Common problem-solving questions and answers
Every job requires problem-solving on some level, so you can expect at least one job
interview question to ask about those skills. Here are a few common problem-solving
interview questions to practice:
1. Give us an example of when you faced an unexpected challenge at work. What did you
do to face it?
What’s a hiring manager really asking? Employers want to know that your problem-
solving has a process. They want to hear you break down a problem into a set of steps to
solve it.
Sample answer: I was working in sales for a wholesale retailer. A regular client wrongly
communicated the pricing of a unit. I realized this immediately, and rather than pointing out
the error, I quickly double-checked with my supervisor to see if we could respect the price.
I informed the client of the error and that we were happy to keep the price he was given. It
made him feel like he'd gotten a fair deal and trusted my authority as a sales rep even more.
The loss wasn't significant, but saving face in front of the client was.
2. How would you manage a frustrated client?
What’s a hiring manager really asking? They want to gauge your ability to stay cool
and be patient in stressful situations, even when dealing with difficult people. Keep your
answer professional, and don't use the opportunity to bad-mouth a past client. Show that you
can stay respectful even if someone isn’t respecting you.
Sample answer: I've had plenty of experience dealing with unhappy clients. I've learned
two important things: their frustration isn’t a personal attack against me, and we have the
same goal to solve the problem. Knowing that helps me stay calm, listen carefully to the
client's situation, and do my best to identify where the situation went astray.
Once we identify the problem, if I can handle it myself, I communicate exactly what we’ll
do for the client and how. What steps we’ll take depend on the client, but I always start by
proposing solutions to show I care about a path forward, and then keep them updated on my
progress to implementing that fix.
3. Describe a time you made a mistake at work. How did you fix it?
What’s a hiring manager really asking? No one is above making an error. Employers
want to know that you own up to and learn from your mistakes instead of getting frustrated
and walking away from the problem.
Sample answer: My first managerial position was at a public relations agency. When I was
promoted to work on client outreach, I struggled to learn to delegate my old responsibilities,
which were writing social media copy. I was afraid to let go of control, and I
was micromanaging. One day, I wrote out some copy, sent it out, and quickly realized I was
using the wrong style guide in my haste.
The client noticed, and we had to work to regain their trust, which put a strain on the entire
team. I took full responsibility and used that moment to understand that I wasn't trusting my
team's abilities. I apologized to my team for overstepping boundaries and worked to let go
of my old role completely.
4. Have you ever had a difficult time working with a team member? How did you deal with
the situation?
What’s a hiring manager really asking? Even the most independent job requires some
teamwork, whether it’s communicating with clients or other team members. Employers want
to know that you can solve interpersonal problems, know when to escalate and help
maintain a positive work environment.
Sample answer: At my last job, we were fully remote. I had a coworker that wasn't very
communicative about their process, which led to redundancies in our work and
miscommunications that set us behind. I asked them to have a one-on-one meeting with me
so we could analyze where we were failing to communicate and how to improve.
It wasn't a comfortable process, but we developed a better practice to collaborate and
improve our ability to work as a team, including weekly meetings and check-ins.
5. Tell me about a time you created an innovative solution with limited information or
resources.
What’s a hiring manager really asking? They want to test your resourcefulness, which is
a valuable soft skill. Using a “Tell me about a time” question lets you demonstrate out-of-
the-box thinking and shows that you don't quit when things get difficult.
Sample answer: I worked in project management for a software developer. We were
frequently going over budget and needed to limit spending. I instituted a new workflow app
across departments and made everyone track every step of their process. We ended up
finding information silos between design, sales, and product development.
They were all using different platforms to communicate the status of the same project,
which meant we were wasting time and money. We centralized communication and
improved operational efficiency, solved our budget problems, and increased productivity by
30%.
Things to avoid when answering problem-solving questions
Problem-solving questions offer deep insights into the kind of worker you are. While your
answer is important, so is your delivery. Here are some things to avoid when trying to
answer problem-solving questions:
1. Don’t clam up: It's okay to take your time to reflect, but never abstain from
answering. An interviewer will understand if you need to pause and think. If you’re
really stumped, you can ask to return to that question later in the interview.
2. Avoid generic answers: Generic answers show a lack of creativity and innovation.
Use the opportunity to explain what makes you and your problem-solving process
unique.
3. Don’t lose confidence: How you answer is as important as what you answer. Do
your best to practice confident body language, like eye contact and strong posture.
Practicing ahead of time can help alleviate pressure while you’re answering.
4. Try not to rush: Rushing through an answer could make it unclear or incoherent,
which might reflect poorly on your ability to keep a level head. Practice mindful
breathing and pace yourself. Answer slowly and deliberately.
