We analyzed 804 interview reviews for ASDA from various job sites, social network groups and forums.
Here are the most frequent job interview questions asked by HR managers during initial phone or onsite interviews. This list does not include technical or factual questions.
16 frequent non-technical questions at ASDA:
According to our research, hiring managers at ASDA ask soft skills interview questions 2.0x more than at other companies.
1. Tell me about a time when you've resolved a problem for a frustrated customertop question
How to answer
Customers are the lifeblood of any business. How you handle a disgruntled customer can make the difference between closing a sale and failing to do so. It takes good people skills to handle such situations, and this question is a good opportunity to demonstrate your people skills.
About Yourself
Think of a time when, as a customer, you had a problem with a company.
- How did you feel?
- How did you want to be treated?
- How would the situation ideally be resolved?
- If it were you on the serving side of the table, what would you do differently? Have you had such experiences in the past where you helped a frustrated customer?
What was the critical factor in a successful resolution of the situation?
Try to define your principles or approach.
For example, I know that people tend to be frustrated when they feel neglected and unimportant.
Whenever possible, I try to meet in person and establish face-to-face contact with someone who feels disgruntled, so that I can fully focus on the situation. (And believe me, checking your phone while speaking with such a customer is definitely NOT a good idea).
Of course, this may not always be possible in your line of business or profession, but I guess you see what I mean - showing full attention greatly improves your chances of mitigating the situation.
About The Company
Every company relies on customers.
Research the company you are applying to and try to find out what their standards of customer relationship or service are, as well as try to find out some real cases where the customers complained about the company, and what the company did to mitigate the situations (a possible source might be Yelp! or another social media platform).
Based on your research, how does the company treat customers? How do they resolve customer issues?
About The Fit
How can you make things better and WOW the customer? Give an example that demonstrates that your approach to resolving customer frustrations is in line with the company policies.
Pro Tip
A disgruntled customer generally just needs someone to listen to them.
The three A’s of customer service can help diffuse the difficult situation:
- Acknowledge - what the other person is feeling,
- Apologize - for the way the other person is feeling,
Admit - that there was an issue that you are working on to get it resolved.
Add the extra “A” - Ask for the customer's contact information so you can update them on any progress on their issue.
Statistics
This question is asked 4.1x more frequently at ASDA than at other companies.
Take a quiz
Take a quick quiz and check if you’re ready to answer this question at your next job interview:
Customers are often frustrated by what they perceive as poor service especially when they are on the phone. Which one of the following answers do you consider to be good customer service?
APlacing the customer on hold for too long
BPaying close attention to the customer’s complaint in an attempt to solve their problem
CAsking the customer to repeat their complaint many times
DFailing to empathize with their problem
EDirecting the customer to your website instead of resolving the issue yourself
2. How would you handle a customer with difficult behavior?
How to answer
People skills are highly valued in every company, and even so much more so in a company that deals with difficult customers occasionally. It is important to show how you can manage difficult personalities.
About Yourself
Look back on your experience. Have you worked with a difficult or disruptive person? Remember how you diffused the situation and how you turned things around.
- Do you have certain principles, or methodology, to deal with difficult people?
- Do you have strong people skills, are you good at conflict resolution?
- Are you high on emotional intelligence? Can you give an example?
About The Company
- What have you found about the company and its culture?
- What have you learned about how the employees value each other?
- How do they treat their customers?
Knowing their line of business or industry, what can be some examples of difficult customers?
About The Fit
A question like this asked in an interview, may be an indication that difficult customers, or other difficult stakeholders, may indeed be something that you will probably encounter in this company, and it is important for the interviewer to know that you will be able to handle this challenge with good grace.
If you can give an example of how you handled a difficult person in the past in a situation similar to what this company may require from you, this will strongly increase your chances of showing yourself as a good fit.
Pro Tip
One methodology for diffusing a difficult situation is called “the triple A” approach:
- Acknowledge - what the other person is feeling,
- Apologize - for the way the other person is feeling,
Admit - that there was an issue that you are working on to get it resolved.
