10 Situational Interview Questions: [With Sample Answers]

Are you preparing for a situational interview and struggling to find the right answers?

It is not uncommon to be ill-prepared for non-technical questions during your interview.

You can’t know which questions the interviewer will ask.

However, by going through the common situational interview questions and understanding how to answer them and what the interview is looking for, you can equip yourself to answer any others you may be asked.

10 Common Situational Interview Questions

Here are ten situational interview questions that you’re likely to encounter.

1. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for work.
2. Talk about a time when you had to work with a colleague you found difficult.
3. Tell me about a time you weren’t satisfied with your job. What could have made it better?
4. Talk about an occasion when you saw a problem and took steps to fix it.
5. Talk about a time that you had a manager or client who was difficult to work with.
6. Tell me about a time your workload was very heavy. How did you handle it?
7. Talk about a time when you had to convince a colleague of your point of view or make them change something.
8. Tell me about a long-running project you handled. How did you manage your time to meet your deadlines?
9. Tell me about a situation when your job went through big changes. How did you adjust?
10. Describe your biggest work failure. How did you handle it?

What Should I Say in a Situational Interview?

In a situational interview, your primary objective when responding to questions is to describe similar past experiences.

You should use the STAR technique and reply with a version of the Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

The task is the problem you faced in a work situation.

Show what actions you took and give the results of the action.

What Skills Are Situational Interviewers Looking for in a Candidate?

The interviewer is looking to find candidates that possess these traits:

Listening skills: The most obvious skill that an interviewer is looking for is whether you can listen keenly.

They also want to know that you can hear and understand the details when listening.

Problem-solving: Situational interview questions test your ability to think critically and solve problems.

The interviewer wants to test how you approach different simple and difficult scenarios and guarantee you can solve problems.

Effective communication: Every company wants to hire people who can communicate effectively.

The interviewer is looking for a person who can share their thought process and persuade others on what to do.

People skills: The interviewer wants to know you can handle people in a professional and friendly manner without causing a scene or adding to the problem.

They are looking for how you interact with difficult coworkers, clients, and customers.

Organizing workflow: Interviewers are looking for someone who can effectively organize their work, especially when juggling competing priorities or facing a strict deadline.

What Traits Are Situational Interviewers Looking To Avoid in a Candidate?

Interviewers ask situational interview questions to avoid hiring someone with the following traits:

Lack of critical thinking skills: No company wants to hire someone who cannot think critically.

Without critical thinking, you cannot give ideas or solve problems – two things every organization wants in their employees.

Bad communication skills: If you cannot clearly communicate your ideas or thought process, you will not be an instrumental player on any team.

A person lacking communication skills is a burden and ineffective for many positions.

Disorganization: All companies want their employees to be able to organize their work schedule and deliver tasks on schedule.

Disorganization is a trait that shows that you cannot do this and will likely become a liability and rarely deliver work on time.

Sample Situational Interview Questions and Answers

Now that you understand what the interviewer is looking for when asking situational interview questions, let’s review our top ten options.

1. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for work.

Why This Question Is Asked

An interviewer wants to know if you have initiative and drive.

They also want to know if you are willing to go above and beyond or only do what they expect of you.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

Show off your proactivity and willingness to do more than solve the problem.

You also want to highlight teamwork.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Do not try and pass off your job duties as initiative.

The interviewer has your resume and will notice if you highlight something within your job scope as going above and beyond.

Example Answer

“There was a time our manager had to leave for a family emergency and we received a client request for more content toward the end of the work day.

I rallied two other colleagues to stay on, create and edit content and send it to the client.

They were satisfied with our work with such a tight deadline and signed an exclusive contract with the agency.”

2. Talk about a time when you had to work with a colleague you found difficult.

Why This Question Is Asked

This question measures your conflict-resolution skills and teamwork.

The interviewer wants to know if you can work with everybody to meet goals.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

When answering this question, focus on highlighting your professionalism and communication skills.

Show that you can work to resolve conflict or put it aside to ensure progress on meeting deadlines.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Avoid showing jealousy or vengefulness.

Also, do not shift blame or shirk accountability.

Do not go into details about why you did not get along with that colleague.

Example Answer

“I worked with a pharmacy tech who was set on having things their way.

I learned to pick my battles and chose to listen instead of criticize.

They were very efficient and their ideas helped us process 20 more orders per hour.”

3. Tell me about a time you weren’t satisfied with your job. What could have made it better?

Why This Question Is Asked

Interviewers ask this question to figure out what kind of person you are.

They want to know if you’re a go-getter, complainer, or comfortable staying where you’re unhappy.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

Show initiative and a can-do attitude.

Focus on what steps you took to improve the situation and how it equipped you to be better.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Do not spend your time complaining about past employers or positions.

