Page 85 - Boost Your Hiring

The Manager’s Hiring IQ Test 71

INTERVIEWER’S QUESTION
32. Describe a time when you had to make an unpopular de-
cision.
Which response actually answers the question? Which answer
should you be wary of? Are there any red flags?

(A) “In my job as a project manager I worked with a team of tech-
nicians, and it was my task to find cost-cutting measures. This
included laying off personnel. I labored over my decision to
make sure that I was being objective. I analyzed each person
and his or her role in the project. In the end I was asked to cut
staff by 20 percent. I prepared my list based on my careful
planning. I was the one who had to tell each person the job was
being cut. I felt I had treated the situation as fairly as I could,
but I must admit it was a very tough task to announce the lay-
offs to my staff.”
(B) “There was a time when I decided to hire an external candidate
for a job that several internal candidates had applied for. Many
people were upset with my decision and let me know about it.
In fact, one person actually was upset enough to go to human
resources and claim that she was discriminated against. I de-
fended my decision to people who complained and tried to jus-
tify my decision. I had to do what I felt was in the best interest
of the department. I felt like I had picked an excellent candidate
and stood by my decision.”

(C) “Sometimes a manager has to make unpopular decisions.
That’s what we get paid to do—to think outside the box and
make decisions. I’ve made some difficult decisions over my ca-
reer, and some were the right decisions and some the wrong
decisions. If I think something is wrong, I will let you know
about it. I’m not a person who lets things pile up. I try to act on
the problem as soon after it happened as possible.”

I think the strongest answer is _____.