surrounding it.
The way I see it, a lot of business is about ************ (Edit: bullock-excrementing), manipulating and thinking on your feet. Doing it at interview is merely demonstrating a characteristic they're looking for!
o-e-s-j
Thanks.
That's the thing, isn't it? They're not even bothered if you're making it up, as long as you fully appreciate the importance of it (enough to lie about it) and the factors surrounding it.
The way I see it, a lot of business is about ************ (Edit: bullock-excrementing), manipulating and thinking on your feet. Doing it at interview is merely demonstrating a characteristic they're looking for!
That's the thing, isn't it? They're not even bothered if you're making it up, as long as you fully appreciate the importance of it (enough to lie about it) and the factors surrounding it.
The way I see it, a lot of business is about ************ (Edit: bullock-excrementing), manipulating and thinking on your feet. Doing it at interview is merely demonstrating a characteristic they're looking for!
I don't really know why but that made me laugh quite a bit. Think it was the phrase 'bullock-excrementing'.
But anyway, yeah your probably right.
Were you asking this question because you have an interview coming up? Or just out of interest?
cactus kid :)
I don't really know why but that made me laugh quite a bit. Think it was the phrase 'bullock-excrementing'.
But anyway, yeah your probably right.
Were you asking this question because you have an interview coming up? Or just out of interest?
But anyway, yeah your probably right.
Were you asking this question because you have an interview coming up? Or just out of interest?
I just failed an interview really badly because I drew a complete blank on this question. Don't have any more lined up yet, but almost all job descriptions require 'perform well under pressure'-types.
High pressure situations require a _______ approach.
i need help on it
i need help on it
Original post by o-e-s-j
I just failed an interview really badly because I drew a complete blank on this question. Don't have any more lined up yet, but almost all job descriptions require 'perform well under pressure'-types.
nice
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