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Your interview is going swimmingly
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You've answered all the common interview questions such as tell me about yourself and you're almost certain you've done
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what you can to impress the hiring manager. Until you're asked to give an example of a time you thought
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outside of the box. To make sure you have the perfect answer, regardless of your experience level
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continue watching to find out how you can form a job-winning response
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1. Discuss workplace achievements As most other interview answers, you should avoid talking about personal achievements
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Instead, think about a time where you faced a difficult challenge at work and had to think outside of the box to find a solution
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Give me an example of a time that you have to think outside of the box
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During my last role, I was working on a big VIP booking
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when I discovered that the concert the clients wanted to attend was fully booked
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I had to find another venue to obtain these tickets. Luckily, there was a ticket available on a trusted partner site
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for the following day. So, I reshuffled the client's itinerary around to accommodate this change
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As you can see, the candidate here clearly outlines the issue that they faced
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and the steps that they took to create a solution and resolve the issue by thinking outside of the box
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2. Make sure that your answer is positive When offering an example, make sure that the mistake wasn't due to
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your lack of attention to detail or carelessness in the first place
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You don't want the employer to see you in a bad light by highlighting a mistake that you made
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which then forced you to think outside of the box to resolve it. You want your answer to show that you are a problem solver
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and not a problem maker. 3. Use the STAR method To ensure you give a clear and concise answer
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follow the STAR method. By following this approach, you can highlight your skills and abilities through your answer
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You can begin by describing the context of the example – the situation
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then explain what your initial role and goal was while also listing the problem that you faced – the task
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followed by the actions that you took to overcome the problem and concluding with the outcome based on the steps that you took – the result
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4. Avoid talking about something irrelevant The hiring manager wants to see how your example relates to their business
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so avoid talking about something irrelevant like the following example. I saw my neighbor's cat stuck in a tree once
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so I helped it get down by attaching a rope to my bedroom window
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and climbing into the tree to get it. While this is somewhat heroic
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it has nothing to do with the office role that you're applying for. Instead, consider using an example from your university or workplace experience
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In my previous role, we were preparing to send out important press invites
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when the envelopes arrived in the wrong size. To ensure they were sent on time, I had to improvise
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I found old invites that hadn't been sent, opened them carefully, and took out the existing invites
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And I was strapped for time. Luckily, my recycling process paid off
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and they looked as good as new. That sounds stressful, but it sounds like you took control of the situation
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After following this advice, you should know how to answer the question and finish your interview on a high
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That said, if you're looking for more tips and tricks, visit CareerAddict.com for more advice
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CareerAddict offers professional CV writing services for all levels of professionals. So, if you're in need of a job-winning CV
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head over to our website, linked in the description below, and select your best-suited package
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And don't forget to like the video and click on the subscribe button to get more insightful tips