Avoid making it look like you were a victim of circumstance with no agency.

Example Answer

“I spent three years working as a receptionist and was not considered for a promotion.

I noticed that there was a job posting for an executive assistant in our company.

I chose to put in my application and ask one of my coworkers to be my referral.

I got the job.”

4. Tell me about a time you weren’t satisfied with your job. What could have made it better?

Why This Question Is Asked

Problem-solving is a critical skill and this is another question used to gauge this.

The interviewer wants to know whether you can think critically and effectively communicate your thought process.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

Show your thought process behind the actions you took to solve a problem.

If you sought help or feedback, highlight that as well.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Avoid giving a reply without any details on how you solved the problem.

Also, don’t share any problems you didn’t solve, even if you took steps toward a solution.

Example Answer

“I noticed that one of our delivery trucks was leaking fluid.

We have no on-site mechanics and only two delivery trucks.

With the other track out for deliveries already, having a defective truck could cost us thousands of dollars and possibly a life.

I used YouTube to find what was possibly leaking and teamed up with another coworker to remove the excess oil and perform a fresh oil change.”

5. Talk about a time that you had a manager or client who was difficult to work with.

Why This Question Is Asked

This question is used to figure out your communication and problem-solving skills.

The interviewer also wants to know if you can put aside your personal feelings when dealing with work relationships.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

Focus on showing that you can maintain professionalism and handle your emotions, regardless of the situation.

Highlight your effective communication skills and emotional maturity.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Avoid showing that you can’t uphold a professional standard.

Don’t talk about malicious compliance or revenge instances.

Example Answer

“I had an editor who continuously complained about my work, regardless of how much I tried.

I chose to ask other copywriters to proofread my work before submission, as well as using Grammarly.

Since then, I continuously receive compliments from editors on how polished my work is.”

6. Tell Me About A Time Your Workload Was Very Heavy. How Did You Handle It?

Why This Question Is Asked

Interviewers ask this question to learn how you organize your workflow, deal with pressure, and navigate competing priorities.

They want to know how you plan and communicate when under pressure.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

Highlight your prioritization and effective communication skills.

You can focus on how you effectively planned and arranged your tasks to ensure you handled the workload.

Alternatively, you can show how you asked for help and communicated your needs to your manager or coworkers to ensure that tasks were completed.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Don’t try and show that you can handle it all.

Interviewers know that you are human and have limits.

They aren’t trying to hire a superhuman but rather understand how you handle having too many tasks.

Example Answer

“As a baker for a small bakery, we once had three big orders at the same time.

I decided to teach my assistant piping techniques.

She was a quick learner and was able to ice 150 cupcakes.

I was able to bake and fill 50 eclairs, and put together a 3-tiered cake for a wedding.

All orders arrived on time and in perfect condition.

The bakery landed a repeat client for office parties, earning a little over $70,000 from them in the next year.”

7. Talk about a time when you had to convince a colleague of your point of view or make them change something.

Why This Question Is Asked

This is a question testing the extent of your soft skills such as communication and relationship building.

The interviewer wants to see how you negotiate and maintain work relationships, even when you disagree.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

To answer this question appropriately, you need to focus on demonstrating your soft skills.

These include listening skills, negotiation, empathy, and relationship building.

You want to show the interviewer that you strive to understand others’ points of view, even when trying to change their opinion.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Avoid appearing like a know-it-all.

You don’t want to share an answer that depicts you as hard to get along with or difficult.

You also do not want to imply that you have no negotiation skills.

Example Answer

“A member of our team was convinced one of our products was generating a lot of revenue.

After I ran analytics on marketing cost versus revenue, I realized that the product was costing us.

We incurred a loss of 15%.

I used data visualizations to show the team this.

I mentioned that I understood that they had spent a lot of time building and implementing a marketing strategy for the product but if we discontinue it and focus on another, we could recover our loss and increase our profits by nearly 20%.”

8. Tell me about a long-running project you handled. How did you manage your time to meet your deadlines?

Why This Question Is Asked

This question is used to measure your time management and organizational skills.

The interviewer is looking for a candidate that can handle multiple projects at once, without losing sight of the deadlines and tasks of each one.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

Your answer should highlight your time management skills.

Show how you allocate your time between projects and how you organize your work day to ensure each project is completed on time.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

You don’t want to appear unrealistic or overly ambitious.

Don’t make it seem like you wouldn’t ask for help or an extension if you can’t balance all your tasks.

Example Answer

“My team had to develop a bank app for an international bank recently.

As one of the senior developers, I was tasked with a major part of the build.

I had projected that I would need three months to complete the task, along with my other tasks at the time.

However, I was able to use a 2-week sprint and daily commits system to finish the project 2 weeks ahead of schedule.”