If it is a customer, it would add that extra touch if you added another "A" to your approach by Asking for the customer's contact information so you can update them of any progress on their issue.
Statistics
This question is asked 2.9x more frequently at ASDA than at other companies.
Take a quiz
Take a quick quiz and check if you’re ready to answer this question at your next job interview:
Pick the best answer:
AIf the customer is rude and obnoxious, answer in kind and show him that he cannot push you around.
BListen carefully to what the customer is saying to really understand their concerns then repeat back to them what you heard to be sure you have it right, before attempting to help them with the problem.
CTell the customer that he should have known that the sale is final and there is nothing he can do to renegotiate the terms of the deal.
3. Tell me about yourself
How to answer
This question may sound vague, but it actually requires a matter of fact, concise and relevant answer. Here’s how you can approach it.
About Yourself
What is your current occupation? Define yourself professionally in one statement.
Pick 3 key skills that make you great at your work (your Key Selling Points). How have you applied these skills?
Try to give some numbers to support your statement.
About The Company
Based on what you know about the company and the job description, why are you interested in the position you are applying for?
About The Fit
- Based on your Key Selling Points and your knowledge about the company, why do you think you are a good fit for this position?
Can you support your statement with relevant examples from your past experiences?
Try to be concise and stay within 1-2 minutes.
Pro Tip
You can also end with a question like:
“Do you know what the current needs in the company/department are, where my skills and experience can help?"
That can help you learn more about the company and the job, turn the "interrogation" into a conversation and will allow you to relax some tension.
Read our blog post to learn more about how to answer this question.
Statistics
This question is asked 41% less frequently at ASDA than at other companies.
Take a quiz
Take a quick quiz and check if you’re ready to answer this question at your next job interview:
Pick the best answer:
AMy name is Andrew Franklin, I am 28 years old, and I am looking for a job that pays well.
BHello, my name is Natalie Price. I have two children and I love playing billiards and travelling. I am 33 years old.
CHi Mr. Simon, my name is Stanley Clark and I am a certified Project Management professional known for completing projects on time and on budget. I am passionate about building agile work culture and delivering results.
DHi Mr. Simon, my name is Dorothy Hanson. I have previously worked as an accountant in retail, but currently I am trying to transition into the field of healthcare.
Now that you have read some of our recommendations, you may wonder: “Ok, so what’s next? I seem to understand these concepts quite well and they kind of make sense to me, but how do I make sure my answers are actually in accordance with these recommendations, and I will stand out as a strong candidate in my upcoming interview?”
Good question. Assuming you are indeed qualified and fit for the position you are interviewing for, the best thing you can do is make sure the interviewer sees this fit.
There are two ways how you can leverage Mr. Simon’s expertise to help you shine your best:
- Go ahead and practice with the Mr. Simon app - it is a completely free, fun and helpful experience!
- Request a mock interview with a real human career mentor. During the session we will help you identify your Key Selling Points to emphasize in the interview, and to present them in a way that strongly communicates your value to the company. The 1-hour session costs USD 79.99 and is supplemented by 2 weeks of support via email, free of additional charge.
To request the session, shoot us an email to coaching@mrsimon.ai and attach your resume and job description to expedite the process.
Here’s what our customers are saying.
Amanda, QA Manager:
I searched interview prep via Google and found Mr. Simon. I sent an e-mail requesting help. Natalie was prompt in response. The session was one of the best things to have happened during my job search and interview preparation.
Natalie helped me feel calm and confident. She helped me break down the job description and relate it to my experience. After working with Natalie, I received 2 job offers in the same day.
Anna, Director of Brand and Marketing Strategy:
I had you on the list to reach out since it was your advice that helped me prep differently for my interviews. Thank you for your support and friendship while I was transitioning. It had an impact! I appreciate it and mean it.
Claudia, Project Manager:
I used Mr. Simon to prepare for a job interview, and it helped me re-think my responses and gain confidence. Also, the questions were not very far from real life interview questions. In addition, having the opportunity to hear my own answers and read the recommendations on how to respond concisely was really helpful. I enjoyed using Mr. Simon and would use it again!
