How To Answer Interview Questions About How You Handle A Heavy Workload

Popular How To Answer Interview Questions About How You Handle A Heavy Workload Peggy McKee Jenna Arcand March 10, 2022 {"adCodes": [{"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664203608/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 0, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}, {"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664203608/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 1, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}, {"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664203608/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 2, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}], "adsOrder": [2]}

We all have times on the job when the work piles up. However, we don't all react in the same way. Some of us handle that stress better than others. A potential employer naturally wants to know how you will react when that situation happens in this new job. So, they say something like, "Describe a time when your workload was particularly heavy and what steps you took to handle it."

Behavioral Interview Questions

This is a type of behavioral interview question. These types of questions ask you to describe your past actions or predict how you'll react in future situations. These can be great ways to get insight into your personality and how you approach difficult situations.

Answers to behavioral interview questions are best structured using the STAR format (situation or task, action you took, and results you achieved). Using this technique ensures you say what you need to say to give a complete answer to the question. (Some people forget to talk about the results they got from the actions they took, but this is the most important part.)

What Do Employers Want To Know?

Basically, employers want to know how you approach problems and stress. Can you adapt? Can you prioritize? Can you stay calm? A lot of people will just say, "I stay until the work is done." Persistence is good, but letting them know that you approach problems analytically and strategically is better. Show them that you can think critically and make good decisions. Walk them through how you have dealt with this issue before or how you would deal with it.

Good Sample Answers

Here are a couple of examples of good answers to this question:

1. "We all have times when the workload gets a little heavier than normal. I've found that the best way to handle it is to step back, take a look at everything on my task list, and prioritize. Most of the time, not everything needs to get done immediately. Some things are more critical to team goals than others, so sometimes it's necessary to prioritize."

Then, tell a short story about a time when you did that, and tell what the results of it were: you got X task done, which was beneficial because of Y.

2. "In that kind of situation, prioritizing and teamwork both become critical. I speak to my supervisor to see if I can help him or her and get some input on which tasks to tackle first."

Then, talk about the time you provided assistance to your boss on a mission-critical task and what happened as a result of that teamwork.

Every interview answer should help sell you for the job. Be prepared with great answers for dozens of tough questions in How to Answer Interview Questions and How to Answer Interview Questions II, both available on Amazon.

We understand the challenges you face in the job search. We know how difficult it is to land (and ace) an interview and make the right career decisions. If you're feeling trapped or lost in your career right now, we're here for you. We'd love it if you joined our FREE community where professionals like you are learning how to become empowered in their careers so they can finally find career satisfaction.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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job interview {"customDimensions": {"1":"Peggy McKee, Jenna Arcand","2":"popular","3":"answer interview questions about heavy workload, career advice, interview tips, job search, stress, heavy workload, job interview, interview questions, job interview questions, interview advice, job interviews, job interview advice, interview questions and answers, job seekers, professionals, answering interview questions, behavioral interview questions, interview answers, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29515359, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29515172, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29515457, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29515520","4":"03/10/2022"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 14, "sections": [0, 370480899, 543270555, 376489574, 473333499, 404327439, 479660731], "buckets": [], "authors": [19548612, 19836096]} } Get Some LeverageSign up for The Work It Daily NewsletterEnter emailSubscribeFollow window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_multiplex', ['fluid'], 'wit_multiplex').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display('wit_multiplex'); }); Blog Cultural Execution: A Brainstorming Tool For Exceptional Social Media Content Kathryn Marshburn March 10, 2022 {"adCodes": [{"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664203608/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 0, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}, {"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664203608/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 1, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}, {"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664203608/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 2, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}], "adsOrder": [2]}

As the demand for more content on a daily basis becomes the norm, the topic around the brainstorming process and what tool is best for brainstorming quality ideas for creative content becomes essential. I can tell you—from the many years that I have worked with exceptional gaming and music creative teams—I would be focusing on one area when working with creatives & influencers: culture.

Creative Teams

The only way you get great ideas is if people feel safe to say them out loud. The tools needed to achieve great narratives and to get great campaign content are rooted in a culture where people feel safe to express ideas out loud and not get judged. When a team feels safe to speak up and share ideas that are relevant to pop culture at the time, the creative content is unstoppable and this creates successful new content. The reason most organizations and companies struggle with good ideas is that there is usually someone in the room that is the killer of ideas imposing his/her political will against the rest of the crew, leadership styles that create fear and narrow viewpoints.

I have been fortunate to have worked with some of the best teams in the tech industry and the common thread, in my opinion, has always been a crew that supports humility, kindness, and curiosity as those are the elements to unlock the creative process and unless you have a culture like that, you're dead. If your boss makes people feel scared to throw things out for creative discussion the future of the team is in jeopardy.

This is called cultural execution.

Focusing on planting seeds with your entire team to create an inclusive environment will achieve more. If allowing everyone to contribute to the success of the team is a priority, the campaign will align with new creative ideas. Your team should feel safe, where if they have a new idea and can throw it against the wall out loud to see if it will stick and is respected for contributing, this act alone creates trust which equates to results.

Try to avoid this scenario: for example, a Sr. creative with tons of experience comes into the meeting and makes the entire team feel little. This is not effective and creates fear and is counter-culture to great creative campaigns and, by the way, Gen Z can smell it a mile away. Collaboration is the key here to creating creative authentic relevant content.

Influencers

Particularly when working with influencers directly, allow them to create without interference and encourage them to lead the narrative. They know their fanbases the best and know how to engage them. Fans, consumers are more sophisticated and smarter today than ever. I have found myself many times kindly educating brands on how the optimization of dollars spent for an authentic content campaign is reliant on reach and no one can unlock that better than the influencer. The opportunity lies in constraint and not to judge, but to support.

So, if you want to obtain creative content at a better, faster pace than you are now, creating a culturally creative environment is important, not to mention a great way to build your team for long-term success. This will help you to create an atmosphere for your team where they feel safe to share new relevant ideas. Making this change will increase the volume of content as more ideas more frequently start executing.

Try this strategy out today and let me know how it works for you!

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