As a worker in any field, it is hoped that you’ll be able to evaluate information available to you and come to the best possible decision you can.

This can become challenging when you are confronted with multiple proposals and ideas, where there may be several people involved, or where all the ideas have some degree of merit. How do you observe the best solution to the task at hand?

Behavioral Interview Query: Tell me about a time when you have to observe several proposals or ideas and then make a suggestion. What steps did you take? What factors were most significant?

All proposals and ideas have some degree of merit. In an ideal world, you would take at least certain piece of each idea so that everyone felt like they were able to contribute. But of course we rarely live in an ideal world. What interviewers are searching for with this type of question is:

• Proof you put real thought into each decision.
• Strong priorities and logic.
• Fairness in the steps you used.

By definition, someone took the time and effort to fill out a proposal. So to show you are a good evaluator, you have to prove you took the time and effort to observe each idea.

Sample Answer

“I had to analyze various proposals just recently actually. A recommended had been put forward to change our scoring model so that it provided a better focus on certain group of applicants. So our internal workgroup created 4 different models and then I looked at a lot of data to model out what the outcomes would end up looking like. I looked at all the differences between each models, and, interestingly, my team and I went through simulations and decided that none of them would work fairly. We then came up with two more models that were developed to get the results we wanted. The 2 new models integrated some of the ideas from the previous models, but were altered to better meet our requirements.

We ran simulations and discovered that both provided data that confirmed they would be beneficial to the student groups. This was the most important first step. Although, the data was only one part, as the results would have a direct effect on a specific subgroup and we needed to make sure that their feedback was included in the decision.

After it was over, I consulted with an external workgroup made up of stakeholders and the individuals that our models would directly impact, and they strongly favored the one most favored by the data, which made that one the obvious choice.

There are many opportunities to talk about situations where you were confronted with multiple ideas and proposals from which to indicate you can make good analytical decisions. Often these are also great answers to other types of questions about issue solving as well, so make certain you’ve a few of these on hand in case your interviewer asks.