I want to hear about something you did that was risky.

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your ability to evaluate and take calculated risks, as well as how you handle the consequences of those risks. Employers are interested in candidates who can make informed decisions, even in uncertain situations, and who can demonstrate problem-solving skills and resilience. The interviewer is looking for a specific example from your past experience. You should use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response effectively, ensuring you highlight your decision-making process and the outcome of the risk you took.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager at XYZ Company, we were tasked with launching a new product within a very tight deadline. The development team was running behind schedule, which jeopardized our release date.

Task: As the project manager, my responsibility was to ensure the project launched on time without compromising on quality. I needed to find a solution to accelerate the timeline and meet the deadline.

Action: I decided to propose a risky but potentially rewarding solution: reallocate resources and bring in a few freelance developers to support the team temporarily. This decision involved financial implications and required approval from upper management. I prepared a detailed plan outlining the benefits and potential risks, and presented it to the leadership team, emphasizing how this could help us meet the deadline.

Result: The leadership team approved my proposal, and we brought in the additional developers. This decision allowed us to catch up on the development schedule and successfully launch the product on time. The product launch was a success, leading to positive feedback from clients and a 20% increase in sales for that quarter. This experience taught me the importance of evaluating risks and communicating effectively to gain support for necessary actions.