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 * INTERVIEWS

 * Jun 7, 2023
 * 0 Comments
 * 10 min read


HOW TO ANSWER “GIVE AN EXAMPLE WHERE YOU SHOWED INITIATIVE”

There’s a reason employers hire people that demonstrate initiative.

 * 

 * Michi Ancheta
   
   

Reviewed by Chris Leitch




Hiring managers tend to ask job candidates challenging questions during
interviews. While some of these questions will target your skills and
experience, others will aim to uncover who you are as an individual.

Being asked to give an example where you showed initiative aims to do just that,
so you should be prepared to answer this commonly asked question in every
interview.

Need some help? Here is how you can prepare to answer this question and pass
your interview with flying colors.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 * The purpose of this question
 * Tips for crafting a response
 * Example answers
 * What not to say


WHY HIRING MANAGERS ASK THIS QUESTION

Companies want to employ fast thinkers who aren’t afraid to show initiative and
deal with situations that may arise in the workplace.

Hiring managers are on the lookout for creative, action-oriented people who are
proactive and ready to go above and beyond when needed. These are the people
whose efforts foster growth in the organization, ideas are nurtured, and
customers get maximum satisfaction from dealing with the company.

Due to this, you should be ready to prove to your interviewer that you have got
what it takes and bring value to the role.


TIPS FOR CRAFTING A RESPONSE

By now, you should be wondering how to answer this tricky question in a way that
shows you have what it takes to assume this job position.

Here are a few tips you can employ when crafting your response:


1. CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE EXAMPLE

To start with, pick an event from your past experiences where you played a
significant role in making a goal achievable. Depending on your work experience,
you could give examples from when you were a student, an intern or within a
previous role.

Make sure that the event you’ll be narrating relates to some extent to the job
position that you’re applying for, as the hiring manager is mainly interested in
how innovative you are to think about alternative solutions to problems that may
arise in their workplace. Keeping your example relevant to the specific role or
your field, then, is essential!




2. USE THE STAR METHOD

Ensure that the example you provide follows the STAR framework. This will enable
you to showcase your skills and abilities through your answer.

Begin by describing the Situation, which is the context of the example. Then,
explain your initial role (Task), as well as your goal before listing the
problem you faced. Afterwards, discuss the Action you took to overcome the
problem and the Result you achieved.

You can then elaborate on how you believe the initiative you took had a positive
impact and how it could have negatively affected the company or anybody
concerned in this scenario, had it not been taken.

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3. TELL A STORY

Everybody, including the hiring manager, loves to listen to stories, especially
when the premise is exciting and the flow is clear. Therefore, when answering
this kind of question, you should use a storytelling approach, like the STAR
method mentioned above, to ensure that your narrative is well-structured and
planned but also memorable.

With a story-formatted example, you stand a chance of engaging your audience and
having their full attention. Meanwhile, a response that is bereft of a basic
story format and doesn’t detail the time, place, what was at stake and the final
result will sound bland and fail to impress recruiters.

In essence, present your example in a short and summarized story form that will
be memorable.


ALSO READ
Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them


4. TALK ABOUT YOUR MOTIVATIONS

You must mention why you took the initiative in the example your presented.

What pushed you to act? What was on the line? How eager were you to bring
positive results?

The recruiter doesn’t just want to know what initiative you took but also
understand what drives you forward and pushes you into action. Similarly, it
would help if you mentioned how taking action prevented a negative event from
unfurling; for example, a business deal salvaged from being canceled or a
lawsuit from a disgruntled customer prevented.

This will illustrate how you can also be an asset to their company and
demonstrate that you’re devoted to helping situations where you can.


5. DON’T EXAGGERATE

Usually, when people are asked to give an example of something that happened in
their past, they tend to look for some over-the-top answer to impress their
interviewer. However, most of the time, they can easily tell apart the truth
from an overembellished story.



So, if you’re asked to give an example of when you showed initiative, don’t be
tempted to exaggerate things and blow them out of proportion. It doesn’t have to
be a tremendous achievement that changed the world or the company’s internal
structure. It can be something small but relevant that still shows who you are
and what action you would take when facing obstacles.

Aim to be truthful when giving your answer — you don’t want to be caught in a
lie and risk your chances of landing the job!


EXAMPLE ANSWERS

Here are some sample answers meant to inspire you when crafting your response.
Don’t forget to keep it short and simple.


SHOWING INITIATIVE TO DELIVER EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE

In my part-time job as serving staff, I learned the ingredients of all the food
and snacks on the menu to answer any question posed by a customer about our food
ingredients due to their diet or allergies. I did this to avoid calling on the
manager or chef whenever such an instance occurs. This little initiative
resulted in faster service delivery and increased customer satisfaction.


SHOWING INITIATIVE TO MINIMIZE COMPANY COSTS

In a previous role in a smaller firm, I realized that we were paying for a
premium internet plan which pushed the company’s monthly costs to be
considerably high. So, I worked out our monthly usage and then researched
options that balanced cost and quality. I used my research to negotiate a more
competitive price with our supplier. In the end, we were able to minimize costs,
and my supervisor was happy that I’d taken the initiative on this.


SHOWING INITIATIVE TO ASSIST YOUR TEAM

A situation occurred in my last job at a warehouse. After completing my shift
for the day, I discovered that one of my colleagues did not come for his night
shift. The remaining workers would struggle to handle the incoming stock and the
expedition.

