Ambiguity is fast becoming the latest buzzword in hiring, and for good reason. Tolerance for ambiguity is the most important skill needed in any job, according to scientists at the CNSPY organization at Yale University_._ In today’s fast-paced, high-tech world, employers need team leaders who can act decisively in times of uncertainty and chaos. You can rock your job interview by skillfully dealing with ambiguity interview questions intended to test your mettle.
- Can you tell me what ambiguity is? …
- How do you approach ambiguity in the workplace? …
- Tell me about a time you faced ambiguity in your workplace. …
- Describe a moment outside of work when you had to make a decision without all the details.
“Tell Me About A Time You Had to Deal With Ambiguity” (Interview QUESTION & TOP SCORING ANSWER!)
Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision without all information you needed
You have been probably confronted with this situation many times, whether in work or in personal life. We never know all we need to know–if we knew it, we would never make a mistake. But life is full of mistakes, and we learn from them, and that’s probably how we grow.
Let me show you a few good sample answers to this question:
How to Recognize Ambiguity Interview Questions
Ambiguous questions catch you off guard. They may seem weird, confusing or totally irrelevant. For instance, you may be asked to describe the type of animal you would like to be, and why. Don’t waste time trying to figure out the right answer. You are being judged on your ability to think on your feet and come up with a response that is creative, original and logically constructed.
Examples:
- What superpower would you most like to possess, and why?
- What topping on a pizza is most like you?
- Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
- What flavor of ice cream is the best?
Your very first question in a job interview might be ambiguous. For example, employers commonly start out an interview with the vague directive, “Tell us about yourself.” Inexperienced interviewees might reply by asking, “What would you like to know?” Deftly deal with this ambiguous question by enthusiastically describing your training, related work experience, reasons for applying and what makes you uniquely qualified for the job.
Before blurting out the first answer that comes to mind, pause and collect your thoughts. Ask yourself how you can use that question to promote your skills and growth potential. Even seemingly obscure questions can open the door to talking about your natural and acquired abilities. If you are given a convoluted, hypothetical problem and asked how you would resolve it, respond by describing how you have handled similar ambiguous situations in the past.
Employers sometimes ask situation-based interview questions tied to the duties of the job. For instance, situational interview questions for sales clerks may pose hypothetical situations, such as asking applicants what they would do if the cash registers all stopped working and the boss was at lunch. Hiring managers like to get a sense of each applicant’s critical thinking skills, resourcefulness and approach to ambiguity.
In all probability, you will be asked behavioral interview questions that delve into your past pattern of behavior in the workplace. For the most part, previous behavior predicts future behavior. For that reason, hiring managers love to ask lots of questions about how you conducted yourself in the past in various situations.
Behavior-based interview questions have at least three stated or implied parts to the question. You should answer each part of the question by telling a story with a beginning, middle and an end. Each part of the question is important to address.
Example:
- Describe an ambiguous situation you faced.
- What actions did you take?
- What results did you achieve?
Be ready to tackle behavioral interview questions, such as how you deal with ambiguity in life or on the job. Preparing examples ahead of time will help you demonstrate your special skills and core competencies. Focus on your own personal contributions to a project rather than the overall success of the team. Use the first person pronoun “I” to clarify your part in the initiative.
Make a list of ambiguous situations you have conquered despite having no clear direction, limited experience, little supervision, missing information, unreliable data or uncertain resources. Pare your list to a handful of exemplary situations that reflect your ingenuity. Recall the tasks you had to perform, define action steps, and quantify your results. Use those examples to answer interview questions.
Change happens at breakneck speed, and hesitation causes lost opportunities. Employers prefer workers who can stay abreast of trends and readily adapt to new ways of doing business. Much can be learned from start-ups, high-tech companies, and the adventure capitalists of Silicon Valley who thrive on ambiguity. When applying for a job in a tech industry, education, manufacturing or virtually any company that faces competition, be ready for the types of questions you’re going to be asked concerning ambiguity.
Microsoft Education’s ambiguity interview questions:
- Describe a time when you found it difficult to focus and stay productive due to uncontrollable external factors or changes to your job. What actions did you take? What resulted from your actions?
- Tell me about a situation where you felt compelled to make a decision in the absence of sufficient data. What did you do? How did it turn out?
- Walk me through a time that you chose to keep moving forward in a risky or ambiguous situation. How did you cope? Please describe your results.
Dealing With Ambiguity: Interview Questions
Effective leaders appreciate the challenges and opportunities that go hand in hand with ambiguity. Do not talk about ambiguity in negative terms. You will do better with ambiguous interview questions if you are comfortable with the whole notion of ambiguity. Consider how taking risks, exploring new territory, making educated guesses and even trusting a hunch can propel a company forward.
Organizational survival depends on fearless, capable leaders and loyal team members who embrace change and capitalize on opportunities that come along. Interview questions are intended to screen out applicants who panic when the unexpected occurs, such as being asked ambiguous interview questions that have no right or wrong answer. Knowing such questions are coming can help you stay calm and poised throughout the entire interview, even when you’re sitting across from an intimidating hiring manager.
