When asked How do you approach problems at work?, have you ever stopped and wondered “What is this, a trick question?”
These questions put you on the spot because you need to come up with a story fast. Plus, it’s always a bit uncomfortable to speak about negative work experiences.
But every (and I mean every) job comes with problems, and solving them in a respectful, professional, and assertive way is a skill employers love seeing in job candidates.
That’s why in 9 out of 10 interviews, you’ll get questions about deadlines, issues, and teamwork.
However, there’s a way to make sure these questions don’t catch you off guard in your next interview.
Problem solving skills are difficult to describe and quantify because they are a mix of skills like:
- Logical thinking
- Technical knowledge
- Empathy
- Adaptability
- Leadership
- Collaboration
- Swift decision making
If you can solve complex problems at work, it means you can deliver results, and do so even when things get tough.
Problem-solving questions fall into 3 groups:
- General: “How do you approach problems at work?”
- Technical (role-specific): “What would you do if organic traffic dropped suddenly?”
- Behavioral or Situational: “How would you collaborate with a team to solve a work-related problem?”
Use this 3-step approach to answer any problem solving question:
- Know the interviewers’ intention— They’re checking if you’re adaptable, open to new ideas and how you handle new, potentially unpleasant situations. When there’s an issue, are you passive, do you panic, or do you try to remove bottlenecks and keep projects on track? How do you communicate with others and how do you make decisions? Once you know why they’re asking, you can organize your answer.
- Be specific (even if the question is general) — Include specific details, actions you have taken in the past, and mention skills that helped you solve this problem. If possible, mention the results and what you learned from the situation. This will show the interviewer you’re introspective and have a growth mindset.
- Use the STAR formula — Use the 4-step STAR (Situation-Task-Action-Result) formula when answering problem-solving questions.
Situation: Describe the situation and provide context.
Task: What tasks you planned on doing to tackle the issue, your contribution.
Action: Describe what steps and actions you took to solve the problem.
Result: Mention the result of your efforts (and quantify if you can).
Here’s a great answer you can use to answer questions like “Can you describe a situation that required problem-solving?”
Situation: At my previous job as a Project Manager for a software development company, we were working on a critical project for a major client. Midway through the project, we discovered a major bug in the software that could mess up our timeline. The bug was complex, deeply embedded in the core functionality, and the project was already running on a tight deadline.
Task: I had to ensure that the bug was fixed without delaying the project further. I needed to coordinate with the development team, manage client expectations, and ensure that the quality of the final product was not compromised.
Action: First, I organized an emergency meeting with the development team to understand the root cause of the bug. We broke down the problem and assigned expertise-specific tasks. I rearranged the project timeline to prioritize the bug fix, ensuring that other critical tasks were still progressing. Next, I explained the issue to the client, the steps we were taking to solve it, and the potential impact on the project timeline. I assured them we were doing everything possible to minimize any delays and provided regular updates. I also implemented daily stand-up meetings to track the progress and address any new issues .
Result: We were able to fix the bug within a week, only slightly adjusting the project timeline. The client was appreciative of our transparency and the swift resolution. This experience strengthened the client’s trust in our company, leading to further business opportunities. Our team also learned valuable lessons in crisis management and improved our processes to prevent similar issues in the future.
If you’re new in the job market or have never faced a problem before, think about how you would handle it if it ever happened. Use this hypothetical scenario and follow the same STAR formula to frame your answer.
That’s it — these are the basics.
To get the full picture, check out our guide on problem-solving interview questions to learn what other questions to expect.
Good luck! 💙
