Amazing Interview Answers: 44 Tough Job Interview Questions with 88 Winning Answers by Blazevich Richard

Author:Blazevich, Richard [Blazevich, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: amazon
Published: 2020-07-20T13:56:42.526000+00:00

30. A Disaster

An interviewer might ask how you would approach a hypothetical situation to test your problem-solving abilities. One of my favorite problem-solving questions goes something like this: “A storm wiped out the only bridge to your only warehouse which is located on an island. You can’t get your products to market. What do you do?”

Here’s an amazing answer to this question for someone applying for a job as a logistics manager. Responsibilities for that position might include determining the most efficient methods for transporting goods, identifying ways to increase speed of delivery, and addressing logistical issues as they arise.

“First, I would contact the warehouse manager to make sure all the employees and their family members were okay. If everyone wasn’t okay or if people were still in danger, I would focus my efforts on their safety.

“I’ll assume that everyone was okay. Next, I’d call an emergency meeting of the smartest people I know to gather a variety of suggestions. I’d want to include people from Operations, Engineering, R&D, Design, and other functions to help develop solutions. I’d get their help to identify and execute the best possible solution.

“I’d focus on gathering as much information as possible. I’d need to know exactly what I’m solving. For example, I’d want to know how far the warehouse was from a working road system or railway, and I’d want to know exactly what obstacles were in the way. For example, was I dealing with a giant canyon, a rushing river, or a calm lake?

“I’d also want to know the value, density, and perishability of the inventory. And I’d want to know the urgency of any commitments to deliver inventory to customers. If I was in danger of missing delivery deadlines, I’d contact my customers immediately to explain the situation. I’d work with them to see if I could delay the delivery dates as needed.

“Then, I’d see if my company had assets that could transport the inventory to the mainland. For example, if I had to get the inventory across a calm lake, does my company have amphibious vehicles? If so, I would see if I could use them to get the inventory across the lake to a road on the mainland.

“If my company didn’t have an in-house solution, I’d start calling companies that specialize in moving inventory across water. In evaluating those companies, I’d consider density and value of the inventory. If it consists of small, lightweight items like precious gems or high-value computer chips, I’d consider hiring a helicopter to fly to the warehouse and move the inventory to the mainland.

“If the inventory was heavy or bulky, I’d start looking for companies that could provide temporary bridges or barges that could transport heavy items.

“Do you want me to keep going, or is that enough information?”

This answer demonstrates an ability to evaluate a situation and generate solutions based on specific circumstances. I like the answer because it starts by focusing on the safety of the company’s employees. By doing that, this candidate shows compassion for fellow employees.

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