With the proliferation of smartphones and increased use of social media, people are getting distracted and spending their time on unnecessary things. If they are not managing their time well, there is no way they are going to reach their goals at work and life outside of it. Time management is one of the most effective skills that can help these people manage their time well. This skill allows people to use their time wisely and helps them on how to avoid distractions and how to get things done when new priorities pop up. Generally, time management interview questions seek insight into a people’s ability to manage stress when handling multiple tasks, meet deadlines, spend their time well and avoid distractions, prioritize their work, to name a few.
In this article, we’ll review some of the most commonly asked time management interview questions and how to answer them effectively.
How do you organize a large project to ensure you meet the deadline?
With this time management interview question, the hiring manager wants to learn more about how you break down assignments to make them manageable. In most cases, you want to talk about how you organize the individual tasks involved. That way, the hiring manager knows you can effectively allocate time to each activity.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
In your opinion, why is time management important?
As one of the more straightforward time management interview questions, the hiring manager simply wants to know your views on time management. As you discuss why it’s important, make a direct connection to how it impacts your ability to work efficiently. That keeps the answer a bit personal, making it a better approach.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
Question 3: How do you manage deadlines?
Interviewee Answer: Keeping a list of projects with deadlines can help to manage all projects properly. By dividing the projects into smaller units and tracking it reduces wastage of time.
For instance: “To keep track of all my projects and their due dates, I use project management software. When new projects emerge, I add them to my software list and include the deadline that helps me prioritize tasks that need to be done before others on my to-do list.”
Examples of common time management interview questions:
Red Flags for Interviewers Assessing Time Management and Prioritization Skills
Just like there are specific signs that interviewers look for in candidates who are able to successfully manage their time, there are also red flags for interviewers when discussing prioritization. Candidates who do not possess strong time management and prioritization skills:
Micromanagement is the ultimate style of trying to control everything around you. Employees who try to do this and want to control every part of their tasks usually have difficulties delegating tasks. By micromanaging, there’s a large chance that they end up with more tasks to do than they can handle. Therefore, avoid at all costs that you’re viewed as a ‘micromanager‘ during a job interview.
Lack of strong communication skills
Strong communication skills are essential if you want to manage your time efficiently and prioritize your tasks. Employees who are not able to communicate requirements clearly can cause misunderstandings within teams. Furthermore, it could lead to work inefficiency, wrong priorities, and missed deadlines.
Lose sight of the bigger picture
Employees who are not able to keep a clear overview of the different tasks they’re working on could lead to them losing priorities. Furthermore, when projects are considered individual tasks instead of team efforts, this could lead to complications. Make sure that you are able to explain how you keep a helicopter view and how you set time management and priorities correctly.
Poor concentration levels or low-energy individuals, in general, are red flags for interviewers. Furthermore, candidates who come across as someone who might be easily distracted by irrelevant and trivial issues are more likely to struggle and lose sight of their targets and responsibilities. This is also a warning sign for interviewers.