9. Tell me about a situation when your job went through big changes. How did you adjust?

Why This Question Is Asked

Interviewers ask this question to gauge how a candidate adapts to change.

They want to know what to expect, should they hire you, and how quickly and well you adjust to new situations.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

Show that you are open to change, adaptable, and ready for new challenges that come with big changes.

Emphasize that you are focused on maintaining momentum and are ready to seek help when necessary.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

You want to avoid looking like you judge people or processes too fast before becoming aware of all relevant facts.

You also don’t want to make it seem like you take forever to adapt and can’t handle big changes because you’ll be left behind.

Example Answer

“At my current company, we experienced exponential growth in 2021 and I had to take on a product marketing manager role from being a marketing copywriter.

I spent time learning agile methodologies and taking product marketing courses from various online sources.

I asked our CMO for pointers and implemented his suggestions, allowing me to step into the role without a big fuss.

We were able to maintain steady market growth and increase our reach by 12%.”

10. Describe Your Biggest Work Failure. How Did You Handle It?

Why This Question Is Asked

We’re all human, and interviewers know that.

They don’t ask this question to shame you but to find out how you learn from, reflect on, and correct mistakes.

They also want to know how you use your failures in the future.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

When answering this question, focus on highlighting a professional mistake you made and fixed.

Show how you reflected on it and what changes you were able to implement to avoid repeating the same mistake in the future.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Avoid refusing to admit to any past mistakes.

It shows that you are unwilling and unable to learn, be corrected, or handle difficult situations.

It also shows that you will not take responsibility for your work or any shortcomings.

Example Answer

“As a new copywriter, I once submitted a content file to a client filled with errors.

Because the file was filled with a lot of content that didn’t meet client specifications, they were unhappy and set up a meeting with the copywriting team.

I apologized to the client and offered to review the content instructions again to correct the mistakes within 12 hours.

They agreed, and I asked other copywriters for ideas and where to find accurate sources.

Once I finished editing the content, I asked one of the senior copywriters to review my work for any errors.

I submitted the file to the client after 11 hours.

I have never submitted an error-filled file since then and use the same system for all my work.”

Other Questions You Could Be Asked

Be prepared to answer other situational and technical interview questions.

The interviewer uses these questions to gauge your job readiness and test your skill level.

These questions include:

• Tell Me About a Time You Failed: When asking this question, the interviewer is looking to hear about how you dealt with professional failures, not personal ones.
• How Do You Handle Stress?: The interviewer asks this question because they want to know about your stress-coping mechanisms and whether or not they are a good fit for company culture or will cost the company if they chose to hire you.
• Give an Example of an Occasion When You Used Logic to Solve a Problem: While it may not appear to be, this is a technical question. It’s used to gauge if you can use logic to solve work problems, especially when you don’t have the instructions.
• What Are Your Pet Peeves?: This question is used to understand your professional turn-offs and what situations or environments you would be uncomfortable working in.
• Which One Would You Choose?: A seemingly fun question used to gauge your decision-making capabilities and your reasoning process.

Additional Tips for Situational Interviews

Here are a few extra tips to help you set yourself apart from the competition during a situational interview:

How Do You Prepare for a Situational  Interview?

The best way to prepare for a situational interview question is to create a list featuring your greatest accomplishments and specific challenges you’ve faced in the workplace.

Use the STAR method to outline the situation, what was needed, what action you took, and the results of your action.

What Should You Wear to a Situational Interview?

There is standard interview etiquette that you must always observe.

Unless otherwise directed, dress professionally.

Ensure your clothes are ironed or steamed, have no frayed edges or hems, and fit properly.

Some companies may indicate casual or business casual attire for the interview.

However, if there are no instructions on the dress code, choose formal wear.

How Should You Introduce Yourself In a Situational Interview?

Use professional and courteous language when introducing yourself in a situational interview.

Share some relevant details about your past experiences, including your educational qualifications.

Move into explaining what you are currently doing, including relevant skills, and how you learned of the job position you’re interviewing for.

Finish with your future career plans, showing how the job you’re interviewing for ties into them.

What Questions Should You Ask at the End of a Situational Interview?

At the end of different types of interviews, you can ask a variety of questions to the interview panel.

These questions allow you to learn more about the position, the company, and the interviewer(s).

Here are some questions you can ask at the end of a situational interview:

1. How would you describe your organization’s culture?
2. Can you tell me about the kind of supervision you provide?
3. What would you say is the most challenging part of adjusting to working in this organization?

Wrapping Up

Situational interview questions are the perfect opportunity for you to highlight your relevant soft skills.

Don’t panic if you encounter a situational interview question you haven’t before.

Use critical thinking and applied technical knowledge to answer.