4. Do you prefer working in a team or working alone?
How to answer
When the interviewers ask this question, they want an insight into your personality, how well you work independently and how well you work with others.
Generally, there's no right or wrong answer to this question, unless the company specifically prefers that you work only in a team or only by yourself.
Luckily, Mr. Simon is here to provide you guidance.
About Yourself
To prepare for this question, try to think of your previous experiences. Which type of work suited you best and why?
For instance, someone who prefers working by themselves may be able to focus better on the problem and a person who prefers a team approach may like having others to help figure out problems.
If you're a fresh graduate or someone that does not have much work experience, you can think of schoolwork or the times that you worked with others in an organization.
About The Company
- What has your research found out about the company and its culture?
What have you learned about how the employees work?
Review the job description as it may give you clues to whether the job focuses on teams, independence or both.
Try to expand your search into social media posts at Glassdoor or others where employees/former employees may have posted about working conditions you would be working under.
Remember: knowledge is the key! The more you know about the company, the better prepared you will be to answer questions like this.
About The Fit
Based on your research, what did you find is the company's preference?
- What type of workplace does the company appear to have?
- What kind of challenges could you help the company/department resolve by working as part of a team?
What about the challenges that can be resolved by working independently?
Emphasize both independent successes as well as group successes (be sure to mention actions you took to help the team).
Pro Tip
Talk about the benefits of each working style and add to your story by telling them in terms of your STARs:
what was the Situation/Task you needed to address?
what Actions/Approach did you take?
what were the Results? What did you do differently that made you successful?
Statistics
This question is asked 10.6x more frequently at ASDA than at other companies.
5. Describe a time you went above and beyond for a customer
How to answer
This question lets the interviewer know how well you think on your feet and how great your customer service skills are.
About Yourself
Think about the time you were a customer, how were you treated and how could your experience have been made the best?
Now think about the time you had to help a customer. What did you do to make that experience unforgettable for him?
About The Company
Think carefully about the company and what they are looking for. Read online reviews and any other available information.
- What are their standards for treating customers?
- What complaints have you seen that can give you a hint of some of the challenges associated with customer service?
About The Fit
Think of the company's ideals and connect those with your skills and qualifications. Now think of how these requirements are met by how you went above and beyond for a customer.
Frame your story in terms of your STAR method:
S - What was the Situation?
T - What was your Task?
A - What Action did you take?
R - Talk about the Results.
Pro Tip
Showing you have compassion and empathy for customers is always an excellent way to answer the question. However, always remember to frame your answers in terms of how the company addresses these issues.
Statistics
This question is asked 2.5x more frequently at ASDA than at other companies.
6. Describe a time you worked on a team with individuals from different cultural backgrounds
How to answer
Why do interviewers ask this question?
Nowadays many companies rate global and cultural awareness as a key competency for all employees. For most jobs today, it is essential to be able to work well with diverse teams, including individuals who understand international and cultural differences and can interact respectfully with individuals from diverse cultures, political affiliations, races, religions, ages, genders and sexual orientations.
About Yourself
Answering this question highlights your ability to navigate cultural differences at work.
Think about your team experiences and times when you’ve had to overcome differences with colleagues.
- How do you adapt to working with team members of different communication styles?
- Are you open-minded enough to consider all their ideas even if you don't agree?
- How do you handle the differences in attitudes and values between you and people from other countries or backgrounds?
Do you show respect and are you diplomatic with those people?
Maybe you haven’t worked with people from different cultures, but you may have been studying or been friends with people from different backgrounds.
Address your personal life, if necessary, and emphasize your curiosity and openness to other cultures.
About The Company
A careful review of the job description, along with some research of the company will help you anticipate what aspects of global/cultural awareness are most important for a particular role in the company you are applying to.
About The Fit
Demonstrate your openness, inclusiveness, sensitivity, and the ability to interact respectfully with all people and show your understanding of individuals’ differences.
