decision making interview questions and answers examples

DECISION-MAKING Interview Questions & Answers! (How to ANSWER Competency-Based Interview Questions)

Examples of Making Effective Decisions Without All of the Information You Needed (Interview Answers)

When asked about a time you had to make a decision without all of the necessary information, or any other situation where you had to make a tough decision, always provide a decision-making example that shows a positive outcome.

When possible, provide an example that relates to this employer’s job description, too. Describe a task or project where you used skills relevant to this employer’s job.

The more you can relate your answers to an employer’s needs in the job interview, the more excited they’ll be about hiring you onto their team.

It’s okay if your previous job isn’t exactly the same as this next job. Just find the overlaps and try to describe tasks that will seem relevant to this employer and team.

3. Try to seem as logical and fact-based as possible!

Whatever you do, just remember that in almost all cases, it’s best to seem logical when you describe how you make decisions. Show that you rely on facts, that you look to gather information before deciding, etc.

Don’t sound like you act on emotion or hunches. Employers don’t want to hire someone who’s going to be unpredictable, make decisions “on the fly”, etc. So the best way to put their mind at ease when answering decision-making questions is to show you follow a logical process.

If a hiring manager asks “how do you make decisions?”… they want to see someone who consistently follows a plan to come to the right choice.

Why ask candidates decision-making interview questions

Employees are required to make work-related decisions about either regular tasks or unexpected situations on a daily basis. For example, designers might need to choose between two logos, developers may have to decide which feature to implement first and hiring managers might need to select between two or more qualified candidates.

Decisions – both good and bad – have an impact on the entire company. Good decision-makers:

  • Evaluate circumstances, consider alternatives and weigh pros and cons.
  • Use critical-thinking skills to reach objective conclusions.
  • Are able to make decisions under pressure.
  • Opt for a “problem-solving” attitude, as opposed to a “that’s not my job” approach.
  • Help teams overcome obstacles.
  • Decision-making interview questions will help you identify potential hires with sound judgement. Test how candidates analyze data and predict the outcome of each option before making a decision. Also, keep in mind that in some cases a creative decision that breaks from the norm could prove to be innovative and more effective than a traditional approach.

  • Two employees are having regular conflicts with each other and often disturb the team’s balance. How would you handle this situation?
  • Describe a time you made an unpopular decision. How did you handle the feedback? How would you have handled the situation differently?
  • Do you usually make better decisions alone or with a group? Why? When do you ask for help?
  • In your experience, when you’re working on a team project, do you make the most decisions or do you prefer to step back and follow someone else’s guideline?
  • Describe a time when you had to make an immediate decision on a critical issue.
  • While working on a team project, you notice that some of your coworkers are falling behind. What would you do to help your team meet the deadline?
  • How would you deal with a demanding external stakeholder who keeps changing requirements about a specific project you’re working on?
  • You want your manager to buy a new software that will help your work and you’re trying to choose between two options. The first is more expensive, but has better reviews and the second has fewer features, but is within budget. Which one would you recommend and how?
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