We analyzed 288 interview reviews for Sedgwick Claims Management Services 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.
12 frequent non-technical questions at Sedgwick Claims Management Services:
According to our research, hiring managers at Sedgwick Claims Management Services ask soft skills interview questions 2.6x more than at other companies.
1. Tell me about a stressful situation and how you dealt with ittop question
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 4.4x more frequently at Sedgwick Claims Management Services than at other companies.
2. Why did you leave your last job?
How to answer
This question may be a little touchy for some people, but it's a question asked by interviewers, to find out why you left, in order to better understand how you may or may not make a good fit with their company.
Remember, never speak ill of your old company (this will not go over well).
About Yourself
Most likely, there are three possible reasons you left or are leaving your last job:
- You are looking for a career change
- You are unhappy with your current employment
You were let go.
Whatever the reason, it's best to always speak in a positive light.
About The Company
Based on your research about the company and the position, what do you like most about the company?
About The Fit
If you are looking for career advancement or a career change, you can be very upfront and honest. Be as enthusiastic as you can about the position.
If you were unhappy with your previous job, focus on the positives. Talk about the ways that you will best fit in with the company, in the role for which you're applying.
If you were let go, focus on the positive. Share your accomplishments at your previous employment.
Pro Tip
Whatever the reason you are looking for a new opportunity, always turn things around to show how you are the perfect fit for the job for which you are interviewing!
Statistics
This question is asked 2.7x more frequently at Sedgwick Claims Management Services than at other companies.
3. 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 65% more frequently at Sedgwick Claims Management Services 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.
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. 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 14% more frequently at Sedgwick Claims Management Services 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
5. 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 43% less frequently at Sedgwick Claims Management Services 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.
6. 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 33% less frequently at Sedgwick Claims Management Services than at other companies.
7. Tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult or disruptive person. It may be a client, manager, or coworker. How did you handle the situation? What was the outcome?
How to answer
People skills are highly valued in a company. It is important to show how you can manage difficult personalities, especially if you are applying for a job that involves teamwork, or a lot of interactions with clients.
About Yourself
Look back on your experience. Have you worked with a difficult or disruptive person? Remember a few such situations and how you diffused them and turned things around. What are your approaches to resolving conflicting situations at work?
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?
- Do they have any specific standards and policies?
About The Fit
Using what you found about the company, choose one of your examples that fits best with the company standards and share your story.
If it's a customer, how did you turn things around and made a customer happy?
If it's a coworker, how did you diffuse a tense or difficult situation?
Pro Tip
Use the triple A of diffusing a 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.
If it is a customer, it would add that extra touch if you "Ask" for the customer's contact information so you can update them of any progress on their issue.
Statistics
This question is asked 2.7x more frequently at Sedgwick Claims Management Services than at other companies.
8. Working in a team, or by yourself - what is your preference?
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 a 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 10.7x more frequently at Sedgwick Claims Management Services than at other companies.
9. 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 3.5x more frequently at Sedgwick Claims Management Services than at other companies.
10. Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work. How did you handle it? What have you learned?
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 46% more frequently at Sedgwick Claims Management Services than at other companies.
11. Tell me about a time when you've resolved a problem for a frustrated customer
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 40% less frequently at Sedgwick Claims Management Services 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
12. How do you decide what gets top priority when scheduling your time?
How to answer
Time management is crucial to perform well at any job. That’s why you may be asked this question during the interview.
Your response to this question will show your interviewer how effectively you determine which tasks need more immediate attention than others.
It will allow them to see if you can prioritize tasks without sacrificing any other responsibilities that you needed to complete.
About Yourself
The idea of answering this question is to set realistic expectations for yourself and your potential employer. Ask yourself the following:
- How organized are you?
- Are you able to cope with different tasks, deadlines without getting yourself in a muddle?
- Do you understand the difference between the urgent and the important?
- Can you reach a balance between company priorities, efficiency, your work-life balance and personal needs?
About The Company
Research the company, its culture and the job description.
- What do you expect to be doing in this job?
- How would your performance be measured?
- What will your responsibilities be?
- Will you decide by yourself what tasks should be done first?
- Are there any tasks in the job description that emphasize priority?
About The Fit
Everyone has a different method of managing their workload so it’s your chance to shine and show your excellent time-management skills explaining your preferred technique to your interviewer.
The best way to prioritize your tasks is to list out what you need to work on across all of your projects.
Explain that the first thing you usually do is break down bigger tasks into subtasks to feel less overwhelmed. When all of your tasks are in one place, you are able to have an overall view of what needs to get done, develop a sense of how much work you’re dealing with, and what tasks need immediate attention.
Also mention how professionally you handle a situation when unexpected changes occur. This helps to show you’re mindful of high-level company priorities.
It’s best to give real-life examples to show the interviewer you’re not just talking about a generic strategy, but you’ve successfully practiced this in the workplace more than once.
Pro Tip
When you clearly prioritize your work, you can increase productivity, better manage your time, and feel confident that you’ll hit your deadlines—every time.
Choose one of the most effective and proven time management techniques that will help you to show the interviewer how you work.
- The Eat the Frog method says: “Do the most important projects first thing in the morning, and when you’re done, switch to those less pertinent.”
- The Eisenhower Decision Matrix method helps you divide your tasks into four quadrants. 1st -important and urgent, 2nd - important but not urgent,3rd - not important but urgent, and 4th - not important and not urgent.
- With the ABCDE method, you assign each task you have a letter value according to its level of importance, and then tackle them accordingly, where A - very important, E - eliminate whenever possible.
- With the help of the Chunking method, you can have a focused work activity, dividing big pieces of work into small ones and vice versa, depending on your goal at the moment.
Statistics
This question is asked 7.0x more frequently at Sedgwick Claims Management Services than at other companies.
You don't have to be alone in your job search!
Mr. Simon invites you to join the Friends of Mr. Simon Meetup Group that supports both individuals seeking their next job role and working professionals. Members of our network come together to learn and practice new skills and network with others through our regular interactive events where they establish meaningful connections and have a chance to promote their personal brand and stand out in the marketplace.
Group membership is free of charge, courtesy of Mr. Simon.
Join our Friends of Mr. Simon Meetup Group to become part of our growing and supportive community!
This page has been updated on July 16, 2020.