Your task is to prove to the interviewer your ability to build strong and caring relationships based on trust and shared goals.
Use the STAR method to tell a story about how your experience helped you to create an open and inclusive workplace environment, so all team members felt empowered to contribute.
Ensure the interviewer that you are very comfortable working with team members from other cultures and possibly with different communication styles. Make it your advantage.
For example, you can say something like: “At my recent work, representatives of different cultures participated in one common project. As a result, our team was able to approach the tasks from different viewpoints to reach a successful conclusion.”
Pro Tip
Working in a multicultural team has both advantages and challenges at the same time. In such a team you can broaden your outlook.
Challenges that you have to overcome are: to understand other people’s language and culture, to get used to the different ways they think and work; to reduce mistrust that can be a barrier to understanding each other, and to promote awareness of cultural diversity in the workplace.
If you overcome these challenges, you will be the ideal employee at any job.
Statistics
This question is asked 6.5x more frequently at ASDA than at other companies.
7. What is your greatest weakness?
How to answer
This question ranks as the most challenging for many people. Fortunately, Mr. Simon is here to help!
Interviewers ask this question to gauge your level of self-awareness, your honesty and openness, and your capability for self-improvement.
About Yourself
No one is perfect and your interviewer doesn't expect you to be perfect either.
While it is good to be honest and open, it will not help you to put yourself down.
What's important is to find a weakness that you have overcome or something that is not related to the position for which you are applying.
For example, one of our clients admitted that he is not very good at public speaking and that he has recently become a member of Toastmasters International to improve. What a respectful answer and approach, in my view!
About The Company
Research the company (website, social media, etc) to learn about the company culture.
What personal and professional qualities do they value?
About The Fit
It is important that the weakness you decide to talk about is not one that will prevent you from performing the job for which you're applying.
For example, if you're applying for a front-end developer position, do not talk about how you are struggling to understand HTML code.
Pro Tip
Use this question to sell yourself!
It's important to show how well you've overcome a weakness by motivating yourself and learning a new skill to grow professionally.
Statistics
This question is asked 33% less frequently at ASDA than at other companies.
Take a quiz
Take a quick quiz and check if you’re ready to answer this question at your next job interview:
Which of the following would be the best answer:
ASometimes I just work too hard
BI have trouble saying “no” when a colleague asks for help and I have my own work to finish
CI am a perfectionist
DI cannot think of a single thing
8. If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
How to answer
Some hiring managers really like these oddball interview questions.
Why would the interviewer want to know what kind of animal you would want to be? They think it’s going to reveal more about your character and can show them how you respond when you’re under stress or when you are thrown a curveball.
Questions like these do reveal your thought process and offer you a chance to show off your creativity and inventiveness.
To answer this question, realize that in fact you are asked ‘What kind of an employee will you be?’ Analogies often tell the truth!
About Yourself
The answer to the question about animals at the interview is to check how well a person knows himself.
- Do you understand your strengths and weaknesses?
Are you able to objectively look at yourself and see what you actually are?
The answer must be true and based on reality.
Before the interview, analyze your internal self and try to figure out all the possible qualities that you possess. If you focus well, you should be able to come up with at least 10 qualities.
When you are in the interview you can name the animal, and give several of the qualities that you see in that animal that also describe you.
The question is also a test of your sense of humor. You probably don’t want to choose a giraffe, kangaroo or rhinoceros as these animals might be hard to match to your personal qualities. Also, you really want to stay away from animals like snakes, hyenas, rats or spiders. These animals have negative, off-putting associations.
About The Company
This question during the interview is a creative way of asking you about the kinds of qualities and skills you possess and how you perceive yourself to fit in the company with those qualities and skills.
About The Fit
The objective is to understand the depth of your viewpoint and analytical thinking.
Once you list down the qualities, figure out the ones that will be helpful in the job that you have applied for. The more relatable the qualities, the better you will be able to sell yourself to the recruiter.
