When you’re interviewed for a job, there are many different skills a hiring manager will want to assess. One of these includes your ability to manage your time. Being able to manage time wisely translates into completed projects and happy customers, which is why you’ll be asked this question. When it comes to answering it, how do you respond and impress? Here are some tips:
Get specific.
Don’t offer a vague or generic answer. Get specific by telling a story or giving an example. You can also provide a quick overview of what a typical day is like for you at work and how you prioritize tasks during it.
Explain the situation and the results you delivered.
In order to make the case that you’re good at time management, use the STAR method to discuss it. This stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This means to first explain the situation giving it context. Then offer details about the task you had to perform and what actions you took to complete it. Finally, discuss the results you achieved.
Here’s an example:
“I have a lot of work to get done each day. In order to get the most important tasks completed first, I take five minutes first thing in the morning to write down my goals for that day, in order of importance. I also try to estimate how much time each task will take, so I can ensure I will complete them all. As I finish a task, I check it off my list. At the end of the day, I re-assess to evaluate what I completed and what needs my attention the first thing the next morning.”
Explain how you minimize distractions.
When it comes to time management, distractions can get in the way and prevent you from getting work done. It’s why talking about the ways you limit them is another option for answering this question.
For instance, since email can be a big distraction, explain ways you manage them each day. You might say that you check your email in the morning, at noon, and at the end of the day and simply turn off notifications for the remainder of the day. This gives you the ability to stay in contact and on top of emails, as well as focus on your tasks during the day.
Talk about deadlines.
When your employer needs a task completed, how do you ensure it gets done? Talk through the steps you take, from being assigned the task, to planning your work and how you eventually complete it. This communicates to the hiring manager that you are mindful of deadlines and that you take them seriously.
Need more help getting interviews for your next job?
Turn to Future Force. We’re a leading staffing agency serving the Orlando, FL area and can connect you with top-notch employers. We’ll also help you prepare for interviews, so you ace your answers. Contact us today or search our jobs now.
