“How do you adapt to change?” Show
This is a common behavioral question and one that invites a variety of different answers ranging from a few sentences to a few paragraphs. What’s the best way to answer this one? We’re going to cover all of that below, so keep reading! Variations of This QuestionThere are many questions centered on the theme of “change” and they can all be approached roughly the same way:
What the Interviewer Really Wants to KnowUnlike some interview questions, the intent behind this one is actually fairly obvious from the question itself. It has a lot to do with your personality. Interviewers simply want to know if you can flexible when it’s required of you. They want someone who can roll with the punches and rise to new challenges when they present themselves. Being too set in your ways can be detrimental to the company because policies and procedures often change in response to the needs of the customer, employees, company, or community. That’s to not say that’s all an interviewer can learn by asking this question; they might also want to see if you can recognize when change is necessary. Being aware of problems in the workplace and how they affect the company as a whole means you can identify when changes need to happen, even if it’s not up to you to enact those changes. How to Answer: “How Do You Adapt to Change?”Rather than give you a list of arbitrary tips, we wanted to provide a formula for building an impactful and well-rounded answer. Here’s our 3-step process: 1. Describe Your Mindset Around ChangeStart by explaining how you feel about change, particularly in the workplace. When done correctly, this will communicate to your interviewer that you’re able to embrace change, even if you don’t necessarily agree with it. So how exactly do you do this? Regardless of whether you’re the type of person who responds well to change, you need to communicate something positive to the interviewer when it comes to necessary changes in the workplace. Perhaps you embrace change because:
It’s also worth prefacing this part with adjectives like “adaptable,” “flexible,” or “versatile” to describe your personality in a more general way. Here’s an example:
2. Give an Example of a Situation That Required ChangeNext, talk about a time a significant change was needed at work. This is important because it presents a problem that forced a change, and gives you an opportunity to talk about how you adapted to that change in the next part of your answer. This is the “setup” for the final act, if you like. Think back to a problem you experienced at work that was eventually addressed, whether it occurred in your current job or a previous job. These problems might include:
Then, briefly touch on what changed in an attempt to fix the issue, whether it was new employees, a company policy change, or something else entirely. Remember, we’re just setting the stage. The interviewer doesn’t really care what caused the change in your environment or even what that change was; they’re far more interested in how you adapted to it — which we’ll cover next. Here’s an example:
3. Describe How You Adapted to ItFinally, talk about how you responded to that change. This part is what really shows your adaptability as an employee. Anyone can describe themselves as adaptable or flexible, but not everyone can demonstrate those attributes through a relevant anecdote. If it wasn’t already obvious, this is the most crucial aspect of your answer so it’s important to say the right things. Focus on the following points where relevant:
While honesty is often recommended in an interview, it’s best to leave your opinions at the door when talking about whether or not you agreed with the changes that were made. Here’s an example:
Putting It All Together (Example Answers)What would a 3-step formula be without some examples to boot? Below are several full sample answers using the exact structure we outlined above, each tackling the question from different perspectives. Sample Answer #1: Downsizing
Sample Answer #2: Working From Home
Sample Answer #3: Updated Computer System
How NOT to AnswerJob interviews can be high-pressure environments where mistakes are prone to happen, but knowing the common mistakes to this question should help you sidestep a few unnecessary errors. Don’t Get Too PersonalDon’t talk about personal change such as a divorce or a death in the family. Your interviewer wants to hear about how you’ve addressed challenges with change at work, not in your personal life. They also don’t need to learn such intimate details about you during a job interview. Instead, stick to professional topics and things that happened while at work. Don’t Say You Don’t Like ChangeEven if you don’t like change, avoid saying so outright. Just the act of getting a new job exposes you to change, and there will inevitably be change at some point when working at the company. Saying you don’t like change tells the interviewer you might not be ready to switch jobs. Find something positive to talk about when you explain how you feel about change and how you’ve handled it in the past. Don’t Lose FocusA common mistake is to focus on the change rather than how you responded to it. Remember, the interviewer isn’t asking you what type of change you’ve experienced. They’re asking how you adapt to that change. Leaving that part off makes for an incomplete answer. Regardless of what happened, be clear about how you remained flexible even if the change wasn’t initially what you wanted. Summary
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