For example, if you compare yourself to an elephant, which is a strong, intelligent, loyal to the group and unstoppable animal, you will explain your ability to adapt to any new environment and work according to the culture and system of the new place.
Dolphins are very good communicators, loyal to the group and adaptable to many conditions and can be used as an example to indicate how good you are when it comes to handling team tasks.
Dogs are seen as Man’s Best Friend, that’s why it might be a good example for someone in a support role. Besides, they have such important qualities as loyalty and devotion which are highly valued in most companies.
If you compare yourself to an eagle, you will highlight the ability to see the whole picture, sharpness and tenacity of vision. These are good qualities for managers or directors.
Comparing yourself to a lion you are pointing out that you are a skillful leader and a good team worker.
Pro Tip
Always choose the animal that makes a strong impression and fits perfectly with the skills and qualities that you see as needed by the company.
Your example should be based on reality. The way you answer will help the interviewer to understand your thinking skills and managing ability in situations when under pressure.
Statistics
This question is asked 7.0x more frequently at ASDA than at other companies.
9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
How to answer
This question belongs to a family of behavioral, or even more precisely, reflective questions.
The interviewer wants to see whether you are reflective about yourself, whether you are ambitious and strive to grow as a professional, whether you like to learn and develop your skills.
They are also looking for your ambitions to fit the career path opportunities related to the position you are applying for.
About Yourself
Presumably, you are interested to grow professionally.
Think about the possibilities that may lie ahead for you: take a personality test (I recommend 16Personalities which is based on Myers-Briggs test), research the internet on what career paths are possible with your skills and current job.
What challenges do you like overcoming?
For example, if you are applying for a software tester position, you may find it fascinating to master automated testing in full and eventually become a software engineer, or you may be a natural trainer and love coaching other people which may lead you to become a QA team or department lead, or you may be more interested in understanding business aspects of requirements which may logically lead you into a Business Analyst position.
However, if you are happy just where you are and want to further your current skills, that is also fine as long as there is a growth path for you that can be imagined and described.
About The Company
Research the company to learn what career opportunities may be available in the department you are applying to, and what the trends are in the company in general.
- Is the business expanding, are they opening new locations, or starting new projects?
Or are they heavily automating and cutting staff?
Let’s say you are applying for a UX designer position for a brand-new product.
In the future, if the product becomes a success - which is what the company hopes for - the company will hire more designers and you may become a lead designer, or you may become a product manager.
On a side note: If you train your mind to be open to opportunities you will be amazed at how much this world has to offer to you!
About The Fit
And, of course, try to see where the perfect fit lies between your own potential and aspirations, and the company’s trends and hopes.
However, beware of the risk of showing too much excitement for future opportunities compared to your attitude towards the current position.
If you aren’t really excited about the position you are applying for and you demonstrate this lack of enthusiasm, the interviewer may conclude that you are not a good fit for the current position.
Try to find a source of excitement in the current position as well, otherwise, you may be doing yourself a disservice by applying to a position you will find boring in 2-3 months.
Pro Tip
This question gives you a good opportunity to showcase your Key Selling Points (e.g. “As I am very good at delegating tasks, I can easily see myself leading a team of software testers in the future…”), and end your statement by asking about current initiatives and goals at the company.
It is generally NOT a good idea to say something like:
“Oh, I cannot imagine what happens to me tomorrow, let alone in 5 years”.
This will show you as a person who is unimaginative and not forward-thinking enough to grow with and be a good fit for the company.
Statistics
This question is asked 69% less frequently at ASDA than at other companies.
10. Tell me about your greatest professional accomplishment
How to answer
Of all your accomplishments (and I am sure you’ve had a great many of them!), you should choose the one most relevant to this job position.
About Yourself
Write down your Key Selling Points - your top 3-5 skills that make you a strong professional.
Write down a list of your top 3-5 professional accomplishments that you are most proud of. No need for lengthy descriptions, just 1-2 words for each one to help you recall each situation.
Make sure you have developed the story behind each accomplishment and have a strong command of the details of what happened so that you can tell the story clearly and distinctly.