I suggested to my superior that I stay at work for three extra hours to help the
workers on the night shift because of the heavy workload. Even though I was worn
out from having completed an eight-hour shift, I still felt it was the right
thing to do, and so I did it. Taking such initiatives fostered a cordial
relationship with everyone in the warehouse and created a stronger sense of team
spirit.




SHOWING INITIATIVE TO HELP YOUR TEAM SAVE TIME

When I worked at a computer repair shop as a recent graduate, I didn’t hold a
customer-facing position. I would simply sit in the back, check whatever devices
were brought in and relay information to our shop assistant, who was responsible
for handling calls.

Though the assistant was quite tech savvy, there were some abbreviations and
terms they weren’t familiar with. So, I prepared a sheet with all this
information, organized in alphabetical order, framed it and placed it on their
desk. This saved us both a lot of time we would have otherwise spent in
back-and-forth!


SHOWING INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE ORGANIZATION

At my previous job, which was at a small marketing agency, I noticed that
interdepartmental coordination wasn’t the strongest. Although my duties centered
around design, I didn’t hesitate to chat to my manager about my observations, as
I could tell many of my colleagues were becoming frustrated.

Although each team had its own internal deadlines, we couldn’t see one another’s
schedules, and that kept slowing down our joint efforts. Suggesting we create a
common calendar that was visible to all was welcomed by my manager, and she put
me in charge of setting it up. My team was grateful!


SHOWING INITIATIVE TO ENHANCE ONLINE PRESENCE

At the previous organization I worked, I happened to notice that posting to our
social media accounts was not uniform. There was no consistency as to the time
of day nor days of the week that our content went online; it was done whenever
someone had the time to take care of it.

As I knew that consistency boosts user reach, I came up with a simple schedule
in my spare time and asked my colleagues who would like to get involved. We
ended up taking turns, a person every week, to schedule ahead. Sure enough, our
engagement went up!




WHAT NOT TO SAY

“Showing initiative at work” is listed as a desirable attribute on almost every
job description out there, so it’s important to get your answer right. To do
that, avoid saying the following, as they might come across as red flags!


“I HAD NO CHOICE, REALLY”

Taking initiative involves problem solving and offering up a solution because
your job matters to you. Or, at least, that’s what you want to show the
recruiter.

Although most of us will have to deal with things that aren’t directly our
responsibility at some point or other, that’s not the sort of foundation you
want to build your answer on.

So, avoid speaking ill of your old colleagues and their tendency to turn a blind
eye to things. Instead, consider the interview question and answer in a way that
reflects on your own qualities, rather than those of your previous team.


“I DESPERATELY NEEDED A PROMOTION”

We all have reasons for doing what we do. Sometimes, we help others because we
genuinely feel the desire to do so, while at other times, we may be anticipating
something in return. Though there’s nothing inherently wrong with looking out
for yourself in today’s highly competitive workplace, that’s probably not the
best way to go about answering this question.

If you want to talk about reward, mention what the experience helped you learn
and why it was beneficial to your career aspirations and goals for the future.

ALSO READ
Interview Mistakes to Avoid


“I’M WILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR MY JOB”

Taking your career seriously and demonstrating an eagerness to help your team
are excellent things to convey. However, not to the point where you’re
completely throwing boundaries or self-respect out the window.



Contrary to what some might think, saying “no” can be just as powerful as saying
“yes” in terms of progressing your career — and your interviewer knows this. So,
don’t make it sound like you’ll take on anything. Your prospective employer
needs to see your ability to prioritize your tasks effectively and gauge your
time realistically!


“MY PREVIOUS MANAGER WAS AWFUL”

Working for someone who, in your eyes, is a bad leader is no fun situation to be
in. When it comes to your old boss, you may have wondered, at times, how on
Earth they got their position in the first place — that’s how bad they were at
managing.

Or perhaps you thought your old boss was too intimidating, so staying on their
good side was the only way to survive.

Though taking matters in your own hands is the reasonable thing to do in either
of those scenarios, now isn’t the time to get into details. Stay calm, take a
deep breath, and structure your answer in a way that highlights your own great
qualities.

Grab your FREE interview checklist
Instant Download
Fillable PDF
Made by Pros

DOWNLOAD
By submitting your email you agree to receive our newsletter.



Final thoughts

Being asked about how you showed initiative in the past is one of the most
common job interview questions you can get, next to “How did you hear about this
position?” and “Why should we hire you?”

Of course, the hiring process is likely to involve more behavioral interview
questions so your interviewer can gauge how you respond to pressure and overcome
obstacles at work. To stand out with your answers and outperform other
applicants, ensure to implement these tips and practice your answers in advance!

FURTHER READING

 * Asking for Feedback after an Interview
 * Interview Tips
 * How to Be Confident in a Job Interview
 * Statements to Land the Job

Have you ever been asked this question at an interview? How did you respond? Let
us know in the comments section below!

Originally published on September 3, 2018. Updated by Electra Michaelidou.

 * Interview Preparation

 * Finding a Job

 * Interview Questions


Leave a Comment

Michi Ancheta

Michi is living proof that there is, indeed, a future for English majors.
Throughout her professional career, she has worn many hats. One of her proudest
accomplishments is becoming an executive producer for CNN Philippines. She comes
back to her first love, writing, as a staffer for CareerAddict.
View Profile
Michi is living proof that there is, indeed, a future for English majors.
Throughout her professional career, she has worn many hats. One of her proudest
accomplishments is becoming an executive producer for CNN Philippines. She comes
back to her first love, writing, as a staffer for CareerAddict.
View Profile

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