Why do interviewers ask “How do you prioritize your work?”

Framing the answer gets easier when you know the intention of the interviewer behind this question. That’s why, let’s understand it and then move forward. Interviewers ask “How do you prioritize your work?” for several reasons like

• To Assess your organizational skills and time management: This is a crucial skill in most workplaces and by asking this question, the interviewer wants to understand your approach towards multiple tasks, deadlines, and competing demands.

In my previous role, I was assigned a project with three deliverables due in one week. To manage this, I first listed all the tasks involved and categorized them as urgent/important, less urgent/important, etc. I then used project management software to create a detailed timeline. Also, I communicated with my team and supervisor if I faced any problems and got them resolved on time. That’s how I successfully delivered all three projects on time.

• To evaluate your decision-making ability: Prioritization often involves making tough choices and the interviewer wants to see how you weigh different factors, such as urgency, importance, and impact, to make informed decisions about what to tackle first.

During a busy project phase, I was approached with a new urgent request. I wanted to work on it so I inquired about the task’s details and the deadline. Upon realizing the conflicts with existing deadlines, I discussed the workload and the timeline with my manager. Together we were able to prioritize the work and were able to deliver both tasks on time and that too without compromising quality or deadlines.

• Gauge your work ethic and commitment: Are you someone who takes initiative and proactively seeks out important tasks? Or do you wait to be told what to do? This question can reveal your level of self-motivation and commitment to achieving goals.

While working on a complicated report with a strict deadline, I realized that the project would require more time than the decided one. Instead of waiting until the last minute, I quickly scheduled a meeting with my manager and openly communicated my concerns, and potential challenges and suggesting a slightly adjusted deadline with a clear justification. My manager appreciated my transparency and we agreed on a revised deadline. This experience not only prevented potential delays but also strengthened my communication and collaboration skills.

• Understand how you handle pressure: There will be times when you have more work than you can handle and the interviewer wants to see how you cope under pressure. Whether you can maintain focus and prioritize effectively even when faced with competing deadlines.

While working on a project, I discovered a potential issue that could hamper our progress. Recognizing the need for diverse perspectives, I organized a team meeting to discuss the issue. We brainstormed solutions together and reached a consensus on the best approach. I then prepared a clear and concise proposal for our manager, outlining the issue, our proposed solution, and its potential benefits. Ultimately, our manager appreciated our collaborative effort and prioritized the task accordingly, leading to a successful and timely completion of the project.

• Identify potential conflicts or red flags: Your answer to this question can also reveal potential conflicts with the company culture or work style. For example, if you prioritize completing tasks independently over collaborating with others, it might not be a good fit for a team-oriented environment. So here is what you can say instead.

During a large team project, we needed to allocate various tasks with diverse skill requirements. To ensure fairness and effectiveness, I started by gathering individual strengths and preferences through open discussions and allocated tasks accordingly. This collaborative approach resulted in a fair and balanced workload distribution, fostering team buy-in and ultimately leading to a smooth and successful project completion.

These are some of the main reasons why interviewers ask this question. If you know the intent, you can easily frame the answer. So, based on the insights, let’s know the tips to frame the answers.

Ever wondered why interviewers almost inevitably ask “How do you prioritize your work?” during an interview? Interviewers ask this question because it’s more than just a casual question. It’s a window into your organizational skills, decision-making abilities, and overall work ethic. But answering it is not as simple as we think. There are certain qualities that interviewers analyze while you answer this question. We have created this article to help you know the drill behind this question and the ways to ace it. You can expect sample answers, tips to frame answers, and why interviewers ask this question while reading it. So, let’s quickly get into the matter.