Along with each accomplishment, mark which of your Key Selling Points they showcase. How exactly?
About The Company
Based on your research of the company, what are their current needs?
- What are the major projects going on?
- What are the expectations for the position you are applying for?
About The Fit
Try to imagine yourself being an employee of the company you are applying to, say, at your 6th month into the job.
- Which of your Key Selling Points and accomplishments would be most relevant to the company?
What “have you accomplished at your new job?”
Choose the most relevant accomplishment from your list and then practice telling your story.
Pro Tip
Most enterprises are now going through major transformations, often called Digital Transformation.
Do your research on what it means and what is often involved, to get a better idea of the current goals and environments in companies. But one thing that definitely characterizes this transformation is striving for agility.
In particular, for startups (if you are applying to a startup or a small business), agility is their middle name, in order for them to survive among bigger sharks in the market.
So, demonstrating qualities like agility and adaptability should generally be helpful and quite a safe choice in most circumstances today.
Statistics
This question is asked 3% more frequently at ASDA than at other companies.
Take a quiz
Take a quick quiz and check if you’re ready to answer this question at your next job interview:
Why do interviewers ask this question?
AThey want to know why you think the accomplishment you chose is your greatest, to give them an idea of what you think is important
BThey want to hear a specific example of your work to see if your problem solving skills fit in with the issues and problems their company might be experiencing
CThey want to know if you are a great multitasker who can get 10 different things done by the end of the day, no matter how long you have to stay at work to complete it all
11. Describe a time when you resolved a conflict with a colleague in your past role
How to answer
Wherever you go, you will always have to work with people. This means that there is a greater chance for conflict to happen. This question helps the interviewer determine how well you would fit within the organization.
About Yourself
Think of the times you had to deal with conflict.
- What were the different ways you were able to address the situation?
- If you were the cause of the conflict, how did the other person talk you down from the conflict?
- What were the key lessons you learned through your experience?
About The Company
Research the company and its culture.
- What do they value?
Is there anything that you can find about how they deal with conflict resolution?
Reading comments to their social media posts often prove helpful to see how they react to customers' complaints.
About The Fit
- What have you found out about the company’s culture and job description?
Are they looking for someone who can take charge and resolve conflict?
Tell a story of how you addressed conflict and how it turned a negative into a positive.
Try to conclude with your lessons learned or methodology for approaching conflicts - this will show the interviewer that you would be able to apply your methodology to future situations.
Use the STAR method to frame your story.
Pro Tip
A key to addressing conflict is listening, communication and emotional intelligence. Highlight these skills.
If you're able to, turn the question around and ask the interviewer if they have experienced the same thing. This will start a conversation, which is the goal of an interview.
Statistics
This question is asked 2.3x more frequently at ASDA than at other companies.
12. Have you ever had a problem with another team member that you were working with? If so, how did you handle it?
How to answer
If you are asked this question, the interviewers really want to know not about your superiors or colleagues, they are asking about you.
This question helps them to get a sense of whether or not you like working on a team, how well you work in groups, and what role you tend to take on a team project: leader, mediator or follower.
It will also show whether you are easy to get along with, which is important in almost any work environment. So, you should answer this question by talking about yourself, not complaining about a former boss or employees.
About Yourself
- Have you ever had problems working with someone?
- How did you deal with unexpected obstacles?
- Were you able to find solutions by yourself?
- Did you take the initiative?
- Can you look at problems at different angles?
- Can you find a common language with people?
- What were the key lessons you learned from the situation?
About The Company
Do your research about the company and its culture.
- How do the employees value each other?
- How do they deal with conflict situations?
Do they have any specific standards and policies?
Carefully review the job description so you understand what "teamwork" means for the position and the company.
About The Fit
It’s important to show your people-skills, communication and problem-solving skills.
If you can, give an example of a time you had a problem with another team member at a previous job. Remember that everything in this story should be told in a positive way.
For example: "I had disagreements with my coworker at my first job, but I took advantage of the good advice given to me by my manager and talked to him. It turned out that we simply misunderstood each other. This case made me realize that communication is the basis of any relationship and that it is possible to reach an agreement with almost anyone."
In this example, you did not say anything bad about your coworker or about yourself. On the contrary, you have shown that you can find solutions to any problem.
Pro Tip
The main thing is to answer in a positive way, and not badmouth your former team members.
Show your abilities to stay calm and collected. Reaching compromises and actively listening can be your additional advantage.
Ensure that your answer highlights the manner in which you made good use of your conflict management skills. Use the STAR method to make your story logical.
Statistics
This question is asked 3.9x more frequently at ASDA than at other companies.
13. Give me an example of when you have done a great job in the past
How to answer
Questions about your successes allow an employer to learn more about your work ethic and your previous accomplishments. It helps the interviewer determine whether you will be driven to achieve such results in the future.
This question also allows the recruiter to understand how you define success, and what milestones in your career you consider important. It’s the numbers and the facts that most accurately describe you as a good candidate.
Examples of your great job will be summarized in your resume and you should be ready to elaborate on them in the interview.
About Yourself
Think of the question as an invitation to discuss the professional characteristics that you're proud of, or a particular achievement in your past job.
- What steps did you take to become successful?
- What personal and professional qualities did you use to reach your goals at work?
- How did your actions help your team and the company to succeed?
- What challenges did you overcome to become successful?
- What are your lessons learned?
About The Company
Research the requirements of the company you applying to and review the job listing.
Make a list of job qualifications and skills that match the preferred qualifications of the ideal candidate.
About The Fit
Explain your most important achievements at work, using the STAR method to provide specific examples of how your past work and achievements show how you will be an asset to the organization you're interviewing with.
It’s your chance to tell about your Key Selling Points – skills that make you a successful employee. Emphasize the 3-5 strongest of them that helped you to achieve results at work to answer the question.
It's important to provide the interviewer with evidence of how you achieved success in the workplace.
For example, if you are in publishing, tell your story about how you ensured the timely release of 20 issues of the magazine, despite any problems you faced.
The role of such an achievement for the company was particularly important and demonstrates how your work contributed to the business. Difficulties and ways to overcome them, new ideas, daily work, and its results will help the interviewer to assess your experience correctly.
Pro Tip
Do not be afraid of blowing your trumpet and making yourself look good.
If you are a good employee, then make sure you tell them so.
Try to show a high level of ambition. Your goal is to demonstrate your determination and willingness to take on challenges and achieve results.
Statistics
This question is asked 22.8x more frequently at ASDA than at other companies.
14. Tell me about a time when you went out of your way to satisfy a customer. What was the outcome?
How to answer
This question lets the interviewer know how well you think on your feet and how great your customer service skills are.
About Yourself
Think about the time you were a customer, how were you treated and how could your experience have been made the best?
Now think about the times you had to help a customer. What did you do to make that experience unforgettable for the customer? How did you exceed expectations?
About The Company
Think carefully about the company and what they are looking for. Have you found any reviews online that can help you identify what the company's greatest challenge is? What are their standards for treating customers?
About The Fit
Think of the company's standards and ideals and connect those with your skills and qualifications.
If you can remember more than one example, choose the one that fits best with the company industry and standards. Make sure you describe the positive outcome both for the customer and the company.
Use the STAR method to craft your story.
Pro Tip
Showing you have compassion and empathy for customers is always the best way to answer the question. However, always remember to frame your answers in terms of how the company addresses these issues.
Statistics
This question is asked 57% more frequently at ASDA than at other companies.
15. Tell me about a stressful situation and how you dealt with it
How to answer
Nowadays, professional life is stressful everywhere and always. However, there are levels of stress that are so common that we consider them normal, and there are times when they really skyrocket.
Your future employer wants to know how you will behave in such times, whether you will be a helping hand or a burden.
About Yourself
Remember a time when you had to hit a tight timeline and to work long hours, hard and overtime; or when you found yourself in the middle of a conflict with someone, or with a group of people.
If you had more than one such occasion, choose one that ended positively and successfully, and ideally, that can demonstrate some of your key skills - your Key Selling Points.
Most likely, the situation was highly emotional.
- What helped you persevere?
Was there an element that you enjoyed?
For example, in one of our projects, my team and I had to hit a really tough timeline for a customer, which seemed almost impossible in the beginning.
However, we knew that we owned the results and that a major decision by the customer depended on the outcome. This sense of ownership, meaning, and impact gave us energy and excitement.
Those were the challenges that we loved and could deal with for a sustained period of time. Also, the pleasure of working with a highly qualified top manager on the customer’s side added to the enjoyment.
Now, after a few years, we remember those times as some of the most exciting for our team.
About The Company
- What do you know about the company, where you may encounter a stressful situation?
- Are they working on a major project which is approaching a due date?
Are they going through a difficult time when cost-saving is a top priority, company culture is full of negativity and mistrust, they have gone through massive layoffs, customers are neglected, and everyone wears a long face?
These are always stressful times, and you should try to know more about expectations in the company, and how realistic they are.
Or, are they just a dynamic, highly agile company run by smart and creative folks, which may work excellently for some people and be confusing and mind-blowing for others?
About The Fit
Think of your ideal workplace environment.
- Does this company feel like it?
Do you feel excited and enthusiastic about the kinds of stress you may encounter here?
If you feel compatible with this company culture and enthusiastic about the challenges you expect here, this is a good chance to mention it and to show your excitement.
Explain your approach or rationale and give your example from the past.
Pro Tip
If you cannot remember any stressful situation with a positive outcome, you can use one with a negative outcome accompanied by your lessons learned.
However, this option should not be your first choice, as the failure to give an example of a successful outcome may portray you as an emotionally immature person.
Statistics
This question is asked 40% less frequently at ASDA than at other companies.
16. How do you deal with working under pressure?
How to answer
Many jobs involve moments when, for varied reasons, unexpected situations occur and a quick decision is needed.
The ability to work under pressure is an extremely valuable quality. It is a skill highly sought after by employers. They want to know they’re hiring someone who can coolly evaluate situations, stay focused, take charge and simply get the job done.
Giving a good response to this question may increase your chances of being hired.
About Yourself
Even if you are confident about your ability to work under pressure, the goal of your answer is to convince your interviewer of that.
Emphasize your best qualities, such as quick decision-making, organizational and time management skills, the ability to stay calm, focus on the job at hand, think logically, act correctly and employ your problem-solving abilities.
Also mention the methods you use to manage workplace stress. It can set you apart from other candidates.
Think of a previous professional situation in which you displayed excellent ability under pressure.
Use the STAR method to describe that scenario during the interview, and explain the actions you took to diffuse the situation.
About The Company
Do your research about the company you are aiming for.
- What are the company’s plans, for example, will there be a degree of pressure like hitting targets, meeting deadlines or managing multiple tasks at once?
- How might this impact you and how you deal with pressure?
About The Fit
Performing well under pressure is both a personal and professional quality and can make a difference between an average employee and an excellent one.
Try to think of ways in which you can use the truth to your advantage. It will help you to gain the interviewers' trust and help them feel confident that the rest of your answers are also truthful.
Even if you sometime might struggle under pressure, calmly acknowledging that and mentioning that you are actively trying to improve in this area can leave a positive impression on the hiring manager.
Pro Tip
While answering the question, be sure you DON’T:
- Speak of a time when the stress or the pressure was caused by your own mistake
- Bring emotions into the conversation thereby letting the interviewer know that you did not handle the pressure very well
- Speak about an incident where you couldn’t handle the pressure, where for instance the pressure caused you to fail at a task as this will reflect negatively on you
- Speak about the type of situation that stresses you out, especially if you are expecting to encounter a similar scenario in your future job.
Statistics
This question is asked 2.2x more frequently at ASDA than at other companies.
You don't have to be alone in your job search!
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Group membership is free of charge, courtesy of Mr. Simon.
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This page has been updated on October 25, 2021.
